NaturaLite...THE NAME SAYS IT ALL!

   For nearly 20 years, NaturaLite has designated Maverick Ranch's Lean and Extra Lean ground beef products and steaks. Although we now produce and market multiple lines of healthy natural meats, NaturaLite Beef is still our "flagship" product line. Our NaturaLite steaks, roasts, and ground beef contain at least 50% less fat, 33% fewer calories, and 25% less cholesterol than USDA Choice beef. And check out our NaturaLite nutritional facts, where you'll find as much as an 86% reduction in fat and 63% reduction in calories than other beef.

MAVERICK RANCH: OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF THE U.S. OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTERS

   Since 1987, our beef has been available to over 20,000 U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls who train at the three U.S. Olympic Training Centers (USOTC) each year. The exceptional nutritional values of Maverick Ranch all-natural beef products play a significant role in menu planning for the U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls at the USOTC. We are very proud to be part of the U.S. Olympic Movement.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

   The American Heart Association's heart-check mark is an easy and reliable tool to help identify foods that can be part of a heart-healthy diet. Our company was one of the first meat producers to participate in the Food Certification Program. Four of our Maverick Ranch NaturaLite Ground Beef products (96% Lean 4% Fat Ground Round, Chuck, Sirloin and Beef) meet USDA Extra Lean/Heart Healthy requirements and have been certified by the American Heart Association's Food Certification Program. A beef cut must meet extra lean guidelines (less than 5g fat, 2g saturated fat and less than 95mg cholesterol per USDA reference amount and per 100 grams) in order to be certified by this program.

EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF

   Maverick Ranch NaturaLite ground beef products are made from the same cuts you often buy as steak or roasts. We do not use undesirable cull cattle or bull meat, and cheaper cuts are never substituted. We allow no carrageenan or oatmeal fillers in this product. This ensures all of our ground beef has a great steak flavor. Our four NaturaLite grinds are certified by the American Heart Association. They also qualify for USDA "Lite" labeling requirements, which are: 1. At least a 50% reduction in fat. 2. At least a 33% reduction in calories. 3. Also, at least a 25% reduction in cholesterol. We are very proud of the fact that Maverick Ranch helped start the "lean ground beef movement" in the U.S. in 1986. We were the first to produce ground beef from hand trimmed whole muscles (round, chuck and sirloin) while attaining an amazing fat content of only 4%. This means NaturaLite ground beef is 40%-50% lower in fat and cholesterol than most ground turkey, and 81% lower than regular ground beef. This is one reason that our beef is recommended by numerous doctors, sports nutritionists, and dietitians.

THE INTERNAL COLOR OF LEAN GROUND BEEF

   Maverick Ranch NaturaLite Extra Lean ground beef is often bright red on the outside and purple or dark brown on the inside. This is normal coloration due to the lack of oxygen in the center of the beef product. The reason is that Extra Lean ground beef packs tighter than regular ground beef, and therefore has less internal exposure to oxygen. Opening the package and exposing the internal beef to oxygen will turn all the beef bright red in 10-20 minutes. NaturaLite Beef is exposed to less oxygen and has less bacterial growth and a longer shelf life, greatly adding to the safety of this product. We recommend using fresh ground beef within 24 hours of purchase or freezing it for future use. Always cook ground beef to 160ºF minimum internal temperature.

SELECTING & COOKING LEAN GROUND BEEF

   When selecting beef for lower fat content and better nutritional values, we recommend the following: Choose beef that is graded Select. USDA Select beef has less marbling than USDA Choice and is therefore nutritionally superior when considering fat, calories and cholesterol. The leanest cuts of beef will be those with loin or round in the name. Lean beef generally cooks about 20% faster than USDA Choice beef to achieve the same degree of doneness, so remember to adjust cooking times in your recipes when preparing Maverick Ranch NaturaLite Beef. At room temperature, bacteria doubles every 20 minutes. Therefore, we suggest that you pick up your beef purchase just before you check out at the supermarket. It is best to then proceed directly home and refrigerate the product immediately.

SANOVA: HOW WE PROTECT YOUR FAMILY

   In 2002 Maverick Ranch became the first retail-oriented meat plant in the nation to install SANOVA, the newest USDA-approved system which kills pathogenic (harmful) bacteria. The SANOVA system eliminates over 99% of these pathogens, including Listeria, Salmonella, and E.coli O157:H7, without leaving any residue or affecting taste and tenderness in any way. Unlike other antibacterial measures, SANOVA destroys the harmful bacteria and leaves the "good" bacteria that provide a line of defense against possible new introduction of harmful bacteria in the store or in your home. We do not irradiate any of our products.

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