Carter Country Beef - Key Findings Summary

About these results: the figures on this page come from third-party laboratory testing arranged through the Bionutrient Food Association with Edacious, comparing Carter Country ribeye samples against retail and USDA benchmark data. They are specific to those tested samples. Newer per-product testing (July 2026, van Vliet lab at Utah State University) is reported separately - nutrient values shift with season and product.

Based on comprehensive analysis by the Bionutrient Food Association in collaboration with Edacious

Executive Summary

Carter Country beef demonstrates superior nutritional density across multiple nutrient measures compared to benchmark beef. Analysis of 6 samples revealed 81 different nutrients, with notable advantages in omega fatty acids, minerals, and CLA.

TOP 10 MOST SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS

1. Outstanding Omega-3 Content

• 3.25x more omega-3s than USDA beef
• 2.13x more omega-3s than retail beef
• Range: 0.09-0.16g per serving (highly consistent)

2. Omega 6:3 Balance

• 1.9:1 omega 6:3 ratio in the tested ribeye samples
• Benchmark beef: 9:1 to 13:1
• 79-85% lower ratio than the benchmarks

3. Superior EPA Content

• 228% more EPA than USDA beef (13.548mg vs 4.125mg)
• 76% more EPA than retail beef

4. Higher Iron Content

• 61% more iron than retail beef
• 44% more iron than USDA beef

5. Enhanced Calcium Content

• 92% more calcium than retail beef
• 74% more calcium than USDA beef

6. Heavy Metal Screening Results

• Arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead all below the limit of quantification in Edacious testing of Carter Country ribeye samples
• The retail beef comparison sample measured detectable amounts of all four
• None of the four reached a measurable level in the tested samples

7. Rich in CLAs

• 15.668mg conjugated linoleic acids per serving
• 12.428mg rumenic acid (the main CLA form in beef)
• Wide range (8.844-27.416mg) shows natural variation

8. Superior Antioxidant Content

• 144% more vitamin E than retail beef
• 1.03mg alpha-tocopherol per serving

9. Comprehensive Fatty Acid Diversity

• 48 different fatty acids identified and quantified
• 17 saturated fatty acids (including odd-chain fatty acids)
• 30 unsaturated fatty acids

10. Consistent Quality Across Samples

• Low coefficient of variation across most nutrients
• Quality assurance through multiple sample testing

 

NUTRIENT COMPARISON

Fatty Acids

Metric	Carter Country	Conventional Beef	Advantage
Omega-3 fatty acids	0.11g	0.03-0.05g	3.25x more
EPA content	13.548mg	4.125-7.697mg	76-228% more
Omega 6:3 ratio	1.9:1	9:1-13:1	79-85% better
Trans fat content	0.26g	0.48-0.50g	48% less

Omega-3s and Vitamin E

Metric	Carter Country	Conventional Beef	Advantage
DHA content	1.067mg	0.183-2.555mg	Up to 482% more
ALA content	0.067g	0.026-0.045g	49-158% more
Total omega-3s	0.11g	0.03-0.05g	120-267% more
Vitamin E	1.03mg	0.42mg	145% more

Minerals, CLA and Heavy Metals

Metric	Carter Country	Conventional Beef	Advantage
Iron	3.484mg	2.169-2.426mg	44-61% more
Zinc content	6.24mg	5.39-6.51mg	Up to 16% more
Conjugated CLAs	15.668mg	8.324-22.733mg	Variable but significant
Heavy metals	As, Cd, Hg, Pb all <LOQ	Detectable levels	As, Cd, Hg, Pb below LOQ (tested samples)

 

QUALITY ASSURANCE METRICS

Laboratory Standards

• AOAC International compliance
• Duplicate analysis for all measurements
• Certified reference materials used
• 6-sample validation for consistency

Safety Profile

• Arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead below the limit of quantification
• No synthetic additives or preservatives
• Natural nutrient forms only

Consistency Indicators

• Coefficient of variation <25% for most nutrients
• Predictable nutritional outcomes
• Quality control across production

 

BOTTOM LINE ASSESSMENT

Carter Country beef delivers:

✅ 3.25x the omega-3s of the USDA benchmark
✅ 1.9:1 omega 6:3 ratio in the tested samples
✅ 61% more iron than the retail benchmark
✅ 92% more calcium than the retail benchmark
✅ Arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead below the limit of quantification (tested ribeye samples)
✅ 48 fatty acids identified and quantified
✅ Consistent quality across all tested samples

Scientific Conclusion: in the tested samples, Carter Country beef delivered exceptional nutritional density for an animal protein - in whole food form, with strong consistency across samples.