Certified Humane

What is Certified Humane?

The Certified Humane label means that the food product has met a set of  thorough standards set out to protect the welfare of the animals used in production through their entire life from birth up to slaughter. The practices conducted by all facilities involved in production set out to optimize the health and well-being of the animals while minimizing stress, pain, disease and behavioural frustrations.

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What are the Standards?

The Certified Humane standards include detailed guidelines that specifically pertain to beef cattle, broiler chickens, laying hens, dairy cows, goats, pigs, sheep, turkeys, young dairy beef and bison separately.

The standards outline conditions that must be met including (but not limited to):

• Providing free access to water and quality, nutritious food free from antibiotics, animal by-products and growth hormones

• Housing that is conducive to the comfort of individual species with specifications on ventilation, light and temperature 

• Adequate space allowances free from confinement and safe outdoor areas containing sufficient shelters

• quiet and compassionate handling and treatment of animals done by trained competent persons

• veterinary care standards for individual and group animal health

• Maximum transportation times and loading/unloading animals in a way that minimizes stress or injury

• Slaughtering in a humane, painless and stress-free manner by standards written by Dr. Temple Grandin

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Who Created and Enforces the Standards?

The Scientific Comittee that created the standards is comprised of an international team of 41 veterinarians and animal scientists including Dr. Temple Grandin herself. Inspections are done by third-party experts on the individual species being inspected including veterinarians and scientists.

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Where are Certified Humane Products Available?

At this time in Calgary, the Certified Humane label can be found in Sobeys  grocery stores and at select farmers markets.