As the United States Department of Agriculture is announcing several steps to improve food safety following the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States, Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) is urging consumers to look for Certified Humane labels on beef as an added assurance of quality.
HFAC is a non-profit organization that develops animal welfare science-based standards for the humane treatment of farm animals and inspects farms to ensure that they meet the standards. The farms participating in the voluntary program can use the “Certified Humane Raised & Handled” label on their products, providing consumers assurances that the meat, eggs or dairy products come from animals raised, handled and transported in compliance with the humane standards. A searchable database of retailers carrying Certified Humane products is available at www.certifiedhumane.org.
“Certified Humane standards already include several of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new requirements and we’re pleased that they’ve taken these steps to improve food safety,” said Adele Douglass, executive director of Humane Farm Animal Care. “We go further in protecting farm animals by requiring humane treatment from birth to slaughter.”
In addition to never allowing the slaughter of downed cattle, the Certified Humane standards require that farms provide information to inspectors on the type of feed given to the animals. While the USDA has banned feeding cattle protein to other cattle, there is no process for inspecting farms to ensure compliance.
Certified Humane standards also require traceability and rigorous record keeping on the health and well being of each animal. All cows whose meat will bear the Certified Humane label must be born on that farm or another Certified Humane farm.
“While much remains unknown about the transmission of BSE and the risk to humans, this debate certainly has more Americans thinking about the source of their food,” said Dr. Joy Mench, chairman of the HFAC scientific committee. “The Certified Humane program offers consumers assurances that farmers are meeting strict standards for raising and handling animals.”
The Certified Humane program is backed by the leading humane organizations, including The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Humane Society of the United States. More information can be found at HFAC’s website, www.certifiedhumane.org.
News from Humane Farm Animal Care
P.O. Box 727, Herndon, Virginia 20172 – (703) 435-3883
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michele Wells, Humane Farm Animal Care – (303) 417-0696
Humane Farm Animal Care Applauds USDA Downer Ban
Posted: December 31, 2003 by Certified Humane
As the United States Department of Agriculture is announcing several steps to improve food safety following the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States, Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) is urging consumers to look for Certified Humane labels on beef as an added assurance of quality.
HFAC is a non-profit organization that develops animal welfare science-based standards for the humane treatment of farm animals and inspects farms to ensure that they meet the standards. The farms participating in the voluntary program can use the “Certified Humane Raised & Handled” label on their products, providing consumers assurances that the meat, eggs or dairy products come from animals raised, handled and transported in compliance with the humane standards. A searchable database of retailers carrying Certified Humane products is available at www.certifiedhumane.org.
“Certified Humane standards already include several of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new requirements and we’re pleased that they’ve taken these steps to improve food safety,” said Adele Douglass, executive director of Humane Farm Animal Care. “We go further in protecting farm animals by requiring humane treatment from birth to slaughter.”
In addition to never allowing the slaughter of downed cattle, the Certified Humane standards require that farms provide information to inspectors on the type of feed given to the animals. While the USDA has banned feeding cattle protein to other cattle, there is no process for inspecting farms to ensure compliance.
Certified Humane standards also require traceability and rigorous record keeping on the health and well being of each animal. All cows whose meat will bear the Certified Humane label must be born on that farm or another Certified Humane farm.
“While much remains unknown about the transmission of BSE and the risk to humans, this debate certainly has more Americans thinking about the source of their food,” said Dr. Joy Mench, chairman of the HFAC scientific committee. “The Certified Humane program offers consumers assurances that farmers are meeting strict standards for raising and handling animals.”
The Certified Humane program is backed by the leading humane organizations, including The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Humane Society of the United States. More information can be found at HFAC’s website, www.certifiedhumane.org.
News from Humane Farm Animal Care
P.O. Box 727, Herndon, Virginia 20172 – (703) 435-3883
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michele Wells, Humane Farm Animal Care – (303) 417-0696
Category: press