U.S. Food Labels
Here are some explanations on the most commonly-found U.S. labels on dairy, eggs, poultry, and meat:
Third-Party Verified Humane Certifications
Third-party verified humane certification programs have comprehensive standards developed by animal welfare organizations that focus on the needs of the animals. The labels are approved by the USDA for use on products and compliance in independently verified. However, these programs still cover only a small number of animals and products from these programs are not yet widely available.These programs, therefore, prevent some of the worst farm animal cruelties such as intensive confinement in cages. While their standards are comprehensive, products from these humane programs are not yet widely available due to the relatively small number of producers and animals covered by these programs."American Humane Certified" (dairy, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, bison, goat, lamb, pork, veal)The first humane food certification program in the U.S., American Humane Certified (previously known as Free Farmed) is administered as a program of the American Humane Association. Its auditing process includes 24/7 video monitoring of all live areas, including transportation and slaughter facilities. Laying hens reared under the American Humane Certified program may be raised in
enriched colony housing systems.
Learn more about this program >>
"Animal Welfare Approved" (dairy, eggs, chicken, duck, goose, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, goat, pork, rabbit)
This humane food certification program is administered by the
Animal Welfare Institute. All animals reared under this program have to be provided with regular access to the outdoors and the standards prohibit physical mutilation like
beak trimming of hens and
tail docking of pigs. This program also includes certain animals - such as rabbits, ducks and geese - not currently covered by other humane programs. Guidelines for humane slaughter and standards for working dogs are also provided. All producers under the program must be family farmers and producers that have both humane and
factory farm operations cannot participate.
Learn more about this program >>
"Certified Humane" (dairy, eggs, chicken, turkey, beef, goat, lamb, pork)
This humane food certification program is administered by
Humane Farm Animal Care and endorsed by many animal advocacy organizations. Species-specific standards require a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones, and that animals be raised with shelter, resting areas, sufficient space and the ability to engage in natural behaviors. The program requires that indoor housing systems (when permitted for poultry and pigs) adhere to strict air quality and lighting standards in addition to those that meet the animals' behavioral and physiological needs. Guidelines for humane slaughter are also provided.
Learn more about this program >>
"Global Animal Partnership 5-Step Rating" (chicken, turkey, beef, pork)
The 5-Step Animal Welfare rating program was developed by
Global Animal Partnership (previously part of the Animal Compassion Foundation - a program of
Whole Foods Market.) This tiered rating program was tested in Whole Foods Market stores and ranks products under other humane labels. Under the 5-Step rating system designed in collaboration with animal welfare advocates, animal welfare scientists and farmers, each new step maintains or strengthens the standards of the previous one. Standards do not cover slaughter but are being developed to include other species.
Learn more about this program >>
“Food Alliance Certified” (dairy, eggs, chicken, beef, bison, goat, lamb, pork)
A comprehensive certification program for sustainable farms and food handling facilities that ensures safe and fair labor conditions, better treatment of animals, wildlife habitat protection, and stewardship of the ecosystem. Although not exclusively an animal welfare label, it ensures humane animal treatment by requiring animals to have access to sunlight, fresh air and water, pasture (where appropriate), adequate food and shelter, enough space to engage in natural and social behaviors, and minimal fear and stress during handling, transport and slaughter. The use of growth hormones and non-therapeutic antibiotics is prohibited. Some mutilations such as
beak trimming are still allowed without anesthesia or analgesia (pain relief).
Learn more about this program >>
Third-Party Verified Labels
While compliance with the standards under these labels is verified independently by a third-party certifier, they only address limited aspects of animal care and handling. The use of growth hormones and non-therapeutic antibiotics is typically prohibited by these programs.
"USDA Organic" (dairy, eggs, chicken, goose, duck, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, pork)
Currently the only recognized organic program in the U.S. The program's standards have been written to apply to all farm animals and don't address many animal care issues such as weaning, physical alterations like tail docking or beak trimming, minimum space allowances, handling, transport, or slaughter. In early 2010 the USDA modified the label to require animals have true access to pasture and be provided with fresh air, sunlight, and freedom of movement. Learn more about this program >>
Unverified Labels
While these U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-approved labels may have meaningful definitions and animal-care standards, no one is charged with verifying that participating farmers comply with the standards.
“Cage free” (eggs)
May be placed on eggs or egg products that have come from hens who have never been confined to a cage and who have had unlimited access to food, water, and the freedom to roam. “Cage free” does not have the same meaning as “free range” or “pastured raised” and can refer to birds who have lived their entire lives confined to a building or one room of a building. In fact, the space per hen may not be that much more than for caged birds, but generally the welfare of "cage free" hens is superior to those kept in battery cages or enriched colony housing systems.
“Free range” (chicken, duck, goose, turkey)
When used on poultry means that the birds were allowed "continuous, free access to the outside for over 51% of their lives through a normal growing cycle." However, some "free range" birds may be housed in open-air barns with limited exits to the outside that are left open for only a short period each day. In other "free range" situations the birds may spend a large proportion of their day outdoors and are brought in only at night or bad weather. There is no way of telling which is the case without visiting the farm. Because meat birds are slaughtered at such a young age (6-7 weeks), many “free range” birds raised during winter months never go outdoors.
"Grass fed" (dairy, beef, bison, lamb)
USDA defines "grass fed" meat from animals whose diet was derived soley from forage and who had continous access to pasture during the growing season. The feeding of grain is also prohibited under the label. However the term applies to diet only and is not synonymous with "free range" or "pasture raised." It is possible that an animal can be kept in feedlot confinement and the meat labeled as "grass fed."
"Pasture raised" (dairy, eggs, chicken, duck, goose, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, pork)
The terms “pasture raised” and “pasture grown” are similar in meaning to “free range” when used to describe the raising of cattle, sheep, and pigs. However, the terms have more significance when used with hens and meat birds. “Pasture raised” indicates that the eggs or meat came from birds who were provided genuine access to both the outdoors and natural vegetation. Many pasture operations use mobile shelters with perimeter fencing that are located in a pastured area and moved periodically to protect the plant growth and provide the birds with a continuous source of seeds. Learn more about this label >>
Other Labels
In addition to the above labels, consumers may notice the following claims on packages containing animal products.
“Humanely raised”
This term is not recognized by the USDA for the labeling of animal products. Any humane claim must be accompanied by an explanation of what is meant by the term. An exception is made for products that are marketed under a third-party verified humane certification. For example, “Certified Humane” and “American Humane Certified” are USDA-approved labels that do not require an additional explanation. USDA does not verify on-farm compliance with “humanely raised” claims, but third-party certification programs using the label must demonstrate how they verify compliance with their standards.
“Natural”
This is unquestionably the most misleading and misunderstood food label. The term applies only to products that have been minimally processed and indicates that the product contains no artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients, or chemical preservatives. “No antibiotics used” and “no hormones administered” claims must be made separately from the “natural” label. In fact, meat from animals fed antibiotics or hormones may be labeled “natural” as long as no artificial ingredients or preservatives were added to the final product. “Natural” does not refer to the way the animal was raised, fed, or handled.
"Naturally raised"
Producers and retailers use this claim to indicate meat from animals who have not received antibiotics or hormones and have been fed only a vegetarian diet. This claim does not specifically address animal care and does not require freedom of movement and access to fresh air and sunlight.
"No antibiotics used"
The USDA does not allow the use of "antibiotic free" labels on meat products because technology cannot verify that animals were never given antibiotics. USDA does however allow producers to label meats as "no antibiotics used" or "no detectable antibiotic residue," but it is the producer and not the government that is doing the testing for residue. Producers are required to supply documentation that animals have not received antibiotics and whether they have been treated for illness. Antibiotic use is associated with intensive confinement, so the "no antibiotic used" label suggests, but does not guarantee, that the animal wasn't raised on a factory farm.
"No hormones administered"
A "hormone free" label cannot be used on meat or dairy products, as all animals produce hormones. Since the USDA prohibits the use of hormones in the raising of poultry, "no hormones administered" cannot be used on poultry products unless accompanied by a statement indicating that hormone use is prohibited by federal law. "No hormones administered" or "no hormones added" labels are allowed for the labeling of beef products and generally indicate, but do not guarantee, that the animal was not confined to a feedlot. As with antibiotics, the government does not test for the presence of hormones to verify accuracy of the claim.
“United Egg Producers Certified”
A third-party certification program developed by the egg industry for the care of egg-laying hens to which about 80% of U.S. producers belong. The program fails to provide even a minimum level of animal welfare. It allows hens to spend their entire lives crammed into small cages without any access to the outdoors for exercise, litter for dust bathing, or boxes for nesting. The standards also allow for the routine use of antibiotics and permit cutting the beaks off of birds (de-beaking) without pain relief. However, as a result of negotiations with animal protection organizations, UEP announced in 2011 that they would support federal legislation requiring egg producers to switch to enriched colony housing for laying hens.