The Standards Behind Every Cut We Sell

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At Butcher’s Counter, we made a clear decision early on: we would only source and sell meat that’s free from antibiotics, hormones, and GMOs.

It’s not a marketing gimmick for us. It’s about food integrity and a deep respect for both the people eating our products and the animals they come from.

Here’s why this matters:

Antibiotics: A Shortcut with Serious Costs

In many large-scale farms, antibiotics are used not only to treat illness but also to prevent it and accelerate growth. This is especially common in cattle raised in feedlots—industrial environments where animals are confined in dense spaces and often fed grain-based diets.

Feedlots allow for more rapid weight gain, but they also come with problems:

⦿ Animals are more prone to illness in confined conditions
⦿ Sanitation is harder to manage
⦿ Stress levels are higher, which further weakens immune systems

To manage this, antibiotics are added to feed as a preventative measure. But this raises two major concerns:

⦿ First, it’s a band-aid for poor animal welfare. It hides deeper issues with how the animals are raised.
⦿ Second, it contributes to the global rise in antibiotic resistance, a growing public health threat that affects all of us.

At Butcher’s Counter, we avoid these shortcuts by partnering with farms that raise animals in natural environments where antibiotics simply aren’t necessary.

Why We Avoid Hormones

In some parts of the world, hormones are used to speed up growth and get animals to market faster. While that might be efficient for producers, it’s far from ideal for the consumer.

There are ongoing concerns about how hormone residues in meat might affect human health, from disrupting natural hormone levels to possible links with early puberty in children. Though the science is still evolving, many countries have moved toward tighter regulation—or outright bans.

In fact, New Zealand bans the use of growth hormones in beef altogether, and Australia heavily regulates them. This gives us confidence in the integrity of the meat we source.

The GMO-Free Standard

When we talk about GMOs in meat, we’re usually referring to the animal’s feed. In conventional systems, genetically modified corn or soy is commonly used.

Some people choose to avoid GMOs because of environmental concerns or a preference for more natural farming. For us, going GMO-free is about ensuring:

⦿ Cleaner, simpler feed
⦿ Better transparency in the supply chain
⦿ Meat that aligns with our values around minimal intervention

We work with partners who share this philosophy and can guarantee non-GMO practices throughout the process.

Where Our Meat Comes From

All of our beef and lamb comes from New Zealand and Australia, two countries with some of the most rigorous food safety and animal welfare standards in the world.

We’re also transparent about how animals are fed:

⦿ Our lamb is 100% grass-fed
⦿ The majority of our beef is grass-fed
⦿ Some beef is grain-finished, but even those cuts are fully free from hormones and antibiotics

You’ll always find the feed type clearly labelled on each product page, so you can make the choice that’s right for you.

As for chicken, we source it from trusted farms within the UAE. These partners meet our same standards: no hormones, no preventative antibiotics, and clean, responsible feed practices.

Why It Matters

When you choose Butcher’s Counter, you’re not just choosing what’s not in your food. You’re choosing:

⦿ Healthier animals raised in natural environments
⦿ A cleaner, more transparent food chain
⦿ Peace of mind for your household
⦿ And meat that actually tastes the way it should

You’re also sending a signal that how meat is produced matters — not just to you, but to the broader food system.

We’ll never compromise on these standards. Because we believe meat should be something you feel good about—start to finish.