Sweetgreen has long built its reputation on serving fresh, high-quality, and responsibly sourced ingredients. For years, the menu leaned heavily plant-forward, a strategy that helped the company position itself as a healthier alternative in the fast-casual space. However, as the brand has expanded and evolved, so has its menu, with the recent addition of steak marking a significant new chapter. This expansion naturally raises questions among consumers about the origins and quality of their animal protein. The short answer is yes, Sweetgreen uses real meat, but the details of their sourcing are what truly set their offerings apart from many competitors.
The Caramelized Garlic Steak: An Investment in Quality
One of the most notable recent menu additions is the Caramelized Garlic Steak. For this premium protein, Sweetgreen made a conscious decision to source 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef. This means the cattle spend their entire lives grazing on grass, which is often considered more environmentally friendly and produces beef with a different flavor profile than grain-fed varieties. Sweetgreen has specified that much of this beef comes from trusted partners, with a notable portion being sourced from farms in Australia and New Zealand that focus on regenerative farming principles and high animal welfare standards.
In the kitchen, the tri-tip cut steak is cooked low and slow before being seared in-store. It is seasoned with a unique garlic spice blend and finished with extra virgin olive oil and herbs, highlighting the company's commitment to using simple, high-quality ingredients.
The Chicken Commitment: A Focus on Animal Welfare
Sweetgreen's commitment to responsible sourcing extends beyond just their beef. For their chicken, the company has actively pursued higher-welfare standards through the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). This initiative addresses various critical animal welfare issues, including living conditions, lighting, and humane slaughter methods.
To meet these standards, Sweetgreen is working with its suppliers to source Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Step 2 certified chicken. This certification ensures:
- Adequate space: Stocking density is controlled to give chickens more room to move freely.
- Enriched environments: The spaces include enrichments to promote natural behaviors.
- Proper lighting: The lighting supports natural sleep cycles.
- Humane processing: Controlled Atmosphere Stunning (CAS) is used, which is widely considered a more humane slaughter method.
Sweetgreen publicly tracks and reports on its progress toward these goals, with updates available in their impact reports. This provides a high degree of transparency that is not always common in the fast-casual industry.
Comparison: Sweetgreen's Meat vs. Conventional Fast-Food
To fully appreciate Sweetgreen's sourcing choices, it's helpful to compare their approach to that of more traditional fast-food chains. The following table provides a high-level overview of the key differences.
| Feature | Sweetgreen's Meat Sourcing | Conventional Fast-Food Meat Sourcing |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Source | 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised steak (often from regenerative farms in Australia/NZ) | Often uses grain-finished beef from large-scale feedlots, prioritizing speed and cost |
| Chicken Source | Committed to Better Chicken Commitment standards (GAP Step 2), focusing on welfare and humane processing | Typically sources from conventional factory farms with less stringent animal welfare standards |
| Quality & Prep | Cooked in-store with simple seasonings and EVOO; no artificial preservatives | Often uses pre-cooked, frozen, or processed meats that may contain additives or preservatives |
| Transparency | Publicly reports on animal welfare progress and supplier practices | Generally provides less detail on sourcing and animal welfare practices |
| Environmental Impact | Actively working toward carbon neutrality, utilizing regenerative farming principles and carbon offsets | Often associated with a larger, more resource-intensive environmental footprint |
How Sweetgreen Balances Quality and Mission
Sweetgreen's menu is strategically designed to offer both plant-forward options and premium animal proteins. The decision to introduce grass-fed steak, despite the environmental concerns often associated with beef, is a direct response to customer demand for more protein-rich options. The company's strategy involves offsetting the environmental impact of its animal products through regenerative farming partnerships and carbon offset purchases. While this approach has drawn some criticism and skepticism, it is a testament to the company's efforts to balance customer needs with its sustainability mission.
Conclusion
In summary, yes, Sweetgreen uses real meat, but their approach goes far beyond simply serving animal protein. The company has made conscious choices to source 100% grass-fed steak and higher-welfare chicken, in line with their broader mission of connecting people to real, transparently sourced food. This investment in quality and animal welfare sets them apart from typical fast-food establishments and serves as a core part of their brand identity. For diners, this means that adding chicken or steak to a salad or bowl at Sweetgreen comes with a level of transparency and quality assurance that reflects a commitment to better, more thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Learn more about Sweetgreen's commitment to real food and animal welfare.
