Today I bought ground meat at the store, but I immediately noticed that something was wrong with it.  I also had some homemade ground meat that I prepared myself  For comparison: the store-bought one is on the right, and mine is on the left.  Do you see the difference too?

Luckily, I quickly figured out what the problem was and just threw the store-bought meat away  I’m sharing this with you – please be careful  Full details in the first comment 

At first glance, the difference between store-bought beef and farm-raised meat is visible to the naked eye. But there’s a lot more behind that appearance.

It’s important to understand what we’re putting on our plates — and why our choices matter.

The color says it all

Take a look at the shade of the meat. Supermarket beef usually has a light pink or pale red color.

This is due to chemicals — to keep the meat looking “fresh” for longer, producers add preservatives like propyl gallate.

These substances slow oxidation, preventing the meat from darkening on the shelf, but they can also diminish the meat’s natural qualities.

Farm meat, on the other hand, typically has a rich, deep red color. This is a sign that it’s fresh, recently butchered, and hasn’t been treated with artificial additives.

It also smells different — a strong, natural meaty aroma that’s unmistakable.

Packaging in supermarkets might say “Made in some country,” but that’s not always true.

Often the meat comes from various countries — depending on where it was cheapest for the supplier. In fact, a single package might contain meat from several different cows, making its origin impossible to trace.

Large meat processors often use raw materials from industrial farms, where cows are kept in cramped spaces, fed artificial feed, and given antibiotics.

This kind of production focuses on volume, not quality or animal welfare.

If you want to eat truly high-quality meat — which is not only tastier but also healthier — choose products from local farmers.

It’s not just a purchase, but a conscious choice for health, the environment, and honest production.