Is Wahlburgers Beef Grass-Fed? An In-Depth Look

Wahlburgers has become one of the most popular burger chains in America. Founded by brothers Paul Donnie, and Mark Wahlberg, they’ve expanded to over 50 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

But one common question about their burgers is – is the beef grass-fed? Let’s take a detailed look at where Wahlburgers sources their beef from.

Wahlburgers Uses Grain-Fed Beef

According to their website and employee interviews, Wahlburgers uses fresh, never frozen, hormone-free ground beef sourced from Creekstone Farms in Kansas.

Creekstone Farms is one of the largest premium beef suppliers in America. They raise Black Angus cattle that are grain-finished. This means the cattle are fed a grain-based diet during the last 90-120 days before processing.

Therefore the confirmation is that Wahlburgers beef is not 100% grass-fed. The cattle start on a grass diet but are transitioned to grain feedlots to fatten them up right before slaughter.

Why Wahlburgers Doesn’t Use Grass-Fed Beef

There are several reasons why Wahlburgers chooses grain-fed instead of grass-fed beef

• Taste – Grain feeding results in more marbling and fat, giving a richer, beefier flavor some customers prefer over grass-fed.

• Cost – Grass-fed beef is typically more expensive than conventional grain-fed. Wahlburgers wants to keep prices affordable.

• Consistency – Grain-feeding allows for easier replication of fat marbling and taste. Grass-fed can vary more depending on the pasture.

• Supply – Grass-fed beef production is still small compared to conventional beef. Securing enough for a large chain like Wahlburgers may be difficult.

• Regional Sourcing – Wahlburgers sources all their beef from Creekstone Farms to ensure consistency across locations. Creekstone offers grain-fed.

How Grass-Fed Differs from Grain-Fed

While Wahlburgers uses grain-fed, grass-fed beef has some distinct differences:

• Nutrition – More antioxidants like vitamin E and omega-3s. Also more conjugated linoleic acid, a healthy fat.

• Fat Content – Lower in total fat with a better fatty acid profile higher in omega-3s. Grain-feeding boosts saturated fat.

• Taste – Grass-fed has a distinct grassy, gamey flavor. The lower fat content can also make it chewier and drier.

• Animal Welfare – Grass-feeding is considered more humane. Cows eat their natural diet without confinement in crowded feedlots.

• Sustainability – Pasture-raising helps regenerate grasslands. But it requires more land than feedlots to produce the same amount of beef.

• Antibiotics/Hormones – Grass-fed programs prohibit routine antibiotic use and hormones. Both are common in grain-finish feedlots.

Overall, grass-fed offers some potential health and sustainability benefits compared to the conventional grain-fed beef Wahlburgers uses. But grain-feeding results in a richer tasting product.

Wahlburgers vs Other Grass-Fed Burger Chains

While Wahlburgers uses grain-fed beef, some competing “better burger” chains actually use grass-fed beef instead:

• Elevation Burger – 100% grass-fed beef burgers

• BurgerFi – Burgers contain a blend of grain and grass-fed beef

• Fuddrucker’s – Offers a 100% grass-fed burger option

So for a fast food grass-fed burger, these chains have it as an option. But Wahlburgers has stuck with the grain-fed beef that made them famous.

Wahlburgers Store-Bought Burgers Are Grass-Fed!

Here’s an interesting finding – while the restaurants use grain-fed beef, the Wahlburgers store-bought burger patties sold in grocery stores are actually made from grass-fed beef!

The packaging clearly states “grass-fed” and they are USDA Certified. So to enjoy the Wahlburgers flavor with grass-fed meat, buy their frozen patties at your local market.

The Verdict on Wahlburgers Beef

Wahlburgers takes pride in using fresh, never-frozen Angus beef chuck from a trusted supplier like Creekstone Farms. While grain-finished for enhanced flavor and marbling, the beef is hormone and antibiotic-free with no fillers or additives.

The grain-fed Wahlburgers beef produces a tender, juicy, indulgent burger experience that diners love. Those seeking a grass-fed option can buy Wahlburgers’ frozen grass-fed burger patties for home cooking instead. Or try an emerging grass-fed burger restaurant chain.

For a delicious grain-fed burger with the Wahlberg name behind it, you can feel good eating their signature burgers in moderation. Wahlburgers uses quality Angus beef humanely raised without hormones or antibiotics. So enjoy your burger and tater tots next time you visit!