American Humane Association Announces "Free Farmed" Label

WASHINGTON, DC--The American Humane Association (AHA) today announced the launch of the Free Farmed Certification Program, the first-ever program to certify that farm animals are raised in a humane manner. A "Free Farmed" label will assure consumers that the dairy, beef, and poultry products they purchase come from animals that were treated according to animal welfare standards developed by AHA.

Consumers have consistently indicated that they would like to have the option of choosing humanely produced products and would be willing to pay more for them. According to a 1999 survey by the Animal Industry Foundation, consumers said they would pay up to five percent more for meat and poultry products labeled as "humanely raised." "We hope the launch of the Free Farmed program will increase public awareness of farm animal treatment, and serve as a national standard for improving farm conditions," O’Brien said. "If consumers purchase products bearing the Free Farmed label, they can rest assured that they’re getting humanely raised products."

The Free Farmed Certification Program will be administered and monitored by Farm Animal Services (FAS), a nonprofit organization created by AHA. FAS will oversee the inspection, certification, and compliance of producers and other businesses that have applied for Free Farmed certification. The United States Department of Agriculture will verify FAS’s inspection process.

FAS will use animal welfare standards developed by the AHA Standards Scientific Committee. The standards outline the housing, feeding and environmental conditions for the animals, and also contain training and education standards for farm management and staff. The AHA Standards Scientific Committee includes experts in animal care, including veterinarians and animal behavior and animal welfare specialists with experience in ethical and humane treatment of animals. "Many of those on the scientific committee are already involved in developing guidelines for the humane treatment of farm animals," said Joy Mench, PhD, a professor at the University of California—Davis, and a member of the committee. "They also have experience in animal management, so they know what works in a practical way."

More than 8 billion farm animals are used in food production each year. "We cannot turn our backs on these animals," O’Brien said. "AHA cannot eliminate the demand for dairy, beef, poultry products, and other animal-based foods. However, we can do everything possible to ensure that animals raised for food production are treated humanely during their lives."

"Free Farmed" inaugural producers include:

• Clover Stornetta Farms, Sonoma County, California.
  Clover Stornetta documents the sources of its milk and requires these farms to meet standards that go beyond most dairies with their "North Coast Excellence Program." Producers agree to very stringent quality requirements – well in excess of the California requirements for somatic cell count and standard bacteria counts. Dairy farms are inspected by teams of other producers and extension representatives for cleanliness, environmental compliance, and even cosmetic appearance. Clover Stornetta Farms is the fasting growing dairy in northern California.

• Egg Innovations, Port Washington, Wisconsin.
  Egg Innovations represents almost 200 years of combined experience in the egg industry. The goal of the company is to give consumers choice in the features they would like to see in an egg. These features can relate to health, animal welfare, vegetarianism or other issues. Products include: Eggstasy eggs where the fat has been reduced and Vitamin E has been added. Organic brand eggs come from birds that roam freely in and out of doors and are fed the purest of grains without chemicals, drugs, hormones or antibiotics. Vegetarian Harvest eggs are produced from hens fed no animal by-product. Cage Free brand eggs come from chickens that live in a more natural environment. Organic and Cage Free brand eggs currently carry the Free Farmed label.

• Meyer Natural Angus, Missoula, Montana.
  Customers are assured quality through Meyer’s own guidelines, more stringent than those of the USDA. Meyer cattle have been raised on a strictly vegetarian diet under environmentally sound practices with humane treatment. No hormones, no antibiotics, and no animal by-products.