“That is an issue for another day,” I ended my July 7 post about giving up fish. When I looked into the issue — the treatment of dairy cows and laying hens — I was horrified.
Cows are artificially inseminated repeatedly and their calves taken from them at birth so that their milk can go into dairy production. Male calves are killed or sold for meat. Cows may spend their lives standing on concrete floors in crowded indoor stalls, leading to painful ailments. When their milk production declines, they’re disposed of, often cruelly. Their life expectancy is about 6 years, compared with a natural lifespan of 20 years.
Hens fare no better. They are crammed together in cages with little space to move. Wire floors can cause foot and leg problems. Some farms restrict hens’ food and water to increase egg production. Laying hens are usually sent to slaughter at around 18 months, much younger than their natural lifespan of 8 to 10 years.
Farm exist that treat animals better. How do you find their products in stores?
The labels “humanely raised,” “natural,” “free-range,” and “cage-free” aren’t useful. No regulations govern their use. “USDA Organic” guarantees that animals get outdoor access and organic feed without additives, but historically its focus has been human health more than animal welfare.
For US consumers who are as concerned about the health of animals as about their own, certifications are helpful.
“Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World” is the best certification, in the opinion of Consumer Reports. It guarantees that animals are raised compassionately outdoors for their whole lives. Auditors annually reinspect every farm in the program.
I haven’t found many products locally with the AWA label. Another reputable label, Humane Farm Animal Care’s “Certified Humane Raised and Handled,” indicates that animals are not confined to cages, crates, or tie stalls. Cows have access to the outdoors.
Eggs labeled “Certified Humane” are available at nearby Trader Joe’s and Jewel. I don’t eat eggs so much that I mind paying the premium prices.
Eating yogurt every day, I looked for a balance between cost and humane practices. Although it doesn’t carry a certified humane label, the brand Stonyfield Organic gets an excellent rating from organic-dairy industry watchdog Cornucopia Institute. Stonyfield’s cows are 100 percent grass fed and pasture raised. At under $6 for a 32-ounce tub, Stonyfield is considerably cheaper than many other organic brands and is widely available.
For cheese I settled on a product from New Zealand, where pasture-raised cows are the norm. New Zealand grass-fed sharp cheddar is sold at Trader Joe’s for $6.99 a pound. Its cost, 40 percent more than the brand I used to eat, should spur me to snack less on cheese, which my doctor has advised to reduce cholesterol. Cheddar will be fine in most meals except for Italian dishes.
I haven’t mentioned nondairy cheese and yogurt because I don’t like them and they don’t contain much protein unless they’re soy based. But I have started using soy milk in breakfast smoothies where berries and yogurt mask its flavor. Reasonably priced soy milk (under $3 for a half-gallon) is sold at Whole Foods Market and Mariano’s.
More certified humane dairy and egg options are available. Organic Valley products are sold at Jewel, Mariano’s, and Whole Foods. Whole Foods also sells Green Valley, Maple Hill, Nancy's, and others. Certified Humane has a free product locator app. On Cornucopia you can browse organic brands to see ratings.
I’ve mostly changed my shopping, not my diet. A noticeable dietary change would be going vegan. It may be, as vegans argue, that dairy farming cannot be humane because it separates mothers and calves, traumatizing both. But I’m not ready to become vegan. We do what we can.
It’s nice to hear about the brand of eggs. I would like to be more aware of those things when I can. Thanks for sharing
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