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Pork: Good for You and the Planet
Nutrition, health and sustainability are top concerns for many–let’s clarify pork’s amazing story here.
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Pork Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in consumer education and marketing, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, science and technology, swine health, pork safety, and environmental management and sustainability.
Photo: Comfrey Farm Certified DUROC® stuffed pork tenderloin.
Consumers are leading busy lives and are inundated with information and choice. Taste remains a primary consumer driver in food choice, but nutrition and health are also important considerations. This reflects the evolving holistic conversation of health and well-being, as “nutrition” conversations no longer simply involve nutrients. That is not surprising, as the population is now multiple generations removed from farms, so it makes sense that there are more, broader questions from people about where their food comes from and how it’s grown. So let’s talk a bit about the pork story.
Pork is a delicious, nutritious protein. Fresh, lean cuts of pork have a number of health benefits: Pork is high in protein and many cuts are also low in fat. As part of a balanced diet, pork can help maintain our lean muscle and help with weight management, too. Pork is a nutrient-rich food, offering a variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron and B12 to name a few (see chart below for more details). The the tenderloin and the sirloin bear the American Heart Association’s “Heart-Check” certification, making it easy to identify delicious, heart smart options while shopping.
With 24 grams of protein in a 3 oz. serving and the “Heart-Check” from the American Heart Association, the versatile Certified DUROC® Pork Tenderloin is a lean protein option that is juicy, tender, and flavorful to fuel rigorous workouts.
So, let’s turn a bit to the farm. Over the past six decades, the pork industry has reduced its environmental impact by using 75.9% less land, 25.1% less water and 7.0% less energy and by emitting 7.7% less carbon.
Pig farmers are committed to We Care principles: protecting our environment, improving animal well-being, increasing food safety and public health, and serving our communities. This is true for the Truebenbach family. They are a multigenerational farming family that raises Comfrey Farm DUROC® pork. By living according to the We Care principles daily, they are keeping their prized pigs healthy and stress-free in order to deliver the best care and finest meat quality possible. Visit http://www.porkcares.org/ to learn more, and join us on the webinar (see below for registration details).
Consumers are seeking transparency in the food they eat from farm to table. Pork is a versatile, nutrient-rich complete protein, meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids our bodies need. It provides a delicious choice for high-performance athletes and everyone seeking a nutritious, balanced diet. Pork provides a great choice at the meat case and the commitment to do what is right for people, pigs, and planet. Sign up here for a webinar on March 26 at 1:00 pm Eastern/10:00 am Pacific for more details and information. In the meantime, please visit www.pork.org/health for recipe ideas, published research, and downloadable resources, including fact sheets and educational kits.
