Animal Care
Today’s consumers expect more choices, greater accountability and full transparency from whoever is bringing food to their plates. Many diners care about the treatment and care of agricultural animals – including how those animals are raised and what they’re fed. We also share those concerns. That’s why we developed our Serve Good® program to include an animal care pillar. This is where you'll find US Foods® Exclusive Brands products with third-party certification of humane animal handling and welfare practices, such as Cage-Free, Grass-Fed, Raised Without Antibiotics, Humanely Raised and more.
CAGE-FREE
When eggs or egg products are certified cage-free, they must adhere to strict rules around animal handling and welfare for the hens that lay the eggs. According to the USDA’s Shell Egg Grading System, cage-free systems may “vary from farm to farm, but must allow hens to exhibit natural behaviors and include enrichments such as scratch areas, perches and nests. Hens must have access to litter, protection from predators, and be able to move in a barn in a manner that promotes bird welfare.”
GRASS-FED
Grass-fed animals are those that forage for grass and other crops and are not fed grain or grain byproducts. Producers are required to raise the animal under defined humane conditions with access to the outdoors on a pasture or range. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has requirements that a company must meet to make “grass-fed” claims.
RAISED WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS
Some consumers are concerned about the use of antibiotics on livestock. When a product has a claim of Raised Without Antibiotics, whether it’s meat, poultry, seafood, dairy or eggs, it means it has been produced without the use of antibiotics. Producers must adhere to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) guidelines that prohibit administration of antibiotics in feed, water or by injections at any point in the production process, including four ionophores which are considered antibiotics by FSIS.
HUMANELY RAISED
In response to consumer concerns about the care and treatment of farm animals, several third-party organizations have developed guidelines for promoting humane care of livestock species in collaboration with stakeholders, such as farmers, veterinarians, scientists, animal advocacy groups and industry professionals.
Certifying bodies may include:
American Humane CertifiedTM
For more information, visit American Humane's webpage: https://www.americanhumane.org/humane-heartland/our-standards/
Certified Humane
For more information, visit A Greener World’s webpage: https://agreenerworld.org/certifications/animal-welfare-approved/