HFAC warns consumers of mislabeled products
by Sustainable Food News
November 17, 2010
The group behind the Certified Humane food label on Tuesday warned unsuspecting consumers that some turkey producers are fraudulently selling birds carrying the logo.
“If you are planning a Thanksgiving meal that includes turkey and want a Certified Humane turkey, be aware that only a few turkeys on the market are genuinely Certified Humane,” said Humane Farm Animal Care’s (HFAC) Executive Director Adele Douglass.
Under HFAC’s standards for humane farm animal treatment, animals must receive a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones and must be raised with shelter, resting areas and space sufficient to support natural behavior, like flapping its wings, moving around, and perching above the ground at night.
“Unfortunately in the past, unscrupulous producers have put the Certified Humane Raised and Handled logo on turkeys that were not raised under HFAC standards and not certified by us. Even though that is illegal, and we contacted them telling them to remove the label, it was too late for consumers who already purchased them believing they were Certified Humane,” Douglass said.
She said her group has been contacted by “alert” consumers in the past year, who have visited company Web sites promoting the Certified Humane logo but that were not listed as certified on HFAC’s Web site.
“I am actually shocked by this,” Douglass told Sustainable Food News in an email.
She said the offending companies received a letter telling them to remove the logo, with a copy of the letter sent to HFAC’s attorney. No legal action has been taken in any case.
HFAC said there are only two turkey producers legitimately using the Certified Humane logo: Ayrshire Farm in Virginia and Footsteps Farm in Connecticut.
HFAC is hoping a greater consumer demand for humanely raised turkeys will help grow its pool of producers, but Douglass isn’t holding her breath.
“I know there are other turkey producers, who, with some changes, could meet our standards, but what I’ve heard from turkey producers is, ‘why should we, there isn’t much demand, people only care about turkeys at Thanksgiving,'” Douglass said.
Sustainable Food News – Read Turkey Labels Carefully
Posted: November 18, 2010 by Certified Humane
HFAC warns consumers of mislabeled products
by Sustainable Food News
November 17, 2010
The group behind the Certified Humane food label on Tuesday warned unsuspecting consumers that some turkey producers are fraudulently selling birds carrying the logo.
“If you are planning a Thanksgiving meal that includes turkey and want a Certified Humane turkey, be aware that only a few turkeys on the market are genuinely Certified Humane,” said Humane Farm Animal Care’s (HFAC) Executive Director Adele Douglass.
Under HFAC’s standards for humane farm animal treatment, animals must receive a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones and must be raised with shelter, resting areas and space sufficient to support natural behavior, like flapping its wings, moving around, and perching above the ground at night.
“Unfortunately in the past, unscrupulous producers have put the Certified Humane Raised and Handled logo on turkeys that were not raised under HFAC standards and not certified by us. Even though that is illegal, and we contacted them telling them to remove the label, it was too late for consumers who already purchased them believing they were Certified Humane,” Douglass said.
She said her group has been contacted by “alert” consumers in the past year, who have visited company Web sites promoting the Certified Humane logo but that were not listed as certified on HFAC’s Web site.
“I am actually shocked by this,” Douglass told Sustainable Food News in an email.
She said the offending companies received a letter telling them to remove the logo, with a copy of the letter sent to HFAC’s attorney. No legal action has been taken in any case.
HFAC said there are only two turkey producers legitimately using the Certified Humane logo: Ayrshire Farm in Virginia and Footsteps Farm in Connecticut.
HFAC is hoping a greater consumer demand for humanely raised turkeys will help grow its pool of producers, but Douglass isn’t holding her breath.
“I know there are other turkey producers, who, with some changes, could meet our standards, but what I’ve heard from turkey producers is, ‘why should we, there isn’t much demand, people only care about turkeys at Thanksgiving,'” Douglass said.
Category: news