It seems as though stories of food recalls are becoming more and more common.  In fact, just a few hours ago, Yahoo published a story that more than five thousand cases of bagged salad are being recalled because of a possible E. coli contamination.  It wasn't that long ago that cantaloupe was being recalled, and other foods have been on the list this year as well.

Since meat is probably one of the most consumed foods in our country, we are putting ourselves at risk by purchasing meat from commercial producers.  Hamburger in particular has been recalled several times over the past few years, and picking up a package at the store is almost like playing Russian roulette with your health.

For that reason, being picky about the source of your meat is an excellent idea.  You have your health and that of your family to protect.  One of the best sources of healthy meat is meat that is locally grown by independent farmers.  Grass fed meats are even better than grain fed, because there are fewer possible sources of contamination in their feed.

You can find local meats by shopping at your farmer's market, browsing through your local newspaper, or checking with your supermarket to see if they carry local meats.  Butcher shops will be able to direct you to local growers, or even sell you that meat themselves.

You can talk to ranchers to see about purchasing meat "on the hoof", which means you will pay a company to slaughter and then package your meat however you like it.  This is usually much less expensive than supermarket meat too, so buying local meat is a better deal not only for your health but also for your wallet.