With so much focus on pigs and factory farming in the world media, now is a good time to think a little bit more about what ‘free range’, ‘grass fed’ and ‘cage free’ really mean in the production of meat and eggs.
Farm Sanctuary, a farm animal protection organization in the USA, recently released a report that evaluates animal welfare claims made by agribusiness industry groups, food retailers and third-party certification organizations. “The Truth Behind the Labels: Farm Animal Welfare Standards and Labeling Practices” analyzes the criteria used to define such commonly-used marketing phrases as “humane,” “free range” and “naturally raised.”
According to Farm Sanctuary Co-founder and President Gene Baur, “Most people will be surprised to learn that even the most stringent standards often fail to meet their expectations about how animals should be treated. For example, in many of these labeling schemes, 'free range' birds still spend their entire lives tightly packed together in sheds, physical mutilations like de-beaking and tail docking are still allowed, and there are no requirements for outdoor access for some species. We developed this report to provide the facts and increase the transparency of the labeling process so the public knows what they are purchasing.”
Farm Sanctuary has produced two versions of the report. One is a 16-page summary booklet designed for consumers, and the other is a 68-page report for academics in university agriculture departments and other specialists (such as government officials working for the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration) who are studying these issues for the purpose of policy formation.
In conjunction with the report, Farm Sanctuary has launched a Truth Behind Labels campaign that serves to educate consumers about the reality of these labeling schemes and to advocate for transparency in animal welfare standards.
Visit: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/campaigns/truth_behind_labeling.html
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