Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 5/10/11

Now that Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market has certified all fresh beef, pork and chicken sold in its U.S. stores under its 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system, the company announced it is working to certify further processed meats like bacon and ham.

Aimed to address growing concerns about farm animal welfare, the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system is the signature program of the nonprofit Global Animal Partnership.

The rating system identifies incrementally higher welfare practices and conditions within farm animal production systems. Independent third-party certifiers audit and rate farms’ animal welfare practices and conditions using a tiered system of Steps 1 to 5+:
• Step 1: No cages, no crates, no crowding
• Step 2: Enriched environment
• Step 3: Enhanced outdoor access
• Step 4: Pasture-centered
• Step 5: Animal-centered; no physical alterations
• Step 5+: Animal-centered; entire life on the same farm

Signs and stickers throughout Whole Foods Market meat departments identify these Step ratings.
To date, more than 1,300 farms and ranches have been certified.

“The 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system provides a way to engage and reward these producers by promoting continuous improvement in farm animal welfare,” said Anne Malleau, global animal production and welfare coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “This rating system also informs our customers about how the animals are raised for the meat they are buying.”

The company also said it plans to rate additional species as Global Animal Partnership standards are completed.

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