Where to Find a Certified Humane® Turkey for Thanksgiving

(Herndon, VA) November 15, 2010 – According to Adele Douglass, Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) Chief Executive Officer, “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®.  A Certified Humane® turkey is one that can flap its wings and move around, can perch above the ground at night, eat nutritious food that doesn’t contain antibiotics or other chemicals and express other natural behaviors. Only a few producers raise turkeys this way — Ayrshire Farm in Virginia and Footsteps Farm in Connecticut.”  Consumers can order directly from Ayrshire Farm at: www.ayrshirefarm.com and Footsteps Farm www.CTFFE.com.

“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 added.

“We are hoping that consumers will help us get more turkey producers to meet our standards by next Thanksgiving,” said Douglass.” Information on how to help is on our website.”

HFAC is the leading non-profit certification organization improving the lives of farm animals in food production. The Certified Humane® designation assures consumers that meat, poultry, egg, or dairy products they purchase have been produced according to HFAC’s precise 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. Since the HFAC program was unveiled in May 2003, more than 60 companies, representing hundreds of farms and millions of farm animals, have been certified.

Endorsed by more than 36 humane organizations, the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® program is nationally recognized as the “Gold Standard.” HFAC’s Animal Care Standards were developed by a veritable “Who¹s Who” of national and international animal scientists and farm-animal welfare experts.  Producer compliance with the HFAC standards is verified through annual on-site visits by HFAC’s third-party inspectors.

Consumers looking for more information regarding Certified Humane® turkeys or other products can visit www.certifiedhumane.org.