Farm Sanctuary Releases Report on “Humane” Meat Labels

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.
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of and concerned about the cruel treatment of animals exploited for meat, milk and eggs. In response, animal producers and food retailers are developing programs to market their products in ways that appeal to these growing concerns, using labels like “humane,” “natural,” “cage free” and “organic.” But what do these terms really mean? Taking a closer look at the substance behind these labels, we see that they refer to a wide range of living conditions for animals — and they may not be consistent with what consumers envision.
Farm Sanctuary reviewed information on meat, milk and egg product labels promoted by government agencies, industry associations, retailers, and third-party interest groups that purport to provide some level of enhanced welfare for the animals involved. A critical look shows that while some farm animals housed and handled under the tenets of a “certified” labeling scheme may suffer less than others, the degree to which their welfare has improved is still far from “humane.” And all animals exploited for meat, dairy or egg production – whether factory farmed or otherwise – meet the same cruel end at the slaughterhouse.