Family-owned Foster Farms announced that its fresh chicken products have earned humane certification from American Humane Association.
The American Humane Certified (AHC) program, developed in 2000, is the nation’s first independent, third-party humane certification program for farm animals. Foster Farms fresh chicken products now carry the American Humane Certified seal. The company announced the certification at the dedication of the new Foster Farms Poultry Education and Research Facility (PERF) at Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The facility features a fully working, American Humane Certified poultry barn modeled after a similar type found on Foster Farms’ own humane-certified ranches.
Beginning in 2012, all company growing facilities dedicated to fresh chicken production in California and the Pacific Northwest implemented AHC program standards and are participating in independent, third-party audits. The audits are administered by the AHC program and its third-party auditor, Validus. The audits consist of more than 200 criteria covering living conditions, diet and natural behaviors. The standards set by American Humane Association are in practice on all Foster Farms fresh chicken ranches 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
A recent survey of 2,000 West Coast consumers by NSON Opinion Strategy, commissioned by Foster Farms, found that consumers want humane-certified meat and poultry products to be more widely available and, at the same time, affordable.
•45% are very concerned about animal welfare.
•49% completely agree that they are more concerned with animal welfare and how animals are raised for food than they were five years ago.
•74% completely agree that they would like more large producers to raise animals for food in a humane way.
•76% completely agree humane-certified foods should be more widely available to consumers.
•80 % completely agree humane-certified food should be more affordable for consumers.
•55% would make a personal commitment/pledge to purchase poultry that is humane-certified.
More information can be found at www.FosterFarms.com.
