Humane (food)

Provide humanely produced meat, dairy and fish whenever economically and logistically feasible.

Humanely produced animal products are raised in an ethical fashion. The top standard for humane animal products is the Certified Humane label, which is given to meat raised without the confines of cages or stalls, with minimal stress and also provided ample clean water and its natural feed (without added hormones or antibiotics). It certifies that the meat will be completely natural and contain the fullest set of nutrients, as well as being produced in a social responsible manner. This process, in some cases, requires more land but also requires substantially fewer inputs in the forms of added hormones and antibiotics. Other certifications that touch on humane growing and production processes include Food Alliance Certification as well as the Monterrey Bay Seafood Watch Guide for seafood.  

Some other qualifications that are acknowledged as humane choices, although not as good as certification, including American Grassfed Association grassfed meat, pasture-raised meat, grass-finished meat and humanely raised meats. These standards, however, are not as well monitored as the Certified Humane label and do not encompass as much of the production process.

Bon Appétit has been serving only Certified Humane cage-free shell eggs since 2005. It has also committed to antibiotic reduction by only purchasing poultry raised without “non-therapeutic” routine use of antibiotics as well as providing options when available for antibiotic-free and vegetarian-raised beef. Since 2002, all milk and dairy products have not been treated with added rBGH. ARAMARK is currently investigating a transition to cage-free eggs as well as dairy free of added bovine growth hormone. Seafood is already purchased in the categories of Best Choices or Good Alternatives according to Seafood Watch.

Certified Humane as a positive step toward sustainability. In practice, however, since Certified Humane meats tend to also be organic, organic meat will also be considered a humane product.

To increase the Certified Humane meats provided, dining on the Danforth Campus will:

• Discontinue the purchase of beef treated with added Bovine Growth Hormone (rBST or rBGH).
• Determine sources of Certified Humane (or equivalent certification) meat available to dining.
• Label and specify Certified Humane (or equivalent certification) options in dining facilities.
• Seek to purchase only seafood from the Best Choices Category of the Seafood Watch Guide.

Additionally, on the Medical Campus:

• Encourage cage-free options as an intermediary step toward Certified Humane.
• Discontinue the purchase of milk and beef treated with added Bovine Growth Hormone (rBST or rBGH).
• Determine sources of Certified Humane (or equivalent certification) meat available to dining.