DENVER (June 18, 2010) – With some states having already eliminated the use of so-called “battery cages” for commercial egg production, the American Humane Association’s farm animal welfare certification program, American Humane Certified, announced today that it will now accept enriched colony housing systems as a humane practice for the housing of laying hens.

The significant decision by the nation’s oldest and largest farm animal welfare standards program effectively gives egg producers a second option in addition to cage-free housing as an alternative to conventional confinement cages — a widely used, but increasingly controversial, method that has been banned in California and Michigan. American Humane Certified will not certify conventional cages, but has determined that enhanced colony housing is scientifically acceptable, in part because the system provides nesting boxes and perches, in addition to other enrichments, which allow hens to exhibit natural behaviors.

American Humane Certified’s decision to include enriched colony housing as an option for humane housing comes after extensive scientific review of the behavior and welfare of laying hens housed in such systems in Europe, where conventional cages are scheduled to be banned completely in 2012, after a 10-year phase-out period.

American Humane Certified approves and certifies housing system as humane solution that meets the requirements of Proposition 2

DENVER, CO (June 21, 2010) - JS West & Company, a family owned egg farming business in California, announced today that it has installed and opened the first enriched colony housing system for layer hens in the United States, and American Humane Certified, the nation’s largest and oldest third-party certification of farm animal welfare, announced that it has certified the new system at JS West.

American Humane Certified recently announced that enriched colony housing meets its science-based standards for humane housing and can be certified. It is an additional option to producers seeking alternatives to conventional cages. Enriched colony housing and cage-free both meet the American Humane science-based standards. Enriched colony systems provide hens with a wide range of behavioral opportunities, such as perching, nesting and dust bathing. These natural behaviors are essential to the well-being of layer hens, according to recognized poultry animal scientists.

“The enriched colony housing system, proven in the European Union for more than 10 years, provides a humane alternative to conventional cages,” said Jill Benson, vice president of JS West. “We are honored and proud to be the first to install this new humane housing solution and be certified by American Humane. Based upon the language of Proposition 2 that states a bird must be able to sit down, stand up, turn around and extend her limbs without touching another bird or the sides of an enclosure, this solution meets the requirements regarding the housing of laying hens.”

Temple Grandin, a scientific advisor to American Humane Certified, is honored in the "Heroes" category of The 2010 Time 100 issue of Time magazine. She was awarded this designation for her heroic efforts in living with autism and inspiring others with autism, and for her groundbreaking work in the humane treatment of farm animals. Our congratulations to Temple, a true American hero.

You can read the Time magazine feature on Temple Grandin here:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984949_1985222,00.html

You can view the Time magazine photo feature on Temple here:

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1985143_2130462,00.html

Temple Grandin                                             Photo: Matt Slaby / Luceo for Time

DENVER, CO (April 8, 2010) - American Humane Association® board chairman David Gies and Tim Amlaw, vice president of American Humane® Certified, were featured speakers at the April 8th annual meeting and industry symposium of the Ohio Livestock Coalition in Columbus. The coalition was a key backer behind last year's ballot initiative that created Ohio's new Livestock Care Standards Board, which will establish and enforce farm animal safety, humane treatment and related areas.

The American Humane Association was in favor of the initiative as a pragmatic approach to addressing the state's complex issues of farm animal welfare. More importantly, we are already working closely with the new board toward establishing American Humane Certified as a foundation for Ohio's farm animal-welfare auditing, education and operational practices.

The American Humane Association has spent the last nine years defining verified scientific standards for the humane treatment of livestock animals. These standards cover the animals' entire lives, including transport and slaughter. They are a continuation of American Humane's 132-year history as one of the nation's most effective voices for animal welfare.

DENVER, CO (March 2, 2010) - American Humane® Certified announced today that Hellmann’s® Light Mayonnaise (known as Best Foods® Light Mayonnaise west of the Rockies) will feature 100 percent cage-free eggs exclusively from American Humane Certified producers. The new Light Mayonnaise product is rolling out in stores now.

“The announcement by Hellmann’s to use only American Humane Certified cage-free eggs in their Light Mayonnaise is not only a statement about meeting their consumers’ desire to know what’s in their food and where it comes from, but an acknowledgement of the importance of credible third-party certification by a trusted organization,” said Tim Amlaw, director of American Humane Certified. “We are proud that American Humane Certified producers are providing cage-free eggs to this trusted brand.”

DENVER, Feb. 8, 2010 - The American Humane Association and the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) today praised the new HBO movie, Temple Grandin, which aired Saturday, Feb. 6. The movie depicts the life of Temple Grandin as a young woman struggling with the challenges of autism to become a successful doctor of animal science through her unique connection to animals. Dr. Grandin is widely recognized within the animal welfare and livestock-handling industries as a pioneer in the ethical treatment of animals.

"Dr. Grandin brings recognition to the significant role that animal science plays in the welfare of all animals. Her desire to be a scientist and her special insights into farm animal production led to many innovative livestock production systems that have benefited both animals and the people raising and handling animals," said Maynard Hogberg, Ph.D., immediate past president of FASS.

"Temple Grandin's innovative work has dramatically impacted animal welfare and livestock production for the benefit of animals, people and agriculture," said Tim Amlaw, director of American Humane® Certified, the farm animal welfare program. "Her unique perspective from the animals' point of view and her dedication to science have given validity to the importance of animal welfare in production of food."

DENVER, Oct. 27, 2009 – More than 30 animal handlers and state animal welfare agents in Winthrop, Maine, made industry history today when they successfully completed the first on-site Humane Farm Training course created and conducted by American Humane® Certified. American Humane Certified, the farm animal program originated by the American Humane Association, is the nation’s pre-eminent and fastest-growing monitoring, auditing and labeling program that attests to the humane care and handling of animals raised for food.

“The stockmen — or animal handlers — are a crucial link in the chain of ensuring improved animal care and welfare,” said Tim Amlaw, director of American Humane Certified. “Increased knowledge, coupled with healthy, humane attitudes and behaviors, creates a significantly more positive dynamic for those workers and the animals themselves, as well as for the public perception of the food industry overall.”

The graduates of the training program included humane animal welfare agents and workers from the state of Maine and Radlo Foods, one of the largest egg suppliers in New England.

Ned Porter, deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, awarded certificates to program participants. “We are pleased that a Maine company was selected as the first to receive this training,” said Porter. “It’s great that we have folks in the industry who now have a better understanding of animal welfare issues, which are important to many consumers, and to have training provided by the American Humane Association, which has so many years of experience working with agriculture.”

DENVER, October 1, 2009 – American Humane® Certified has officially launched its new humane training program that fully answers the food industry’s call for better trained animal handlers. The program’s curriculum, whose initial development was first announced in March 2009, focuses on best practices and the science-based standards originated by American Humane Certified and its Scientific Advisory Committee.

American Humane® Certified Program Certifies Pastry Smart, the First Branded Products Exclusively Using Ingredients from an American Humane Certified Producer

Butter, Milk and Eggs Used in Pastry Smart Products Come from Clover Stornetta Farms, One of the Original American Humane Certified Producers

DENVER, Aug. 3, 2009 – American Humane® Certified announced that it has certified Pastry Smart, the first branded bakery, pastry and chocolate products made exclusively with ingredients from an American Humane Certified producer. Pastry Smart is a California-based company specializing in organic par-baked breads, frozen pastries and confectionery products. The butter, milk and eggs used in all Pastry Smart products are from Clover Stornetta Farms of Petaluma, Calif., one of the original American Humane Certified producers (certified in 2000).

American Humane Certified is America’s first farm animal-welfare program. It is the fastest growing third-party independent animal-welfare certification program in the U.S. Pastry Smart is the first bakery and confectionery company to be certified by American Humane, a 131-year-old, non-profit organization that has helped lead the humane movement in the U.S.

"Animal welfare is a growing consideration in the food people choose to buy,” said Tim Amlaw, director of American Humane Certified. “Knowing that all the ingredients used to make a product have come from farms certified by American Humane is very important when selecting a brand.”

"Being the first ever and only bakery and chocolate company to have the American Humane Certified label on our products is very important to our customers. They want to know that the animals that produced the ingredients were humanely raised and cared for,” said Mark Ainsworth, president and CEO of Pastry Smart. "Animal welfare is an important consideration in the quality food we offer to our customers."

American Humane Certified developed the True Humane Tracking™ system, a proprietary, three-tiered audit system. This state-of-the-art method provides transparency, accountability and consistency to producers, retailers and consumers. Producers who successfully comply with American Humane Certified’s robust science-based standards may display and promote the American Humane Certified label on their products, attesting to their adherence to the humane animal care that consumers are demanding, along with other sustainable farming practices.

About Pastry Smart

Pastry Smart LLC is a San Francisco Bay Area Company based in the heart of Silicon Valley. It specializes in the development and production of organic par-baked and frozen pastries, breads and confectionery products. It specializes in custom-run products from individual concept prototypes to large-volume production. It has a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility for the production of hard-to-find pastry products. The company owns, produces and operates several brands, including Shokolaat, Pastry Smart and Old World Mills. Each brand has its own area of specialty. It supplies its customers a customized product line that fits the a la carte café to the in-house catering operation and offers many consulting services: menu development, bakery kitchen design, and product development and analysis. For more information, visit: www.pastrysmart.com.

Research of Next Generation of Humane Transportation Will be Monitored

DENVER, June 30, 2009 – The nation’s leading animal-welfare monitoring and humane-labeling program for food products – American Humane® Certified -- will convene a panel of experts in animal handling, animal science, veterinary medicine and transportation-equipment manufacturing to develop improved welfare standards for design, technology and monitoring of livestock transportation. American livestock transportation equipment that meets the standards will be recognized with the American Humane Gold Award.

The partnership with the oldest U.S. farm animal welfare certification program is part of Viking’s ongoing mission to a commitment of food quality excellence.

June 16, 2009 (Denver) – Students at Viking Cooking School, a division of Viking Range Corporation, the originator of commercial-type appliances for the home, are not only learning new ways to prepare their food, they’re also learning how the food is raised, as part of a new partnership with American Humane® Certified, a program of the American Humane Association.

OAK BROOK, IL – McDonald’s USA today announced its participation with leading animal welfare scientists, academics, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and egg suppliers in a commercial-scale study of housing alternatives for egg-laying hens in the U.S., including cage-free housing. The study, which expects to involve tens of thousands of hens, will look at the sustainability impacts of different laying hen housing environments on animal health and well-being, safe and affordable food, the environment, and worker welfare. The eggs produced during this study are expected to be used in McDonald’s U.S. restaurants, provided they meet stringent food safety and quality standards.

DENVER (April 7, 2009) – The American Humane® Certified farm animal welfare program has just introduced its latest innovation: online registration of food producers who are interested in pursuing the nation’s premier humane monitoring and labeling program.

Food producers who use the new web-based system to initiate their potential participation in the certification program will automatically receive relevant information, including species-specific animal welfare standards and contract language.  Interested parties simply go to American Humane Certified website at www.thehumanetouch.org and click on the “New Producer Application” button.

DENVER, March 30, 2009 -- American Humane Certified announced today that Ann Wilkinson, associate director of global alliances for Pfizer Animal Health (PAH), has been appointed to its Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr. Wilkinson brings extensive expertise in the dairy industry to the seven-member animal science professional body, which is composed of animal welfare experts of each species. The committee meets regularly to review standards and ensure that they reflect new information and technology.

DENVER (March 17, 2009) – The American Humane Certified™ farm animal welfare program is appalled at the incidents of abuse shown last night on HBO’s “Death on a Factory Farm” documentary.

To avoid similar abusive situations for other farm animals, American Humane Certified continues to enlist more and more food producers in its humane monitoring and labeling program, which was the first in the United States and is, by far, the fastest growing and most comprehensive.  The program is science-based and solutions-oriented, and American Humane works cooperatively with industry to arrive at humane, compassionate methods and practices for food-animal growing and production.

DENVER (March 10, 2009) – Unveiling yet another innovative industry first, the American Humane Certified™ farm animal welfare program today announced it will launch an online Humane Care Training Program for food producers to use in educating employees, growers and contractors who handle animals. The training will complement and expand American Humane Certified’s existing national program of auditing and certifying the humane handling of animals raised for food.

Eight Additional Producers Recently Certified by American Humane Association

DENVER, Jan. 15, 2009 – The American Humane Association announced today that up to two-thirds of all cage-free eggs being produced in the U.S. now come from producers that have earned the American Humane Certified™ label – a symbol of the nation’s premier animal-welfare certification program.

Feel good about eating veal

DENVER – Dec. 4, 2008 -- The American Humane Certified farm animal program announced that Delimax, one of North America’s premier integrated veal producers, has been certified under the program using American Humane’s new three-tiered auditing system. The certification applies to Delimax grain-fed veal, which is processed, sold and marketed by its partner, Montpak International.

American Humane Certified is America’s first animal-welfare program dedicated to the humane treatment of farm animals. It is the fastest growing, third-party independent animal-welfare label program in the U.S. Delimax is the first veal producer and the first Canadian company to be certified by American Humane, a 131-year-old organization that has helped lead the humane movement in the U.S.

DENVER – American Humane Certified producers, partners and scientific advisors gathered at the American Humane Association in Englewood, Colo., last week for the first technology meeting to provide feedback on the online reporting and video monitoring portions of its new auditing process.

American Humane Certified, the nation’s original humane food label, is conducting the first round of beta-testing of its new three-tiered auditing system, which includes annual on site auditing, online reporting and 24/7 live video monitoring. American Humane Certified developed the multi level system to monitor animal welfare, in real-time in order to take immediate action, when necessary, to correct welfare issues. The system also provides producers with tools for continuous improvement of their operations and ways to manage risk.

DENVER – Oct. 22, 2008 – The American Humane Association has commissioned an international study to research a range of aviary group-housing systems and to evaluate the impact of those systems on the health, welfare and egg production of laying hens. The study will be led by Dr. Inma Estevez, Professor of Animal and Avian Sciences at the University of Maryland, currently on leave of absence.  Dr. Estevez is working at the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development (Neiker-Tecnalia) in Spain.

The study is being undertaken on behalf of the American Humane Certified™ program, which is America’s first and foremost monitoring and labeling program for humanely raised food products.

The nonprofit organization and its producers are partnering with three of the town’s top chefs, to show Denver just how tasty it can be to eat humanely raised

DENVER, Oct. 3, 2008 – Animal-loving omnivores are finding a growing number of delicious options to meet their dietary needs, by seeking out the American Humane Certified seal on meat, eggs and dairy products.

On Oct. 9, invited guests in Denver will have a chance to experience an exceptionally fine dining experience featuring all humanely raised products. The dinner, created by three of Denver’s top chefs,  Elise Wiggins of Panzano, Tyler Wiard of Elway’s and Troy Guard, who will open TAG early next year, will feature a palate-pleasing menu that will be enhanced by a selection of fine wines.

DENVER, Oct. 3, 2008 – American Humane Certified™ will exhibit at the Natural Products Expo East in Boston, Oct. 16 -18, to showcase the fastest-growing animal welfare label for food producers. The program provides independent certification of the humane treatment and care of farm animals.

Natural Products Expo East, held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, is the largest trade show of its kind on the East Coast, featuring more than 25,000 natural, organic and healthy products. American Humane Certified will be joined by representatives of some of its producers who distribute on the East Coast, such as Springer Mountain Farms and Old Chatham Sheepherding Company. All attendees of the Expo are invited to visit American Humane Certified at Booth #2405 to learn about the audit process that verifies humane farm animal care. The American Humane Certified program is not only good for animals, but also good for business and good for people.

American Humane Certified’s Three-Tier Audit System of Video Monitoring, Online Reporting and On-Site Inspection Improves Industry Transparency

DENVER, Sept. 29, 2008 – American Humane Certified™ announced today that GCB Foods LLC, a family owned, cage-free egg production company in Nashville, N.C., has been Certified with the program, and is also the first of American Humane Certified’s many existing food producers in the U.S. to operate under American Humane Certified’s new, three-tiered auditing system. The system allows American Humane to monitor animal welfare at the facility remotely through real-time video monitoring in addition to performing annual on-site audits and observing the company’s production data on an ongoing basis through a proprietary online reporting system.

GCB Foods specializes in custom certified cage-free egg production on family owned and managed farms. The company is owned by Bob Pike, who has nearly three decades of experience in egg production, processing and marketing.

DENVER, Sept. 9, 2008 – The Milk and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center (DQA) in Stratford, Iowa, which represents more than 9,000 dairies, and the American Humane Certified™ farm animal welfare program have agreed that DQA will recognize American Humane Certified dairies in good standing with DQA as also meeting the DQA FIVE-STAR dairy welfare standards. American Humane Certified is a program of the American Humane Association, the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals.

TheHumaneTouch.org Is the Newest Resource to Find Humanely Raised Food

DENVER, Aug. 26, 2008 – TheHumaneTouch.org website is American Humane Certified’s™ latest tool for consumers to learn more about the humane treatment of farm animals used to produce food. Launched on Aug. 14, the site is a resource for consumers, producers, retailers and the food service industry to learn more about animal welfare standards.

American Humane Certified is a voluntary, fee-based service available to agricultural producers of protein products. The program provides independent, third-party audited verification that the care and handling of animals of enrolled farms meet the strict animal welfare standards set forth by American Humane Certified. Producers who meet the standards may use the American Humane Certified label on their products.