They say that if factory farms had glass walls, then everyone would be vegetarian. I couldn’t agree more (unless you’re a complete sociopath). I think everyone can agree that animal abuse has no place in this world, but people inadvertently contribute to it every single day. The good news is that it’s very easy not to do!
The ONLY labels that matter are Certified Humane/Animal Welfare Certified, Animal Welfare Approved (AWA), the Global Animal Partnership (GAP), and the American Grassfed Association (AGA). These certifications mean that you are buying animal products that the animals are raised on a pasture and truly not in cages.
Where things get confusing, is that there are a ton of misleading labels out there. This makes it extremely confusing for people who think they are supporting ethically raised animals. The terms “Free-range”, “100% Natural”, “Cage Free”, mean absolutely nothing, and are labels that are given without any actual certification or change in practice. The worst of the offenders is the “American Humane Certified”, which does not require pasture access for any species, making it popular with industrial livestock operations. It also allows for egg production using battery cages, which is widely regarded as one of the most inhumane living conditions.
Whole Foods is the easiest place to shop, as the majority of their products are humane. The easiest way to start shopping without being overwhelmed is to look for one label that you know is safe - for example, all the meat at the Whole Foods counter is Certified Humane. There are also brands that are always humane, like Applegate Naturals. Once you’ve got one label covered, you can start looking for a second one. A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t recognize the label, then it is coming from a factory farm.
