Certified Humane is a special label that tells us how animals are treated on farms. When you see the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® logo on food, it means those animals had a safe and loving home. This program was started by a group called Humane Farm Animal Care. They work hard to make sure farm animals are well cared for from the day they are born until they are processed for food.
What Does Certified Humane Mean?
The Certified Humane program has strict rules about how animals should be raised. These rules come from smart scientists and veterinarians who know what animals need to be happy and healthy. For example, animals must have enough space to move around freely, eat good food, and live without stress. They should not be kept in small cages or crates because that can make them feel trapped and scared.In short, when you choose Certified Humane products, you are helping to support better lives for farm animals!
How Certification Helps Animals
This certification has clear rules about how animals should be treated. It tells farmers to give animals enough space to move around, fresh food, and water. Animals should also be able to do things that come naturally to them.
For example, chickens need room to flap their wings, and pigs should have space to dig around in the dirt. These rules help animals live happy and healthy lives before they become food.
Next, there are regular checks by trained inspectors. These inspectors make sure that farms are following the rules. If a farm doesn’t meet the standards, it can lose its certification. This keeps farmers responsible and encourages them to treat their animals better.
How Certification Helps Consumers
Now, let’s think about how this affects us when we shop. When people see the Certified Humane label on eggs or meat, they can feel good about their choices. They know they are supporting farms that treat animals kindly.
Many shoppers are even willing to pay a bit more for these products because they believe it means better treatment for the animals.
Also, this certification helps people learn more about how animals are treated on factory farms. By choosing Certified Humane products, shoppers show that they care about animal welfare. This encourages more farms to treat their animals better because they want to meet what consumers are asking for.
History and Background of Certified Humane
The Certified Humane program has a cool story that started with a simple idea: to ensure farm animals are treated kindly. In 2003, Adele Douglass-Jolley was shocked by the poor conditions of animals in factory farms. She wanted to help shoppers choose better food options that came from farms where animals were cared for properly.
Before Certified Humane, groups like the American Humane Association, which began in 1877, worked to stop animal cruelty, including on farms. In 2000, the American Humane Certified program started to help people know if their food came from humane farms.
Adele then founded Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) in 2003 to manage the Certified Humane program. This program sets strict rules for how animals should be treated. Farms that follow these rules can display the Certified Humane logo, which means the animals had good living conditions and were treated with respect.Certified Humane also cares about animals’ feelings, allowing them to act naturally and feel safe.
Mission and Objectives of Certified Humane
The mission of Certified Humane is all about making life better for farm animals. They want to ensure that animals are raised in a way that allows them to be happy and healthy. This means setting high standards for how these animals should live.
Certified Humane believes that all farm animals deserve to live in places where they can express their natural behaviors. Their goal is to change the way animals are treated on farms, so they can enjoy their lives from the moment they are born until they reach the end of their journey. By following these standards, Certified Humane makes sure that animals are cared for with kindness and respect.
To achieve their mission, Certified Humane focuses on several key objectives:
- Setting Standards: Certified Humane creates clear rules about how farm animals should be treated. These rules cover everything from how animals are housed to what they eat and how they are cared for. They base these rules on what scientists know about keeping animals happy and healthy.
- Certification Process: Farms that follow these rules can earn a special label called “Certified Humane Raised & Handled.” This label is like a badge of honor! It tells shoppers that the food they buy comes from farms where animals are treated well.
- Consumer Awareness: Certified Humane also wants to help people understand why it’s important to choose humane products. When shoppers learn about the benefits of treating animals kindly, they are more likely to buy these products.
- Continuous Improvement: But Certified Humane doesn’t just set rules and walk away. They keep checking on farms to make sure they stick to these standards. Regular inspections help ensure that animals are always treated with kindness and respect. This way, everyone can be sure that the animals are living their best lives!
Certified Humane Certification Criteria
The Certified Humane program has some important rules that farms must follow. These rules ensure that animals live happy lives from the moment they are born until they are processed for food. Here are some key points:
- Freedom to Move: Animals can’t be stuck in cages or crates. They need space to move around and do what feels natural to them.
- Healthy Diet: They must eat good food without harmful stuff like antibiotics or growth hormones.
- Comfortable Living Conditions: Farms should provide proper shelter, fresh water, and enough space for animals to rest comfortably.
- Natural Behaviors: Animals should be able to act like themselves. For example, chickens should scratch the ground, and pigs should have room to dig around.
Certified Humane Certification Process
Becoming Certified Humane is an exciting journey, Let’s delve into the steps involved in this process together.
Step 1: Show Interest
First, a farmer or rancher says, “I want to be Certified Humane!” This is completely up to them. They want to show everyone that they care about their animals. Many shoppers like to buy from farms that treat animals kindly, so this makes everyone happy!
Step 2: Fill Out an Application
Next, the farmer fills out an application. This is like a form where they tell about the animals they raise and how they take care of them. There’s a small fee of $75 to submit this application. Think of it as joining a club that promises to treat animals nicely!
Step 3: Initial Check
After sending in the application, it gets an initial check. The Certified Humane team looks it over to make sure everything is filled out correctly. If they have questions, they will ask the farmer for more details. This helps clear up any confusion before moving on.
Step 4: Farm Visit
An inspector visits the farm to see how everything works. They check how the animals live, what they eat, and how they are treated. The inspector talks with the staff and looks at records to make sure everything meets the Certified Humane standards. After their visit, they share what they found with the farmer.
Step 5: Final Check
Once the inspector finishes, the team reviews their report. They check if the farm follows all the rules. If there are any problems, they let the farmer know what needs to be fixed before certification can happen.
Step 6: Certification Awarded
If everything looks great, congratulations! The farm gets its Certified Humane certificate, which lasts for one year. This means they can now sell their products as Certified Humane! Plus, they receive some cool marketing help to share their story with shoppers.
Step 7: Keep It Going
But wait, there’s more! Each year, farms need to renew their certification. They fill out a renewal application and tell the team about any changes in how they operate. Then, another inspection happens to ensure they still meet all the standards.And that’s how farms become Certified Humane! It’s all about caring for animals and sharing that love with everyone who shops for food!
Benefits of Certified Humane Certification
This certification has lots of benefits for animals, farmers, businesses, and as a consumer!
Benefits for Animals
This certification makes sure they live happy and healthy lives. They have enough space to move around, breathe fresh air, and do things that come naturally to them.
Benefits for Farmers
When they earn the Certified Humane label, it shows they care about their animals. This can help them attract more customers who want to buy food from farms that treat animals well. Many people are willing to pay a little extra for food that comes from farms with good practices. This means farmers can sell more and make more money.
Benefits for Businesses
For stores and businesses, having Certified Humane products is a smart choice. It helps them stand out because shoppers today want to buy from brands they can trust. By offering these products, stores can build strong relationships with customers who care about animal welfare.
Benefits for Consumers
when a shopper see the Certified Humane logo, you can feel good about your choices. You know you’re supporting farms that put animal welfare first. This makes shopping not just about filling your cart but also about making a positive difference in the world!
Certified Humane vs Other Certifications
When we chat about Certified Humane, it’s good to see how it compares to other certifications. This helps us understand what makes it unique and why it’s important for animal care. Let’s look at some of these certifications and see how they measure up!
- American Humane Certified
- This was one of the first certifications in the U.S. However, many people think its rules aren’t strict enough. For example, it allows practices like debeaking chickens, which some say isn’t kind. On the other hand, Certified Humane has tougher rules that focus on giving animals better living conditions from the start of their lives until they are processed.
- Global Animal Partnership (GAP)
- GAP has a special 5-Step program that rates how well animals are treated. It encourages better living conditions, like letting animals go outside and providing fun spaces for them. While Certified Humane also supports good practices, GAP’s system gives more detailed levels of animal care, helping shoppers choose based on what they believe in.
- Animal Welfare Approved
- This certification asks farms to follow very high standards, but it is known for being quite strict. It doesn’t allow some practices that Certified Humane permits, like certain types of castration without pain relief. Still, both certifications aim to make life better for animals.
- Better Chicken Commitment (BCC)
- The BCC sets high standards for chicken welfare, focusing on things like space and lighting. Unfortunately, Certified Humane does not fully meet all BCC standards, especially regarding bedding and lighting for chickens. So while both care about animal welfare, they focus on different things.
- USDA Organic
- USDA Organic mainly looks at organic farming practices but doesn’t guarantee high animal welfare standards. For example, it doesn’t require animals to have outdoor access like Certified Humane does. With Certified Humane label, Its more certain that the animals were treated well throughout their lives.