By Bridget Goldschmidt
Such awareness has led savvy grocers, including Larchmont, N.Y.-based D’Agostino Supermarkets, to carry eggs and other products bearing the “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” label from Herndon, Va.-based Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC). Meanwhile Whole Foods is developing its own “Animal Compassionate” standards, including those for laying hens.
HFAC has run a humane certification program since 2003 that it says is the only one in the United States “dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals from birth through slaughter for the 10 billion farm animals raised for food each year.”
D’Agostino became one of the first grocery retailers specifically to source eggs, livestock, poultry, and dairy from producers carrying the Certified Humane Raised and Handled label a few years ago, at the suggestion of supplier Murray’s Chicken.
“When a high-profile retailer like D’Agostino requests, and, in some cases, requires, a supplier to become part of the Certifed Humane Raised and Handled Certification Program, it is sure to have an impact on the industry as a whole,” said HFAC executive director Adele Douglass at a promotional event for the grocer’s humanely raised offerings in early 2006.
Since then, such retailers as Heinen’s and Prather Ranch Meat Co. have followed suit.
But other industry players have also been busy working on the issue of humanely produced eggs—in particular, the egg industry’s representatives.
Atlanta-based trade association United Egg Producers (UEP), just recently protested the passage of the Proposition 2 animal welfare measure in California. However, UEP has worked for years in favor of science-based animal welfare standards, developing its UEP Certified Program in 2000 to address the issue.
The program, according to UEP spokesman Mitch Head, “has been tremendously successful, as 85 percent of all U.S. egg producers now participate in the program and adhere to those guidelines. This means that nearly 90 percent of all shell eggs sold in grocery stores today are produced under the UEP Certified guidelines.”
….EXCLUSIVE WEB CONTENT
What price animal welfare?
Last month California voters voted overwhelmingly in favor of Proposition 2, an animal welfare measure, by a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent.
The measure, which won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2015, “prohibit[s] the cruel confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs,” and provides misdemeanor penalties for violations. Animals covered by the measure are egg-laying hens, pregnant pigs, and calves raised for veal.
United Egg Producers (UEP), an Atlanta-based trade association representing the majority of U.S. egg farmers and companies, was “disappointed” by the proposition’s passage, which it says will result in a loss of nearly 3,400 jobs and $615 million dollars to the state’s economy, citing a study conducted by the organization and the Pacific Egg & Poultry Association.
In its vigorous but ultimately unsuccessful campaign against Proposition 2, UEP was backed by such heavy hitters as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the California Republican Party, California Grocers Association, National Latino Congreso, and California State Conference of the NAACP.
According to UEP, the real aim of the measure, which addresses such confinement systems as battery cages, veal crates, and sow gestation crates, is “to try to end animal farming in the state.” Further, “[b]ecause the wording of Proposition 2 is so vague, the state of California will have to determine how this new law will actually be implemented and enforced when it comes into effect six years from now,” the group notes, warning that similar measures will likely appear on other state ballots.
Progressive Grocer: A Kinder, Gentler Egg
Posted: December 1, 2008 by Certified Humane
By Bridget Goldschmidt
Such awareness has led savvy grocers, including Larchmont, N.Y.-based D’Agostino Supermarkets, to carry eggs and other products bearing the “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” label from Herndon, Va.-based Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC). Meanwhile Whole Foods is developing its own “Animal Compassionate” standards, including those for laying hens.
HFAC has run a humane certification program since 2003 that it says is the only one in the United States “dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals from birth through slaughter for the 10 billion farm animals raised for food each year.”
D’Agostino became one of the first grocery retailers specifically to source eggs, livestock, poultry, and dairy from producers carrying the Certified Humane Raised and Handled label a few years ago, at the suggestion of supplier Murray’s Chicken.
“When a high-profile retailer like D’Agostino requests, and, in some cases, requires, a supplier to become part of the Certifed Humane Raised and Handled Certification Program, it is sure to have an impact on the industry as a whole,” said HFAC executive director Adele Douglass at a promotional event for the grocer’s humanely raised offerings in early 2006.
Since then, such retailers as Heinen’s and Prather Ranch Meat Co. have followed suit.
But other industry players have also been busy working on the issue of humanely produced eggs—in particular, the egg industry’s representatives.
Atlanta-based trade association United Egg Producers (UEP), just recently protested the passage of the Proposition 2 animal welfare measure in California. However, UEP has worked for years in favor of science-based animal welfare standards, developing its UEP Certified Program in 2000 to address the issue.
The program, according to UEP spokesman Mitch Head, “has been tremendously successful, as 85 percent of all U.S. egg producers now participate in the program and adhere to those guidelines. This means that nearly 90 percent of all shell eggs sold in grocery stores today are produced under the UEP Certified guidelines.”
….EXCLUSIVE WEB CONTENT
What price animal welfare?
Last month California voters voted overwhelmingly in favor of Proposition 2, an animal welfare measure, by a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent.
The measure, which won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2015, “prohibit[s] the cruel confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs,” and provides misdemeanor penalties for violations. Animals covered by the measure are egg-laying hens, pregnant pigs, and calves raised for veal.
United Egg Producers (UEP), an Atlanta-based trade association representing the majority of U.S. egg farmers and companies, was “disappointed” by the proposition’s passage, which it says will result in a loss of nearly 3,400 jobs and $615 million dollars to the state’s economy, citing a study conducted by the organization and the Pacific Egg & Poultry Association.
In its vigorous but ultimately unsuccessful campaign against Proposition 2, UEP was backed by such heavy hitters as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the California Republican Party, California Grocers Association, National Latino Congreso, and California State Conference of the NAACP.
According to UEP, the real aim of the measure, which addresses such confinement systems as battery cages, veal crates, and sow gestation crates, is “to try to end animal farming in the state.” Further, “[b]ecause the wording of Proposition 2 is so vague, the state of California will have to determine how this new law will actually be implemented and enforced when it comes into effect six years from now,” the group notes, warning that similar measures will likely appear on other state ballots.
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