Let’s face it, there’s no humane way to slaughter a non-human animal for food. There just isn’t anything remotely humane about eating non-human animals or wearing their skins and furs.
WATKINS GLEN, NY – April 29, 2009 – Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading
farm animal protection organization, today released a new report that
thoroughly evaluates the animal welfare claims made by agribusiness
industry groups, food retailers and third-party certification
organizations. As the most comprehensive report of its kind, “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.”As more consumers have learned about the animal welfare concerns related
to factory farms, they have increasingly demanded that farm animals
receive better treatment. They have also shown that they are willing to
pay a premium for meat, milk and eggs from so-called “humane” farms.
This growing demand has led to the creation of more than a dozen animal
welfare assurance schemes sponsored by industry groups, food retailers
and third-party organic and humane certification organizations.
Government-regulated animal welfare labels and marketing claims have
also emerged and expanded.
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.”The handsome Warren, my adopted rabbit, now deceased
“The Truth Behind the Labels” is an updated and expanded version of a
2005 Farm Sanctuary report entitled “Farm Animal Welfare: An Assessment
of Product Labeling Claims, Industry Quality Assurance Guidelines and
Third-Party Certification Programs.” Farm Sanctuary’s labeling reports
remain the only comprehensive analyses of animal product labeling
schemes ever published to help today’s consumers understand the process.
The creation of this report has led to the launch of Farm Sanctuary’s
Truth Behind Labels campaign which serves to educate consumers about the
reality of these labeling schemes and to advocate for transparency in
animal welfare standards.Farm Sanctuary has produced two versions of “The Truth Behind the
Labels” to meet the needs of different audiences. 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.Farm Sanctuary’s summary booklet and report entitled “The Truth Behind
the Labels: Farm Animal Welfare Standards and Labeling Practices,” is
available at http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/campaigns/truth_behind_labeling.html.
.About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation’s leading farm animal protection
organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to
expose and stop cruel practices of the “food animal” industry through
research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public
awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge
efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland,
Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have
become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors
about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be
found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.Learn about our shelter residents and take action on their behalf –
sign up for our alerts and online newsletter today!
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/member/Farm Sanctuary
Rescue, Education, Advocacy
www.farmsanctuary.org
A compassionate world begins with you.Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FarmSanctuary.
Filed under: animal rights, factory farming Tagged: | animal rights, factory farming, farm sanctuary
