How is compliance with humane standards verified and by whom?
On-farm compliance with the standards of USDA-approved food labels, such as “cage free” and “grass fed,” is not verified. However, compliance with “certified” label terms, such as “Certified Organic” and “Certified Humane,” is verified by a third-party under the direction of the certifying organization. All food certification programs include farm inspections, as well as document reviews. For example, a company that has been accredited by the USDA certifies all “Certified Organic” producers. Therefore, labels that include the words “certified” indicate that the manner in which the animals were raised was monitored to some extent.
