by Tricia Chaves

Created on: February 17, 2009

In our busy world, most of us barely have enough time to eat, let alone investigate our food before we consume it. I was one of those people, until one day, intrigued by the title, I read the book, Skinny Bitch. In it, I learned about the terrible conditions that many animals endure as a result of factory farming.

Though it doesn't happen in every case, many of the animals we raise for food suffer unnecessarily due to poor living conditions, abuse, neglect or tortuous slaughter. A horribly graphic PETA video titled

Meet Your Meat shows undercover footage of abuse in factory farms and inhumane practices used to raise and prepare farm animals for our dinner table. As a lifelong carnivore, my two criteria to constitute a meal were "hot" and "with meat." But suddenly learning all these new things about the industry caused me to swear off meat completely for seven months, until I was able to find a solution that I could live with.

I was raised in a "Where's the Beef?" culture that desensitized me to the fact animals were slaughtered for food. Even so, I still believe that showing compassion for all living creatures, even those we raise for food, is an obligation for all of us. The fact that we are smart enough to know better is what makes us human. Fortunately, there is a way to ensure the meat and poultry you consume was treated well in life and did not suffer unnecessarily in death. Not only is it good for your conscience, but it's good for your health. Purchasing meat and poultry products that have been designated Animal Welfare Approved ensures it was produced under the highest animal welfare standards by a sustainable, family farm.

Participating farms agree to uphold the animals' five freedoms:

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst.

2. Freedom from discomfort.

3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease.

4. Freedom to behave normally.

5. Freedom from fear and distress.

In order to be recognized in the program:

* Farms must be independently owned family farms.

* Physical mutilation like beak cutting is prohibited.

* Animals must be allowed to behave normally and move freely.

* Cloned or genetically engineered animals are prohibited.

* Inspections to ensure health and well being must occur for each animal 1-2 times per 24 hour period (depending on the type of animal), and any health problems must be isolated and treated immediately.

* Antibiotics may be used only as needed to control disease.

* Animals who have been administered antibiotics may not be slaughtered for twice the amount of time designated by law.

* Drugs to promote growth or prevent disease are prohibited.

* Prior to slaughter, animals must be handled carefully in a way that limits stress.

* Animals must be rendered unconscious prior to Slaughter to eliminate pain and suffering.

Farmers in the program agree to a minimum of one visit per year from Animal Welfare Approved staff. Participation in the program is on an annual basis and must be renewed each year.

Animal Welfare Approved pork products are available at Whole Foods locations nationwide. A directory of farms organized by state (in the US and Canada) and a list of online retailers is available from the home page of Animal Welfare Approved.

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