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.

American Humane’s farm animal welfare program is dedicated to improving the welfare of the animals raised for the food that we eat. Meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products bearing the American Humane Certified seal were raised using strict science-based standards created to ensure that animals live a healthy life, with no growth hormones. These standards lessen or eliminate stress for the animals, making humanely raised food good for people, good for animals and good for the planet.

There are currently 15 Viking Cooking School locations nationwide, with more locations slated to open in the coming year. Classes will incorporate humanely raised food from American Humane Certified producers whenever possible.

Viking Cooking School chef instructors will integrate information on humanely raised products and the benefits to consumers into their classes. As would-be bakers learn how to separate eggs, for example, they’ll also hear that the egg in their hands comes from a cage-free chicken.

“Our program has rapidly added producers, all of whom will get more exposure for their products and their humane practices through this partnership,” said Tim Amlaw, American Humane Certified’s program director. “Students at all levels of culinary experience attend classes at Viking Cooking Schools, and these are the very people most likely to be interested in preparing food produced safely from healthy animals that are well cared for.”

“Providing a humane table gives people food that is not only good to eat but feels good. It’s good for the soul as well as good for the palate,” Amlaw added.

In the last two years, the American Humane Certified program has grown to include more than 60 million farm animals. American Humane certifies more than two-thirds of the cage-free eggs sold in the United States. The program certified its first producer of humanely raised veal last year.

VIKING is a registered trademark of Viking Range Corporation.