According to the Humane Farm Animal Care website over 10 billion animals raised for food in the U.S. annually endure inhumane treatment. Most are confined such that they can’t behave normally. Chickens can’t flap their wings or move. Pigs can’t turn around. Crowding and stress from these conditions compromise animals’ immune systems. They must ingest antibiotics regularly to prevent disease. Further, the current system of factory farms causes problems for the people involved, the environment, and consumers, as well as for the animals.
According to Humane Farm Animal Care the impact extends beyond the animals. Overuse of antibiotics in animals is causing more strains of drug-resistant bacteria. The Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences estimated the annual cost of treating antibiotic-resistant infections in the U.S. at $30 billion.
What can retail buyers do? Look for and buy products labeled Certified Humane Raised and Handled® and encourage the suppliers of your favorite food brands to become certified and to use Certified Humane Raised and Handled® ingredients in their products.
The SafeSourceIt™ Retail Supplier Database contains all suppliers that are Certified Humane Raised & Handled and we encourage others to follow this model.
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