What exactly do those grain-fed and grass-fed labels on beef mean? We spoke to experts to get the lowdown on how these two types of beef compare to one another.

Grass-fed beef, as the name implies, comes from cows that eat mostly grass. Grain-fed cows eat a diet that includes soy, corn, and other additives.

Grain is the tendency of grass to grow horizontally in one or more directions. “And certain types exhibit more of it than others,” Patterson says.

Indeed, corn-fed cattle have a higher fat content than grass-fed cattle, "and fattier meats contribute to more weight gain," says Abbie McLellan, a clinical dietitian with Stanford Health Care.

The controversy over whether grass-fed or grain-fed beef is better for the environment is primarily an American debate, said Timothy Searchinger, ...

Generally, grain finished beef is better for tenderness and marbling, and grass-fed beef is usually leaner. Flavor is a matter of personal preference, and while I prefer grain fed, I have had some ...