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.

The DQA FIVE-STAR recognition is a quality assurance program that ensures product safety, environmental stewardship from the producer, and animal care and health. The DQA is committed to providing consumers with dairy products that are safe, high quality, produced in a responsible manner and cost effective for producers.

The American Humane Certified program – which is the nation’s original animal welfare label attesting to the humane treatment of animals involved in food production – establishes guidelines for the production of dairy products and will provide third-party, independent animal welfare oversight to DQA for producers in the program.

“Certification by American Humane Certified and DQA assures consumers they are buying high-quality dairy products that are from humanely treated animals,” said Marie Belew Wheatley, president and CEO of American Humane. “We are enthusiastic about this agreement and the positive impact for consumers.”

About American Humane

Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link® between violence to people and violence to animals, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane’s regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed”® end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane’s office in Washington, D.C., is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. The American Humane Certified™ farm animal program is the nation’s original independent certification and labeling program for humanely raised food. American Humane meets the strong, comprehensive standards of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, has been awarded the Independent Charities of America’s “Best in America” Seal of Approval, and has met the stringent standards for financial efficiency and accountability required by the American Institute of Philanthropy to qualify as a Top-Rated Charity. Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more.