Helping you make informed choices about the meat you eat
Whole Foods Market’s meat departments are stocked with an incredible selection of meat and poultry from farmers and ranchers dedicated to meeting our strict Animal Welfare Standards. Before we do any purchasing, we know exactly how the animal was raised, what it ate and where it came from. And, we’ve done the research to give you the most responsibly raised selection of meat and poultry around.
Antibiotics
In the early 1980s we prohibited the use of antibiotics to prevent disease because we believe that good management practices are a better way to maintain animal health. In 2002 we deepened our standards to also prohibit antibiotic use in treating disease or infection. To ensure that animals do not suffer, we require that they be given medication if needed, but those animals cannot be sold to Whole Foods Market.
Hormones & Growth Promotants
Our quality standards prohibit the administration of hormones to farm and ranch animals, including beef cattle and sheep (the only two species for which the USDA permits the use of hormones). Beta agonists (used to enhance growth and develop lean muscle tissue in livestock) such as Zilmax and ractopamine are also prohibited. This means no growth-enhancing drugs. No way, no how!
Animal Welfare
We have a strong focus on animal welfare with standards for all species of animals raised for our meat department. In addition to species-specific standards, we have general animal welfare standards that include ensuring animals have enough space to perform their normal behavior and that prohibit confinement or tethering that inhibits freedom of movement. In 2002 we worked with world-renowned scientist and animal-welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin to ensure animal welfare from the time the animals leave the truck through slaughter.
Plus! The 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating
We work with the Global Animal Partnership to certify our producers\’ animal welfare practices. We\’ve rolled out their 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating in every Whole Foods Market store in the United States and Canada. More details at- www.globalanimalpartnership.org
Global Animal Partnership, a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2008, brings together farmers, scientists, ranchers, retailers, and animal advocates—a diverse group with the common goal of improving the welfare of animals in agriculture. Our program, the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards, recognizes and rewards producers for their welfare practices, promotes and facilitates continuous improvement, and better informs consumers about the production systems they choose to support. As of January 1, 2014, the 5-Step program includes 2,415 farms and ranches that range from Step 1 to Step 5+ and raise more than 147 million animals annually.
The 5-Step Program
Promoting and facilitating continuous improvement in animal agriculture is one of our core missions and why we developed our initiative—the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards.
The very structure of the 5-Step program encourages higher welfare practices and systems to the benefit of farmers, consumers, retailers, and the animals.
Each set of tiered standards— from Step 1 to Step 5+ —has its own requirements that must be met before certification to that particular Step level is assigned, if appropriate. Producers have the freedom to aim for any Step level they choose. Each Step rating has its own distinct label that identifies the particular Step level achieved.
In essence, Step 1 prohibits cages and crates. Step 2 requires environmental enrichment for indoor production systems; Step 3, outdoor access; Step 4, pasture-based production; Step 5, an animal-centered approach with all physical alterations prohibited; and, finally, Step 5+, that the entire life of the animal be spent on an integrated farm.
As of January 1, 2014, the 5-Step program includes 2,415 farms and ranches that range from Step 1 to Step 5+ and raise more than 147 million animals annually.
Source: Whole Foods Market website
