Two bags of beef jerky sit side by side, both labeled "natural." Only one carries the round U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic seal, which means it's organic beef jerky made under a strict federal rulebook. The seal covers how the cattle were raised and fed, not just what went into the bag.

At Mecene Market, our jerky starts with USDA-certified organic, grass-fed beef, so we know these rules well. Once you know what the seal requires, how organic jerky compares to regular jerky, and how to spot the real thing, choosing a bag gets much easier.

The USDA Organic seal means a product was grown and handled under the National Organic Program (NOP), a set of federal rules enforced by the USDA. For meat, those rules start with the animal, long before any beef becomes jerky.

A USDA-accredited certifier inspects both the farm that raised the cattle and the company that makes the jerky. Farms keep detailed records on feed, health care, and grazing, and they face inspections at least once a year.

Organic cattle eat 100% certified organic feed, including pasture, hay, and grain. That feed is grown without genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and without most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

Organic cattle are never given antibiotics or growth hormones. A sick animal still has to be treated, since farmers can't withhold care to protect organic status. Once it receives antibiotics, though, its beef can no longer be sold as organic.

Cattle must graze on pasture for at least 120 days during each grazing season. Grazing must also supply at least 30% of what they eat during that time, on average.

Organic beef jerky differs from regular jerky mainly in how the cattle were fed, treated, and raised, plus what can go into the curing process. Regular jerky varies by brand, but here's how the two usually compare:

• Cattle feed: Organic requires certified organic feed. Regular jerky may come from cattle fed conventional grain.

• Antibiotics: Organic rules forbid them. Regular beef may come from cattle treated with antibiotics, followed by a required waiting period before slaughter.

• Growth hormones: They aren't allowed in organic beef. Many conventional U.S. beef cattle receive them.

• Pasture time: Organic cattle must graze. Regular beef has no grazing rule.

• Curing agents: Synthetic nitrites aren't permitted for preservation in organic meat. Regular jerky may use sodium nitrite.

• Price: Organic usually costs more because of feed, pasture, and certification.

A "natural" label on a regular bag means the product is minimally processed with no artificial ingredients or added color. It tells you nothing about how the cattle were raised.

Organic beef and grass-fed beef are two separate label claims, and one doesn't guarantee the other. Many shoppers assume they mean the same thing because both involve grazing.

Organic cattle graze during the season, but they can spend a limited finishing period eating organic grain before processing. Because that grain is organic, the beef keeps the seal.

Grass-fed claims on meat need approval from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), along with records to back them up. Look for "100% grass-fed" or "grass-finished" if you want beef from cattle that never switched to grain.

Some jerky meets both standards. Mecene's jerky uses USDA-certified organic, 100% grass-fed beef, so the cattle were raised under organic rules and fed on grass.

You can spot real organic jerky by checking the package for the USDA seal, the organic wording, and the certifier's name. It's a ten-second test. Flip the bag and look for these:

• The round USDA Organic seal on the package

• "100% Organic" (every ingredient is organic) or "Organic" (at least 95% organic ingredients, not counting water and salt)

• The certifier's name, usually printed below the brand's name and address

• The word "organic," or an asterisk, next to organic items in the ingredient list

Made with organic ingredients" means at least 70% of the ingredients are organic, and those products can't use the seal.

While the bag is flipped, check the Nutrition Facts panel too. The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet, and 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. It's a quick way to compare sodium between two jerky products.

The USDA Organic seal covers what the cattle ate, whether they received antibiotics or hormones, and how much time they spent on pasture. A "natural" label covers none of that. Check the jerky in your pantry, gym bag, or hiking pack for the seal and the certifier's name.

If you want organic beef with smoky flavors, try Mecene Market's organic, grass-fed jerky, made with bone broth, garlic, and black pepper. Carry a bag through your next busy day and enjoy a snack you've already checked. The seal takes a second to find, and it tells you more than anything on the front of the bag.