Pure Indian Foods

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersPrinceton Junction, NJ
ProductsButter, ghee, grassfed
Websitewww.pureindianfoods.com
Market AreaNationwide, Web Sales
Total Score1300

They write: “The world can be divided into 2 types of people: those who love ghee and those who haven’t tried a good Grass-fed Ghee. Pure Indian Foods has been helping people jump to the first group for 5-generations, since 1889. Pure Indian Foods is a family-owned business based in New Jersey that makes over 11 varieties of grassfed organic ghee products. Pure Indian Foods focuses on quality and not on quality. Thousands of customers (moms, foodies, chefs, healthcare practitioners) have put their trust in our ghee products. Give us a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Website Address: www.pureindianfoods.com

Phone: 1-877-LUV-GHEE”

CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) 1300
4-Cow Rating | Excellent
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest.
Ownership structure
80Family owned business
Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest.
Milk Supply
70Milk of integrity
100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest.
Organic Production
100Brand only markets organic
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification
90Good disclosure
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certification
100New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Labels/Standards
0None
100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards
Grass-fed
70Markets “grass fed” but is not 100%; they only use milk produced during the grazing season.
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.
Soy Free Ration?
No
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption.
Pasture
80Good pasture compliance (some suppliers are in a difficult climate and still do a good job)
One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard.
Times Milked
90Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies)
Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points.
Cull/death Rate
75Good cull rates (some suppliers' cull rates meet American Humane audit standards0
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest.
Replacements
100Suppliers have closed herds
Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves
75Removed shortly after birth (standard practice)
Farms that prohibit antibiotics receive the most points. Farms that allow young stock to receive antibiotics (under one year), receive the fewest.
Antibiotic Use
100No antibiotics
No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes.
Hormone Usage
100No hormones used
Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines.
Farm Support
85Representatives visit regularly; owner of brand visits each farm twice a year
All ingredients sourced from inside the organization or on the farm receives the highest points. Ingredients from confinement factory farms and/or imported ingredients receive the fewest.
Procurement of Ingredients
85Milk powder purchased from trusted sources
Various levels of extra credit given for 1) providing full organic systems plan, 2) providing details on all farms (multi-farm brands, details on largest five required), and 3) sourcing feed on-farm or domestically.
Extra Credit
0None