Are sustainable animal products available?

When purchasing meat and eggs, a major concern from a sustainability standpoint is whether the animals required to produce those products were raised in a humane and environmentally sustainable manner. In order to alleviate these concerns, many of us look for animal products labeled as “free-range” or “pasture-raised.” But do such labels guarantee that the animals have access to and actually take advantage of green grass and open space rather than constantly being confirmed to the inside of a building overcrowded with other animals? It turns out that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not have official definitions and requirements for labeling animal products as “free-range” or “pasture-raised;” the documentation and any other proof needed to get approval for adding these labels to a product are not standardized and extremely vague. Therefore, there is no guarantee that such labels actually mean anything, though with “pasture-raised” products, it is likely that some effort has been made to ensure the animals to get some time in the pasture. If interested, the specific language regarding such labeling can be found at the bottom of Page 10 and on all of Page 11 within the USDA food labeling guidelines.

Another example is the “certified humane” label, which also claims that the animals that produced the products you are purchasing are raised and slaughtered in a humane manner. Though the “certified humane” designation does provide much stricter requirements than the USDA for the humane treatment of animals, it still has some deficiencies (e.g., minimum space per chicken is one square foot). Consumer Reports provides more information on the pros and cons of “certified humane” labels. In any case, purchasing products that are labeled as "certified humane," in addition to buying local, is one of the best ways to guarantee that some measures have been taken to ensure the animals are treated humanely.

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Helpful Hint

Based on the above information, if you would like to purchase meat and/or egg products for any of your meals, look for products labeled as both “certified humane” and “pasture-raised” and, especially in the case of eggs, come packaged in plastic-free cartons. When purchasing from a grocery store's meat department, request that the meat be wrapped in paper rather than placed on Styrofoam and wrapped in plastic.