On Thanksgiving, set a humane table

The cherished tradition of Thanksgiving originated more than four centuries ago as the celebration of an abundant harvest. We can honor this legacy by giving thanks to the animals who sustain our families and the hardworking stewards of farm animals—including farmers, ranchers, producers and retailers—who provide safe, affordable and ethical food choices for our families.

American Humane Association carried this message to Capitol Hill yesterday at its second annual Humane Table event. Hosted by the Caucus for the Humane Bond, this Congressional Briefing applauds advancements in farm animal welfare and encourages Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving with a humane holiday feast.

{mosads}Research shows U.S. consumers support the values of setting a “humane table” year-round. Our most recent Humane Heartland Farm Animal Survey found more than nine in 10 surveyed participants were “very concerned” about animal welfare (95 percent), and said choosing humanely raised products is “very important” (93 percent).

Though the vast majority of Americans are concerned about animal welfare, many consumers are still unable to buy groceries according to our shared values. More than half of the survey respondents said humanely raised products are either unavailable (36 percent) or too expensive (19 percent) to purchase.

That’s where positive collaboration comes in. For 138 years we have worked together with farmers and ranchers to find commonsense solutions that work for both animals and people. Our American Humane Certified™ program, the nation’s leading animal welfare certification effort, uses comprehensive science-based standards to help ensure farm animals are raised and handled with compassion.

About 10 percent of U.S. farm animal production is now covered under American Humane Certified guidelines. The reach of our program means more animals live according to verifiable welfare standards, and more people enjoy access to humanely raised foods.

However, for the remaining 90 percent of farm animals, there’s still progress to be made. Farmers and ranchers have long been the key custodians of animal welfare, and the rise of the ethics-driven consumer adds even more momentum to the humane agriculture movement.

Morally, it is incumbent upon all meat, dairy and egg producers to abide by science-based standards that cover everything from adequate space and lighting, to air quality, temperature, and the ability to express natural behaviors. So it’s good to see farmers, foodies, retailers, and others voluntarily stepping up to the plate and embracing humane ways. Those joining us on Capitol Hill to lead through action and speak about their commitment to doing the right thing included Michelin-starred Chef Ken Frank; David Wagstaff, the COO of the happy egg co., which gives hens the most space of any commercial producer; Mika Manninen, co-founder of Scandinavian Meat Masters, which produces the nation’s only American Humane Certified and non-GMO pork; James Mulhern, the president & CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation; and Keith Schoettmer, who was recently named America’s Pig Farmer of the Year for his dedication to humane and sustainable practices.

More and more major producers are following this path and there are increasingly strong market incentives to embrace reasonable humane practices benefiting large numbers of animals. Taco Bell announced on Monday, for instance, that it will switch to using only cage-free American Humane Certified eggs in its more than 6,000 U.S. locations. By implementing these welfare standards, Taco Bell will meaningfully improve the lives of hens who produce the 130 million eggs used by the chain each year.

As more restaurants and retailers, such as Taco Bell, commit to animal welfare, companies that remain complacent on the treatment of farm animals—including those who ask customers to blindly “trust them” on this issue—will be left behind in buying choices. Transparency– with verification–is what’s needed. Consumers want companies to talk turkey to them.

Consumers’ preference for humanely raised food—and, in turn, company policies embracing the humane treatment of animals—positively reinforce food production models that emphasize animal welfare. As grocery shoppers and restaurant patrons, we can help encourage this shift towards humane practices by, whenever possible, making values-based decisions about our food.

Thanksgiving is an occasion celebrating the American traditional of agricultural bounty. On this day, the U.S. farmers and ranchers who provide our families with a cornucopia of options—producing food that is safe, affordable, ethically raised, and humane—deserve due recognition and gratitude. Setting a humane holiday table is the perfect place to start. 

Ganzert is president and CEO of American Humane Association.