Filling Ingredients: Beef

Beef is the common name for meat from cattle. It is a widely consumed red meat, valued for its flavor and nutritional content. It is obtained by processing cattle for human consumption.

Beef is used in a vast array of food products, providing protein, iron, and B vitamins. It is a primary ingredient in dishes like burgers, steaks, roasts, and ground meat preparations, as well as in processed foods such as frozen appetizers and taco fillings.

Beef is a whole food ingredient and not regulated by FDA as an additive; it is subject to USDA inspection for safety. It is a good source of protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. However, some cuts of beef can be high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend choosing lean cuts of meat and keeping saturated fat intake to less than 10% of daily calories. IARC classifies the consumption of red meat as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), based on limited evidence that it can cause cancer in humans and strong mechanistic evidence. JECFA and EFSA do not typically evaluate whole food ingredients like beef for safety in the same way they evaluate food additives.