Post by ZandraJoi on Apr 28, 2020 9:37:17 GMT -5
CAFO stands for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, factory farms. Very inhumane. Animals are meant to be outside in fresh air in nature not in small cages. I have no problem with people eating meat & dairy, I still do on occasion. But we have to be educated. I don’t believe in abuse of any creature & just like w/ religion, once I know something I can’t go back. I do not compromise & if I do consume meat & dairy it is always organic. I’m extremely conscious of things that would have dairy in them, including vitamins, bread. If we rant & rave over puppies & kitties being abused, why don’t we feel the same way over livestock? They have feelings too. They can be loving. They hurt.
Eco-labels for meat from Earthbound Cook book
Natural- “Meat minimally processed & free of additives i.e. preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors”. Finished product only (meat after slaughter) & has nothing to do w/ how animal was raised or handled.
USDA Certified Organic- Strictest & most regulated label. Must be fed 100% organic diet, no hormones, antibiotics, not exposed to synthetic pesticides. Raised in humane manner w/ access to outdoors, shade, etc.
American Grassfed Association- When grass has been only part of diet. They may have also been confined, given grain, antibiotics, or synthetic hormones. Nor does label claim meat is organic.
Certified Humane Raised & Handled- Ensures that a producer meets humane standards from birth thru slaughter. Must have ample space, shelter, gentle handling to limit stress, water, quality feed, w/o added antibiotics or hormones. Vet antibiotics is allowed. Cages, crates, tie stalls forbidden. Must be free to do what comes naturally i.e. chickens flap wings & dust bathe, pigs space to move around & root.
American Humane Certified (formerly Free-Farmed)- Must be free to move around & express normal behavior. No antibiotics or hormones in feed, vet antibiotics allowed. Must be free from fear, shelter, rest.
Raised Without Antibiotics- Is a general claim. Implies none were used in production of a food product.
Hormone Free- No hormones administered & hormone free are general claims. No standard definition ‘cept for meat products. Unless otherwise specified, there’s no organization independently certifying this claim. Important to note that the USDA prohibits use of hormones for pigs & poultry in US. Therefore producers who label pork & poultry as “no hormones administered” are not doing anything beyond what all conventional producers are required to do.
Eggs
Cage-free- Birds uncaged inside barns but may be kept indoors all the time (aka no fresh air, grass). Birds must be able to nest, perch & dust-bathe. Suppliers must follow regulations for stocking density, perch numbers & nesting boxes.
Free-range- Birds must have access to an outdoor area for at least six hours each day. Each hen must have at least 2 square feet (288 square inches) of outdoor space. The outdoor space doesn’t need to have any living vegetation.
Pasture-raised- Birds must be placed on a pasture for at least six hours each day. Each hen must have at least 108 square feet (15,552 square inches) of pasture. The pasture must be covered mainly with living vegetation.
My notes: Do they not realize there are 18 more hours in the day? Also Cage Free & Free Range do beak cutting (w/o pain reliever or anesthesia) & forced starvations (to force molting to manipulate laying cycle). Most if not all CAFO kill male chicks (males don’t lay eggs & not bred to grow as large or as rapidly) & not humanely either. Very gruesome.
Cage free also means that hens are granted enough space to stand upright but not able to move or stretch wings.
But hey, they are quote unquote cage free! I wish people knew all this. & then once you know, do something.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Eco-labels for meat from Earthbound Cook book
Natural- “Meat minimally processed & free of additives i.e. preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors”. Finished product only (meat after slaughter) & has nothing to do w/ how animal was raised or handled.
USDA Certified Organic- Strictest & most regulated label. Must be fed 100% organic diet, no hormones, antibiotics, not exposed to synthetic pesticides. Raised in humane manner w/ access to outdoors, shade, etc.
American Grassfed Association- When grass has been only part of diet. They may have also been confined, given grain, antibiotics, or synthetic hormones. Nor does label claim meat is organic.
Certified Humane Raised & Handled- Ensures that a producer meets humane standards from birth thru slaughter. Must have ample space, shelter, gentle handling to limit stress, water, quality feed, w/o added antibiotics or hormones. Vet antibiotics is allowed. Cages, crates, tie stalls forbidden. Must be free to do what comes naturally i.e. chickens flap wings & dust bathe, pigs space to move around & root.
American Humane Certified (formerly Free-Farmed)- Must be free to move around & express normal behavior. No antibiotics or hormones in feed, vet antibiotics allowed. Must be free from fear, shelter, rest.
Raised Without Antibiotics- Is a general claim. Implies none were used in production of a food product.
Hormone Free- No hormones administered & hormone free are general claims. No standard definition ‘cept for meat products. Unless otherwise specified, there’s no organization independently certifying this claim. Important to note that the USDA prohibits use of hormones for pigs & poultry in US. Therefore producers who label pork & poultry as “no hormones administered” are not doing anything beyond what all conventional producers are required to do.
Eggs
Cage-free- Birds uncaged inside barns but may be kept indoors all the time (aka no fresh air, grass). Birds must be able to nest, perch & dust-bathe. Suppliers must follow regulations for stocking density, perch numbers & nesting boxes.
Free-range- Birds must have access to an outdoor area for at least six hours each day. Each hen must have at least 2 square feet (288 square inches) of outdoor space. The outdoor space doesn’t need to have any living vegetation.
Pasture-raised- Birds must be placed on a pasture for at least six hours each day. Each hen must have at least 108 square feet (15,552 square inches) of pasture. The pasture must be covered mainly with living vegetation.
My notes: Do they not realize there are 18 more hours in the day? Also Cage Free & Free Range do beak cutting (w/o pain reliever or anesthesia) & forced starvations (to force molting to manipulate laying cycle). Most if not all CAFO kill male chicks (males don’t lay eggs & not bred to grow as large or as rapidly) & not humanely either. Very gruesome.
Cage free also means that hens are granted enough space to stand upright but not able to move or stretch wings.
But hey, they are quote unquote cage free! I wish people knew all this. & then once you know, do something.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”