Simply Balanced (Target)
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Minneapolis, MN |
| Products | Fluid milk |
| Website | http://www.target.com/c/simply-balanced-grocery-dvm/-/N-55md8 |
| Market Area | Nationwide |
| Total Score | 17 |
Private-label, or store-brand, dairy products rated with one cow are sold by grocers or distributors who have the obvious desire of wanting to grow their presence in the organic marketplace. This is great news! Making organics more convenient and affordable to consumers is wonderful goal.
Unfortunately, there is an inherent limitation in private-label organic products: organic consumers tend to want to know where their food is coming from and how it is produced. Private-label products obscure these facts.
Even though none of the one cow rated brands responded to our survey request, we were able to determine that these brands were, at the time of our research, buying some or all of their organic milk from factory-farm sources. We conducted our research in this area through interviews with a number of industry sources and through federally maintained records.
The bottom line to private-label organic products is that they are “buyer beware.” We encourage consumers to be vigilant and contact stores to confirm who is supplying their private-label milk, or to just pay an extra quarter or two for name-brand milk from farmers and brands that are willing to be open with them and who share their values.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2700) | 17 | 1-Cow Rating | Poor - Store brands |
| Ownership structure | 1 | No answer |
| Milk Supply | 1 | No answer |
| Organic Production | 1 | No answer |
| Disclosure of Information for Verification | 1 | No answer |
| Organic Certification | 1 | No answer |
| Other Labels/Standards | 1 | No answer |
| Grass-fed | 1 | No answer |
| Soy Free Ration? | No answer. Soy is likely used in feed. | |
| Pasture | 1 | No answer |
| Times Milked | 1 | No answer |
| Cull/death Rate | 1 | No answer |
| Replacements | 1 | No answer |
| Calves | 1 | No answer |
| Antibiotic Use | 1 | No answer; animals given antibiotics may be introduced back into food stream after withdrawal times. |
| Hormone Usage | 1 | No answer; hormones may be used therapeutically |
| Farm Support | 1 | No answer |
| Procurement of Ingredients | 1 | No answer |
| Extra Credit | 1 | None |