Niman Ranch in Denver, Colorado, and its more than 720 independent family farms and ranches throughout the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and mid-Atlantic regions, is the newest company to join Humane Farm Animal Care’s (HFAC)Certified Humane program.

Beginning September 1, 2016, all of Niman Ranch’s pork, beef, lamb and processed products, including bacon, sausages, hot dogs, and hams, will officially become Certified Humane making them the largest multi-protein company in the U.S. to join the program.

“Niman Ranch shares our commitment to raising farm animals under strict humane standards,” says Adele Douglass, Executive Director for HFAC. “Whether they’re raising hogs, cattle, or lamb, all of their animals across all of their farms will be raised under Humane Farm Animal Care’s Animal Care Standards.

HFAC is the leading international nonprofit certification program improving the lives of millions of farm animals in food production from birth through slaughter. The goal of the program is to improve the lives of farm animals by driving consumer demand for kinder and more responsible farm animal practices. The Certified Humane Raised and Handled label assures consumers that the food products come from facilities that meet HFAC’s precise Animal Care Standards. These standards guarantee farm animals can live crate-free lives and express natural behaviors, such as moving around freely outdoors. They must also be raised without antibiotics, hormones or animal by-products in their feed. Certified Humane’s independent third-party inspectors – veterinarians and Ph.D. experts in farm animal welfare – routinely inspect farms and slaughter plants to ensure precise standards are being met.

"Having Certified Humane verification across all Niman Ranch products allows restaurants and grocers to embrace values-driven products today’s millennial consumers are demanding,” stated Jeff Tripician, Niman Ranch general manager and CMO. “We know the extra layer of Certified Humane certification enhances our already strict animal welfare protocols and instills confidence with our customers.”

Niman Ranch has been committed to sustainable and humane agricultural practices that promote the welfare of farm animals since it was founded in the 1970s.

The Certified Humane label is available in five countries – U.S., Canada, Brazil, Peru and Chile. Consumers can download the free Certified Humane app or visit HFAC’s Where to Buy page to find stores that sell Certified Humane products.

For more information on HFAC and the Certified Humane label, visit www.certifiedhumane.org.

Source: HFAC