Every Monday on her YouTube channel,  food trends expert Dana McCauley gives us the lowdown on the trends that are happening in the food world.  Stop by FBC on Tuesdays for a little extra insight from Dana on how you as a food blogger can use this information in your work!
Like all consumers, I’m often affected by the marketing messages that inundate me when I go to the grocery store. In light of how many claims you see on an average trip up-and-down the aisles, it becomes easy to accept claims at face value and not think beyond the label about what a claim actually means for the people and animals involved in the production of specific foods.
For instance, I was a big fan of meats labeled as antibiotic-free. Then, last spring, I met Adele Douglass, the founder of Certified Humane Animal Care, and I learned that this claim can actually lead to animal suffering. Since farmers who are raising animals are doing so for business purposes, they need to do everything they can to fulfill the promises that they make to grocers and the public. As a result, if a cow, chicken or pig that is to be sold under an antibiotic-free program falls ill, the farmer may wait longer than usual to treat that sick animal with antibiotics since s/he doesn’t want to lose a saleable animal.
Interestingly, programs like Adele’s and the regional SPCA programs that certify farms in British Columbia and now in Ontario, forbid preventive anti-biotic use on their farms but allow sick animals to be treated when necessary and then returned to the herd. Research shows that this practice has little effect on the human antibiotic resistance that is behind the consumer interest in antibiotic-free meats, milk and eggs.
So what’s the lesson here? I’ve learned that when doing videos or writing blog pieces and articles that I need to stop and interview people on opposite sides of all issues. Press releases and single sources can be a great way to get ideas for projects but we all need to pause and think about the flip sides of all the stories we encounter.
Was there a time when you blogged about something that you later realized wasn’t quite as black and white as you represented it in your initial post?
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Hi Dana,
Thank you for supporting “Certified Humane”. I am disabled and after my husband retired we had to tighten our budget. However, the one thing I make sure of is we buy only “Certified Humane” meats. Budget costs have caused us to reduce our meat intake and I’m sure there is nothing wrong with that. We have always been animal rights activists. I appreciate all these efforts being made to treat all animals in a humane manner.
Thanks again.
John and Judy Knoten
Thank you, Dana, for giving us more insight into this very important issue (the well-being of animals, and particularly those abused by the food industry).
Certified Humane products are extremely important to me, and I would be willing to pay for knowing the product I purchase has that certification. I try to buy from farmers’ markets, but that does not guarantee that the products I am buying are certified humane. Another problem is finding more than just certified eggs in my local supermarkets. I would like to see more products made available in local supermarkets, or a way to purchase certified meats through the web.
Thank you for promoting “Certified Humane”. Industrial food practices and animal abuses are appalling. We can do better.
Glad to see so much proof that this trend is important to consumers!
Thanks to everyone who has commented on this thread. I’m glad you find this information useful.
Thank you very much for supporting Certified Humane. We need the world to all share in this. I myself am not a meat eater and appreciate everything that meat eaters DO do to stop inhumane slaughter and cruel practices. I wish the world would allo turn Vegan or at least Vegetarian.
Thank you for reading my comment
Thank you for supporting Certified Humane products. I vow to never eat the meat of tortured animals and have been encouraging my friends and family to make the same promise. Thank you for helping to spread the word.
We are a family of 4 and we buy Certified Humane. It’s definitely worth it to know these animals are cared for and happy!!!!! Our meat consumption has dropped dramatically
anyways but thank you for having this program/certification!!
🙂
I just happen to buy my first “certified humane” dozen eggs today! matter fact this particular brand was on sale for $3.99. I notice that most of the ones that I see are around $5.00, but my biggest concern is where my food is coming from. if this country is going to sell animal related products and not tell us where they are coming from, then I will go more and more organic, because I am not going to consume anything that comes from china! neither will my animals! at least I know if its organic, its coming from this country, right? I like the seal of approval as a guide source.
Dana, thank you for calling attention to this important issue and the importance of purchasing Certified Humane products!
Yes, I am willing to pay more for the Certified Humane label and if that means eating less meat, chicken, etc. I am willing to do that. It’s healthier anyway. I also think as more people understand what factory farming is and how animals suffer there they also will be willing to look for the Certified Humane label. Of course the food industry does not want people to know so we are fighting an up hill battle but blogs like yours will help educate the public and I thank you for that.
Thanks for supporting Certified Humane, Dana. My family eats meat but I only buy Certified Humane. I appreciate your support.
Thank you for supporting Certified Humane products. I have been a long time supporter
and was so pleased when I saw the Certified Humane label on meats in Nova Scotia,
Canada .
I’m also a support animal humane good to see more people doing so much good and education and information about food products good job