Food Labeling for Dummies High Res 27 Feb 12 v3

7/31/2019 Food Labeling for Dummies High Res 27 Feb 12 v3

1/14

A de nitive guide to common food label terms and claimsF d L l f r D s

Today, a bewildering range of terms and claimsare used to promote and label the food webuy. While some of these terms and claimshave de nitions that are controlled by governmentregulation, most are unregulated and are widely usedby companies to attract buyers to their products.The problem is that the use of such unregulatedterms can lead to potential misunderstandings and

misuse. Common examples of labels you might seeon food include locally grown, natural, free-range,or even fresh. But what exactly do all these termsand claims really mean and how can you becon dent that they are true?

Animal Welfare Approved has producedFood Labeling for Dummies to provide clear and factualde nitions for the most commonly used claims andterms for the production, marketing and labeling of meat, dairy, eggs and other farmed products.

H h Food Labeling for Dummies h l ?Lets consider a package of meat labeled All naturalAngus beef. Looking at this label, you might assumethat this cow has spent every day of her life on lushgrass in beautiful countryside. But the reality is thatfrom six months of age it lived on a feedlot, whereit was routinely treated with antibiotics. It never sawanother blade of grass for the remainder of its life andwas fed a grain-based diet in a feedlot until the day itwas slaughtered. To top it all, the cow actually had noreal Angus heritage in the rst place she simply had a

predominantly black hide, which is all that was neededto qualify the farmer to use this term. In fact, theonly true word in the All natural Angus beef label isthat it was beef. This kind of misleading labeling is notonly legal, but widely used.

Another challenge in trusting many common labelsis the lack of accountability in so-called self-madeclaims. Without independent third-party veri cationthe integrity of a label claim is only as reliable as theperson or company making it. The mosttrusted labels will always incorporate independent

audits of the supply chain to verify a set of publishedstandards in order to provide maximum integrity of any claims made.

H s h s dWhere the use of a term or claim is legally de nedor regulated, we provide the of cial de nition inbold type citing the of cial source. Where a term

or claim is not regulated or legally de ned, this factis clearly stated and we provide an unbiased de nitioof the term or claim. Broadly speaking, the terms andclaims made on food labels fall into two categories:

V r d r r d d d dSome of the terms and claims used on food labelsare audited by an independent third party. In suchcases an independent auditor visits the associatedfarm, slaughter plant or the processing/packing plantto ensure that the food was produced or processed

according to speci ed rules or standards.F d l ls h s lf- d l sOther terms and claims used on food labels aresubmitted and approved using a self-declarationprocess. In other words, there is no physicalveri cation or independent audit process to checkthat the terms or claims used on the label areaccurate or even true.

Within these two categories of label it is common

to see a range of claims or terms relating to thefarming practices used, such as the avoidance of antibiotics or hormones, or speci c environmentalpractices, or the high welfare treatment of theanimals. When evaluating the validity of anyclaim it is important to take into account whetherit has been independently veri ed or not. If thereis no independent third party veri cation, you maywish to request further information from thesupplier to ensure that the product really doesmeet your expectations.


2/14

SociaL ReSponSibiLity aSSuRanceThe label makes claims that address fair treatment to workers a

community that are independently veri ed.

SociaL ReSponSibiLity cLaimThe label makes claims that address fair treatment to workers a

community, but these claims are not veri ed.

LocaL/Region SpeciFic aSSuRanceThe label makes claims that the product was produced in a

certain geographic region/country that are independently veri ed.

LocaL/Region SpeciFic cLaimThe label makes claims that the product was produced in a

certain geographic region/country, but these claims are not veri ed.

antibiotic uSe contRoLLeD aSSuRanceThe label makes claims that antibiotic use is prohibited orsigni cantly restricted that are independently veri ed by audit.

antibiotic uSe contRoLLeD cLaimThe label makes claims that antibiotic use is prohibited or

signi cantly restricted, but these claims are NOT veri ed by audit.

SLaugHteR ReView aSSuRanceThe slaughter process is independently veri ed or audited annu

to a published set of standards.

no SLaugHteR ReViewThe slaughter process is not veri ed or audited annually to a

published set of standards.

cageD egg pRoDuctionCaged egg production is permitted.

pubLiSHeD pRotocoLA legally de ned or agreed de nition exists for the term or claim.

HigH weLFaRe aSSuRanceThe label is recognized by the main web based food labeling

guides* as having meaningful animal care standards and in additionincludes audited standards for high welfare slaughter.

HigH weLFaRe cLaimThe label makes claims that may affect animal welfare, but these

claims are not veri ed and/or not recognized and/or the label has noaudited high welfare slaughter standards.

enViRonmentaL aSSuRanceThe label makes claims that address farmings impact on the

environment that are independently veri ed.

enViRonmentaL cLaimThe label makes claims that address farmings impact on the

environment, but these claims are not veri ed.

FamiLy FaRmeD aSSuRanceThe label makes claims that the product was raised by a family

farmer that are independently veri ed.

FamiLy FaRmeD cLaimThe label makes claims that the product was raised by a family

farmer, but these claims are not veri ed.

auDiteD/tHiRD-paRty ceRtiFieDThis symbol is your assurance that term or claims made on the label have been veri ed regularly by a third party and determined to be true.This would include third-party certi cations such as Animal Welfare Approved, Certi ed Organic and American Grassfed Association.

unauDiteD/no tHiRD paRty ceRtiFicationThis symbol shows that the terms or claims are not independently veri ed regularly. Where you see this symbol you may wish to contact the suppliersto nd out more about the product or to ensure you are happy with the validity of any claims being made.

l dWe have allocated a range of symbols for each commonly used claim or phrase to show if it is independentlyveri ed or not, and to highlight the authenticity of any wider issue(s) that the label claims address, such as thehigh welfare treatment of animals or environmental protection.

P

?

N

N

*The food labeling guides considered are: WSPA Eat Humane, NRDC Label Look-Up and Greener Choices Eco Labels

2


3/14

baSteD oR SeLF-baSteDDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Bone-in poultry products that are injected or marinated with a solutioncontaining butter or other edible fat, broth, stock or water plus spices,

avor enhancers and other approved substances must be labeled as

basted or self-basted. The maximum added weight of approximately3% solution before processing is included in the net weight on thelabel. Label must include a statement identifying the total quantityand common or usual name of all ingredients in the solution, e.g.,Injected with approximately 3% of a solution of _______ ___ __ (listof ingredients). Use of the terms basted or self-basted on bonelesspoultry products is limited to 8% of the weight of the raw poultrybefore processing.

beyonD oRganic/betteR tHan oRganic /moRe tHan oRganicNo legal or regulated de nition

These terms imply that products meet and exceed organic standards.However, no veri cation of farming methods is either de ned or auditedensure that this is the case.

bioDynamicDe nition by Demeter-USA

Biodynamic agriculture goes beyond organic, envisioning the farm as aself-contained and self-sustaining organism. In an effort to keep thefarm, the farmer, the consumer, and the earth healthy, farmers avoidchemical pesticides and fertilizers, utilize compost and cover crops, andset aside a minimum of 10% of their total acreage for biodiversity. Theentire farm, versus a particular crop, must be certi ed, and farms areinspected annually. In order for a product to bear the Demeter logo itmust be made with certi ed Biodynamic ingredients and meet strictprocessing standards to ensure the purest possible product.

Biodynamic farming is an approach based on the work of the Austrianphilosopher, Rudolf Steiner. In addition to organic practices, such as croprotation and composting, biodynamic farmers rely on special plant, animand mineral preparations and the rhythmic in uences of the sun, moon,planets and stars. Biodynamic agriculture is a method of sustainablefarming that regards the farm as a self-contained and self-sustainingorganism. This system encourages farmers to avoid chemical pesticidesand fertilizers, utilize compost and cover crops, and promote biodiversityThe Biodynamic claim is legally de ned and audited by the DemeterAssociation, Inc.

caFo/ aFoDe nition by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EP

Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) are agricultural operations whereanimals are kept and raised in con ned situations. AFOs congregateanimals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals and productionoperations on a small land area. Feed is brought to the animalsrather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures,

aFFiDaVit No legal or regulated de nition

An af davit is de ned as a statement where the person signing takes anoath that the contents are, to the best of their knowledge, true. Theaf davit system is sometimes used in meat production to add weight

to a companys claims of production methods, such as the avoidanceof hormones and antibiotics, speci c grazing and feeding protocols,or high welfare management. Buyers should be aware that while anaf davit system may provide some comfort that claims being made arefactual, such systems do not employ independent third party veri cationprograms that would provide absolute guarantees that the claims madeare truthful. Retailers such as Wal-Mart are moving away from thiskind of self-made claim and are beginning to require audits to ensureintegrity and to protect brand value.

ameRican Humane ceRtiFieD De nition by American Humane Certi ed

American Humanes program provides a veri able assurance thatproducts carrying the American Humane Certi ed label have metrigorous, science-based welfare standards and were humanely raisedthroughout their life process.

Despite their statement above, this animal welfare certi cation supportscaged production for chickens as humane. There are no requirementsfor pasture access for any species.

anguS/ceRtiFieD anguS beeFNo legal or regulated de nition

The American Angus Association has registered a de nition of Angusbeef with the USDA that requires the animal to have 50 percent Angusgenetics or a predominantly (51 percent) black coat or hide. The animalmust be under 30 months at slaughter and meet some additional meatquality requirements. There are no requirements relating to how theanimal is raised. The terms Angus Beef and Black Angus Beef are alsocommonly used but are even less regulated than Certi ed Angus Beef.

antibiotic-FReeNo legal or regulated de nition

See NO ANTIBIOTICS ADMINISTERED below.

aRtiSan/aRtiSanaLNo legal or regulated de nition

The terms artisan and artisanal imply that products are hand-made in small batches. As there is no legal de nition for theseterms, anyone can use the term artisanal even if the productis mass produced in a factory. The term is most often used onlabels and marketing materials for cheese, bread, pasta, jams,chocolates, confections, sauces, preserves, condiments,beverages, and ice cream, but can also include products from

sheries and other products.

? P

? P?

?

?

r s d l s

P

Food Labeling for Dummie

?

? P?


4/14

elds or on rangeland. AFOs con ne animals for at least 45 daysin a 12-month period and have no grass or other vegetation in thecon nement area during the normal growing season. ConcentratedAnimal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are AFOs that fall under one ofthe EPAs de nitions of Large, Medium or Small CAFOs, depending

on the number of animals involved, how wastewater and/or manureare managed, and whether the operation is a signi cant contributorof pollutants. CAFOs exist in all regions of the U.S. They areconcentrated in the eastern seaboard, the plains and the west coast.The total number of CAFOs is estimated to be in excess of 20,000. Formore information got to www.epa.gov/region07/water/cafo/index.htm

CAFOs are also known as Con ned Animal Feeding Operations,Concentrated Agricultural Feeding Operations, or Factory Farms. Thevast majority of all animal proteins raised and consumed in the U.S.come through the CAFO system. If you buy meat you should be awarethat CAFO facilities vary widely, with huge variations in size, sanitation,

high welfare treatment practices, as well as antibiotic and hormoneadministration. CAFOs are prohibited under Animal Welfare Approvedstandards.

cage-FReeNo legal or regulated de nition

This term is most often applied to egg laying hens, not to poultry raisedfor meat. As the term implies, hens laying eggs labeled as cage-freeare raised without using cages, but almost always live inside barns orwarehouses. This term does not explain if the birds had any access tothe outside, whether any outside area was pasture or a bare lot, or if theywere raised entirely indoors in overcrowded conditions. Beak cutting ispermitted. No independent third party veri cation.

ceRtiFieD FaRmeRS maRKetNo legal or regulated de nition in many states

Some states offer or require certi cation of farmers markets to ensurethat products sold are produced by the farmers themselves. In 2009,these states included California, Nevada and Texas. Most of the nationsproducer-only farmers markets establish their own rules and methodsof ensuring product integrity at the local level. Ask the market organizerabout the rules which apply to your nearest farmers market.

ceRtiFieD natuRaLLy gRownNo legal or regulated de nition

Certi ed Naturally Grown is a non-pro t organization offeringcerti cation programs tailored for small-scale, direct-market farmersand beekeepers using natural methods. Certi ed Naturally Grown(CNG) products are certi ed as having been produced in approximateaccordance with national organic standard. This term is modeled onParticipatory Guarantee Systems (PGS). PGS programs differ from third-party inspector models l ike the USDAs National Organic Program (NOP)in that they employ a peer-review inspection process built on

local networks. The label is therefore not veri ed by an independentthird party.

cHemicaL-FReeDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

The term is not allowed to be used on a label.Chemical free and no chemicals added are not of cial marketingclaims, as there is no standardized de nition. Such terms createconfusion in the marketplace, as (for example) antibiotics are notconsidered chemicals by USDA.

cLoning/meat FRom cLoneD animaLSNo legal or regulated de nition

Cloning is the practice of creating an exact genetic replica of anorganism. Cloning has many negative implications for animalwelfare for example, the mortality of newborn clones is very

high and potentially threatens the genetic diversity of our foodsupply. Food products from cloned animals are currently allowed toenter the food system unlabeled. Cloned animals cannot be AnimalWelfare Approved.

cLoSeD-HeRDNo legal or regulated de nition

Closed-herd implies that all animals or at the least all females arebred from the original herd. No animals are purchased from outsidebreeders or other sources to incorporate into the herd or ock.This system reduces the risk of bringing in new disease and allowsthe farmer to select and promote characteristics such as longevity,easy birthing and ability to thrive outdoors from the best of theirown animals.

conVentionaLNo legal or regulated de nition

Conventional refers to standard agricultural practices that arewidespread in the industry. It can (but does not necessarily) includethe use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, mono-cropping, feedlotand con nement systems, antibiotics, hormones and other chemicalapproaches. Conventional farming in the U.S. may also include the useof Genetically Modi ed Organisms (GMOs).

cooL Country of Origin LabelingDe nition by USDA Food Safety andInspection Service

The Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program is neither a foodsafety or traceability program but rather a consumer informationprogram. Food products, both imported and domestic, must meet thefood safety standards of USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Serviceand the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The COOL law requiresretailers to notify their customers of the country of origin for allcommodities covered under this law. Foods that must be labeled withtheir country of origin are:

? P

?

?

PN

?

?

r s d l s (cont)

?N

?

?

4


5/14

plastic, vacuum sealed and then refrigerated for a shor ter period of time.No independent third party veri cation.

DRy-FaRmeDNo legal or regulated de nition

Produce grown using a technique that seeks to retain moisture in the soiland to minimize or eliminate the use of irrigation. Dry farming works toconserve soil moisture during long dry periods, primarily through a systeof tillage, surface protection, and the use of drought-resistant varieties.The production of some of the nest wines and olive oils in the world araccomplished with dry-farmed fruit. Today, California has dry-farmedvineyards up and down the coast. In addition to grapes and olives,a wide range of crops, including tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelons,cantaloupes, winter squash, garbanzos, apricots, apples, and potatoes, aredry farmed in California. No independent third party veri cation.

FaiRtRaDeDe nition by the Fairtrade FoundationFairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, localsustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in thedeveloping world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices(which must never fall lower than the market price),Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, whichtraditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers, andenables them to improve their position and have more control overtheir lives.

FamiLy FaRmNo legal or regulated de nition

Includes any farm where the majority of the business is owned by theoperator and individuals related to the operator by blood or marriage,including relatives who do not reside in the operators household.Nevertheless, this claim means nothing in terms of speci c productionpractices, sustainability or size. Unless the claim is de ned and veri edan independent third party its meaning can vary greatly.

FaRmSteaD cHeeSeNo legal or regulated de nition

Farmstead cheese is made on a farm from milk produced on that farm.Farmstead cheeses are usually made in relatively small batches, often byhand. However, there is no formal de nition for this term and it does noaddress the farms husbandry practices or ensure outdoor access for theanimals producing the milk. No independent third party veri cation.

FeeDLotNo legal or regulated de nition

A method of fattening cattle and other ruminants where animals areremoved from pasture, con ned in crowded conditions, and fed grainuntil they reach market weight. As cattle and other ruminants are not

Muscle cuts of beef (including veal), lamb, pork, goat,and chicken

Ground beef, ground lamb, ground pork, ground goat, and groundchicken

Farm raised sh and shell sh

Wild sh and shell sh Perishable agricultural commodities Peanuts, pecans and macadamia nuts Ginseng

For more information go to www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/COOL_Meat_and_Chicken/index.asp

cRate-FReeNo legal or regulated de nition

Two types of crates are commonly used in pork production: farrowingcrates and gestation crates, de ned below. It is important to note,

however, that just because a label states that it is farrowing-cratefree does not mean that it is gestation-crate free, and vice versa. Inaddition, even if a product is labeled crate-free it does not mean thatthe animals were raised outdoors.

FARROWING CRATE: A cage or other strictly enclosed space inwhich a sow is con ned to give birth to and suckle her piglets andwhere the sows movements are restricted so she cannot turnaround or otherwise have free movement. Farrowing crates areprohibited under Animal Welfare Approved standards.

GESTATION CRATE: A cage or stall in which a sow is con ned forthe period of pregnancy and in which she has restricted optionsfor movement. Gestation crates are prohibited under the AnimalWelfare Approved standards.

cuReDDe nition by US Food and Drug Administration

Meat and poultry are cured by the addition of salt alone or incombination with one or more ingredients such as sodium nitrite,sugar, curing accelerators, and spices. These are used for partialpreservation, avoring, color enhancement, tenderizing and improvingyield of meat. The process may include dry curing, immersion curing,direct addition, or injection of the curing ingredients. Curing mixturesare typically composed of salt (sodium chloride), sodium nitrite, andseasonings. Cured meat and poultry products include bacon, beef

jerky, smoked turkey, sausages, corned beef, pastrami, pigs feet andcorned tongues.

DRy-ageDNo legal or regulated de nition

Dry-aged meat (usually beef) is hung in a temperature- andhumidity-controlled room for a period of weeks to develop avorand tenderness. Under controlled temperatures the muscle bersrelax, yielding a less resilient piece of meat that is more tender. Mostcommercially available meat is wet-aged, meaning it is wrapped in

? P

?

?

P


?

?

?N

?


6/14

FRee-Range/FRee-Roaming(for any species aside from poultry meat)No legal or regulated de nition

Buyers should be aware that the type of outdoor access provided (suchas pasture or dirt lot), the length of time animals are required to haveoutdoor access, and how this must be veri ed is not legally de ned andtherefore varies greatly from facility to facility. There is no requirementto demonstrate to the USDA that birds and animals have even hadaccess to the outside, let alone any reference to other managementpractices. No independent third party veri cation

FReSH pouLtRyDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Fresh refers to poultry whose internal temperature has never been

below 26 F.

FRoZen pouLtRyDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Temperature of raw, frozen poultry is 0 F or below.

FRyeR-RoaSteR tuRKeyDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Young, immature turkey usually less than 16 weeks of age,of either sex.

gapS: gooD agRicuLtuRaLpRacticeSDe nition by USDA

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) are a collection of recommendedprinciples for on-farm production, post-harvest processing, andstorage of food that reduce risks of microbial contamination.

geneticaLLy moDiFieD oRganiSmS(gmoS)/ geneticaLLy engineeReDNo legal or regulated de nition

GMOs are plants and animals whose genetic make-up has beenaltered to exhibit traits that they would not normally have, like longershelf-life, a different color, or resistance to certain chemicals or pests.In general, genes are taken (copied) from one organism that displays thedesired trait and transferred into the genetic code of another organism.There are signi cant concerns about the environmental impact of GMcrops. Genetic modi cation is currently allowed in conventionalfarming and foods which contain GMO do not have to be labeled.The USDA also does permit the labeling of animal products fromnon-genetically modi ed animals, meaning the consumer has no wayof knowing whether they are consuming products from geneticallymodi ed animals.

biologically equipped to digest large amounts of grain, this can lead tothe proliferation of pathogenic E. coli bacteria in the animals gut, aswell as other health and welfare issues such as liver lesions, as wellas signi cant environmental issues. Feedlots are known to be themost environmental resource-intensive food system. Feedlots are

prohibited under Animal Welfare Approved standards.See also CAFO.

FooD aLLianceDe nition by Food Alliance Certi edFood Alliance is a nonpro t organization that certi es farms,ranches, and food processors and distributors for sustainableagricultural and facility management practices. By choosing FoodAlliance Certi ed products, consumers and commercial food buyerssupport safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of

animals, and good environmental stewardship.

The Food Alliance livestock certi cation program uses both xed andscored inspection evaluation criteria. While farms must comply withall xed criteria, a farm may become cer ti ed based on their averagescore in some key areas. To ensure that all aspect s of managementthat may be of concern are being met, consumers are encouragedto contact individual Food Alliance Certi ed producers about speci cpractices that are not included in the xed criteria.

FooD miLeSNo legal or regulated de nitionClaims about food miles relate to the distance traveled by a givenfood product before you consume it. Since much of the energy usedin the U.S. food system is used in processing, packaging, transporting,storing and preparing food, many people want to reduce their carbonfootprint by buying food with fewer miles in other words, food thatis locally grown and minimally processed. No independent third partyveri cation.

FRee-Range/FRee-RoamingDe nition by USDA Food Safety andInspection Service (for poultry meat ONLY)

Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultryhas been allowed access to the outside.

Buyers should be aware that the type of outdoor access provided(such as pasture or dirt lot), the length of time the birds are requiredto have outdoor access, and how this must be veri ed is not legallyde ned and therefore varies greatly from facility to facility.Crowding is not uncommon.No independent third party veri cation.

? P

? P

? P

? P

r s d l s (cont)

P?

?

?

?

P

6


7/14

antibiotics and synthetic hormones and still bear the USDA grassfed label.The American Grassfed Association (AGA) has an independent third partycerti cation program available to ranchers. The AGA certi ed program isrecognized by FSIS (the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service) andveri es a 100 percent forage diet, raised on pasture that has a minimum of 75

percent cover, no con nement, no antibiotics and no added hormones. Meapurchasers seeking truly grassfed meat should source AGA certi ed produc

gRaSSFeDDe nition by American Grassfed Associa

All livestock production must be pasture/grass/forage based. Grassand forage shall be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of theruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaningThe diet shall be derived solely from forage consisting of grass (annualand perennial), forbs (e.g. Legumes, Brassica), browse, or cereal graincrops in the vegetative (pre-grain) state. Animals cannot be fed grain ograin byproducts (starch and protein sources) and must have continuous

access to pasture. All livestock produced under this standard must beon range, pasture, or in paddocks for their entire lives. This means thatall animals must be maintained at all times on land with at least 75%forage cover or unbroken ground. AGA grassfed ruminant animals musnot be con ned to a pen, feedlot or other area where forages or cropsare not grown during the growing season. Livestock produced under thstandard may be fed hay, haylage, baleage, silage, crop residue withoutgrain, and other roughage sources while on pasture during periods of loforage quality or inclement weather. AGA ruminant animals may not bgiven hormones or antibiotics.

gRaSS FiniSHeDNo legal or regulated de nition

Not to be confused with grass fed, this term implies that animals are fegrass and forage for an unde ned period before slaughter (the nishingperiod), although they may have been given grains and other non-foragefeeds for a large part of their lives. This feeding protocol is not veri ed aany prohibited feedstuffs and medications are also not de ned.

gReen FeDNo legal or regulated de nition

This term implies a difference to grass fed (see above). Animals are fegreen feeds, including vegetables, grass and other forages. Not veri ed anot necessarily a posit ive claim in terms of environmental management,

welfare or meat quality.

HaLaL anD ZabiaH HaLaLDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Meat products prepared by federally inspected meat packing plantsidenti ed with labels bearing references to Halal or Zabiah Halalmust be handled according to Islamic law and under Islamic authority.

For meat to bear the label Halal animals are often (but not always)slaughtered without being pre-stunned. There are organizations whichaudit and certify for halal practices but de nitions and standards varyaccording to the certifying organization. USDA halal is not audited.

gLobaL animaL paRtneRSHipDe nition by Global Animal Partnership

Global Animal Partnership brings together farmers, scientists,ranchers, retailers, and animal advocates with the common goalof wanting to improve the welfare of animals in agriculture.

The Global Animal Partnership (GAP) only has standards for beef cattle,pigs and broiler chickens, with pilot standards for turkeys. To qualify forthe GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare program farmers simply have to meet thebasic requirements of the step 1 level. In reviewing this quali cation step,the renowned animal scientist Dr. Temple Grandin stated that in most casesthe standards were the same or only marginally better than those foundin industrial farming systems.

gRain-FeD/gRain-SuppLementeD/gRain-FiniSHeD (ruminants)No legal or regulated de nition

Implies animals were fed grain exclusively or as a supplement to a foragediet. Not veri ed and not necessarily a positive claim in terms of welfare ormeat quality. See also FEEDLOT.

gRain-FeD(poultry)

Grain fed implies that birds were fed a vegetarian diet without actuallyspecifying it. See VEGETARIAN FED below.

gRaSS baSeD FaRmingDe nition by USDA

Grass-based production relies on pasture or rangeland to supply theprotein and energy requirements of livestock. Grazing and foragefeeding replace high grain diets, close con nement and feedlot- nishingduring most or all of an animals lifetime. The producer focuses onpasture plant and soil management, and proper stocking density androtational grazing.

gRaSSFeDDe nition by USDA

100% of the diet of grass-fed animals consists of freshly grazed pastureduring the growing season and stored grasses (hay or grass silage) duringthe winter months or drought conditions.

This term refers only to the diet of cattle, sheep, goats, and bison. It doesnot indicate if an animal has been given access to pasture, or if it has beenraised in a feedlot and/or given antibiotics or hormones. The USDA de nitiongoes on to state that if for environmental or health of the animal reasonssupplementation can be used if the producer logs the type and amount.Hence, feedlot cattle could be fed harvested forage and supplements,

? P

? P


?

?

?

?

P

P?

P


8/14

are able to lie down; having shelter and gentle handling to limit stress; anthe provision of ample fresh water and a healthy diet without antibioticgrowth promoters or hormones. Groups that provide certi cation to farmwho raise their animals in accordance with speci c high welfare productpractices include:

Animal Welfare Approved (AWA)Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) is a national nonpro t organizatiothat audits, certi es and supports family farmers who raise theiranimals according to the highest welfare standards, outdoors on pastor range. One of only two seals that require audited high-welfareslaughter practices and the only seal that requires pasture access foall animals AWA is the most highly regarded food label when it coto animal welfare, pasture-based farming and sustainability.

Certi ed HumaneCerti ed Humane is a third party accreditation that requires thatruminants have continual outdoor access; de nes space requirementand bird and animal management, and has rigorous auditing to itspublished standards. One of only two seals that require audited highwelfare slaughter practices.

For more information and a comparison of the different welfare standardof various animal welfare certi cation schemes visit: ht tp://www.certi edhumane.org/uploads/pdf/Comparison%20Charts/Comp.StandardComparison.Chart.wappendix.11.7.11.pdf

inSpecteD (uSDa, State,cuStom/eXempt)De nition by USDA

Inspection refers to which agency oversees a slaughter facility. Bothstate and federally inspected plants must follow the same guidelines,but state-inspected products may not enter into interstate commerce.Custom/Exempt processing activities are exempt from daily inspectionand their products may not enter into commerce.

integRateD peSt management(ipm)De nition by US EPA

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the coordinated use of pestand environmental information with available pest control methodsto prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economicalmeans and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and theenvironment.

Some programs and labels include IPM as a standard that farmers mustmeet before certi cation. However, not all these programs require IPMperformance to the same degree, and some programs only incorporateminimal IPM requirements. There is no speci c veri cation program forIPM alone.

Hen oR tom tuRKeyDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

The sex designation of hen (female) or tom (male) turkey is

optional on the label, and is an indication of size rather than thetenderness of a turkey.

HeiRLoomNo legal or regulated de nition

Heirloom crop varieties, also called farmers varieties or traditionalvarieties, is a term used for unique plant varieties which aregenetically distinct from the commercial varieties popularized byindustrial agriculture. Heirloom varieties have been developed byfarmers through years of cultivation, selection and seed saving, andpassed down through generations. Generally speaking, heirlooms arevarieties that have been in existence for a minimum of 50 years.

Note, however, that this term does not refer to any speci c farmingpractices, such as pesticide or fertilizer use. No independent thirdparty veri cation.

HeRitageNo legal or regulated de nition

A term applied to breeds of livestock that were bred over time so thatthey are well-adapted to local environmental conditions, can withstandlocal diseases, or survive in harsh environmental conditions, for example.Heritage breeds generally have slow growth rates and long productivelife spans outdoors, making them well-suited for grazing and pasturing.However, the term heritage does not guarantee animals were raisedoutdoors. No independent third party veri cation.

HoRmone-FRee/no HoRmoneSNo legal or regulated de nition

This phrase is not permitted for use on the labeling of beef, pork or poultry,as animal proteins contain naturally occurring hormones regardless of theproduction practice. See NO ADDED HORMONES below.

Humane/HigH weLFaRe No legal or regulated de nition

Buyers should be cautious about producers making claims of humane orhigh welfare treatment without having independent certi cations (seeHIGH WELFARE CERTIFICATIONS below). No independent third par tyveri cation.

HigH weLFaRe ceRtiFicationSSee individual certi cation agencies for any legal or regulated de nitions

There is no formal de nition for humane or high welfare. However, thereare a number of credible independent third party agencies that providecerti cations to farmers that raise their animals in accordance with speci cproduction practices, such as providing an environment in which they canengage in natural behaviors; being raised with suf cient space where they

P?

?

P

P

r s d l s (cont)

?

?

?

?

? P

8


9/14

iRRaDiationDe nition by Food Safety and Inspection Service

Food irradiation is the process of exposing food to radiant energy

in order to reduce or eliminate bacteria, therefore making it moreresistant to spoilage. Forms of radiant energy include: microwaveand infrared radiation, which heat food during cooking; visiblelight or ultraviolet light, which are used to dry food or kill surfacemicroorganisms; and ionizing radiation, which penetrates deeplyinto food, killing microorganisms without raising the temperature ofthe food signi cantly. Food is most often irradiated commercially toreduce the numbers of pathogenic microorganisms, to extend shelf-life, or to eliminate insect pests.

Irradiation is a process of using high-energy Gamma rays, electronbeams, or X-rays to kill potential pathogens in food. The amount of radiation used can vary and the amount if pathogens affected by

irradiation can be variable.

Food that has been irradiated must either have irradiated as partof the product name or be labeled with the claim treated withirradiation or treated with radiation and also display the Radurasymbol. The FDA requires labeling on whole irradiated fruits andvegetables. However, the FDA does not require the treated withirradiation label on processed foods made with irradiatedingredients or on spices.

The USDAs rules regarding labeling of irradiated foods are similar to theFDAs regulations, but only apply to meat and poultry. However, unlikethe FDA, the USDA requires that irradiated meat ingredients in multi-ingredient products, such as sausages, must be listed in the ingredientson the package.

KoSHeR De nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection ServiceKosher may be used only on the labels of meat and poultryproducts prepared under Rabbinical supervision.

For meat to bear the label Kosher animals must be slaughteredwithout being pre-stunned.

LocaLLy-gRownNo legal or regulated de nition

Food and other agricultural products that are produced, processedand sold within a certain region, whether de ned by distance, stateborder or regional boundaries. The term is, however, unregulated atthe national level, meaning that individuals can de ne andregulate the term based on their own mission andcircumstances.

natuRaL De nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

A product containing no arti cial ingredient or added color and is

only minimally processed (a process which does not fundamentallyalter the raw product) may be labeled natural. The label mustexplain the use of the term natural (such as - no added colorings orarti cial ingredients; minimally processed).

As de ned by the USDA, the term applies only to how meat fromthe animal is processed after it has been slaughtered. It is importantto note that this commonly used term is used for meat or livestockproducts i t does not refer in any way to how an animal was raised,so the farming system may have involved feedlot and con nementsystems or the routine use of antibiotic growth promoters, forexample. No third party veri cation.

natuRaLLy RaiSeDDe nition by USDAThe naturally raised marketing claim standard states that livestockused for the production of meat and meat products have beenraised entirely without growth promotants, antibiotics (except forionophores used as coccidiostats for parasite control), and havenever been fed animal by-products. The voluntary standard willestablish the minimum requirements for those producers whochoose to operate a USDA-veri ed program involving a naturallyraised claim.

Buyers of products bearing this label should be aware that thisde nition does not explain if the animals were raised outdoors orcon ned in feedlots or cages.

no aDDitiVeSNo legal or regulated de nition

No additives is a general claim that a product has not been enhancedwith the addition of natural or arti cial additives. The USDA and FDAde ne and regulate additives; however, as there is no USDA de nitionof the term no additives, anyone using the term may or may not bereferring to this legal regulation. No third party veri cation.

no animaL by-pRoDuctSNo legal or regulated de nition

For meat products this term implies that no products that derivefrom animals have been used in livestock feed. While the term noanimal by-products might appear self-evident, there is no legalde nition of what constitutes an animal by-product, so a varietyof animal-derived ingredients, such as milk or shmeal, may still beincluded under this label. No third party veri cation.

P??

?


N

?

P?

P?

? P


10/14

no antibioticS (red meat and poultry)De nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

The terms no antibiotics added may be used on labels for meat orpoultry products if suf cient documentation is provided by the producerto the Agency demonstrating that the animals were raised withoutantibiotics.

Antibiotics are given to animals, such as cattle, hogs, sheep, and chickens,to prevent or manage diseases. Although the USDA is accountable forproper use of these claims, there is no veri cation system in place.

no HoRmoneS aDDeD (pork or poultry)De nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry . Therefore, theclaim no hormones added cannot be used on the labels of porkor poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones .

no HoRmoneS aDminiSteReD (beef and dairy)De nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

The term no hormones administered may be approved for use onthe label of beef products if suf cient documentation is provided tothe Agency by the producer showing no hormones have been used inraising the animals.

Hormones are commonly used in the commercial farming of animalssuch as cattle to speed the growth rate or to increase milk production.(In dairy cattle, see information on rBST and rGBH below).

no nitRateS/nitRiteSNo legal or regulated de nition

Nitrites are commonly used to preserve meat and prevent thedevelopment of botulism food poisoning. However, some studies havelinked the high intake of nitrites to an increased risk of stomach andpancreatic cancer. It is worth noting that some cured meat and baconthat is sold with the label no nitrates added has been cured withingredients such as celery powder which is high in nitrates.

no SpRay/peSticiDe FReeNo legal or regulated de nition

While a farm may not be organic, no spray implies that no pesticides,herbicides or fungicides have been applied. However, unlike the termorganic, this claim is not veri ed by a third party.

no-tiLL/minimum tiLL/conSeRVationtiLLageNo legal or regulated de nition

A method of reducing soil erosion by planting crops using little or notillage (plowing or other cultivation of the soil). This technique may relyon herbicides to control weeds. No independent third party veri cation.

omega 3 enRicHeDNo legal or regulated de nition

Eggs may be sold as being omega 3 enriched. Omega 3 fatty acidsare good fats that can improve the health of the heart and the brain.Enriched eggs come from hens fed a special diet of axseed, which ishigh in omega 3. True grassfed meat animals and pastured hens willnaturally have higher levels of omega 3 without dietary additions.

on-FaRm SLaugHteRNo legal or regulated de nition

The practice of slaughtering and processing animals at the farm onwhich they were raised. Some states allow farmers to process animalson-farm for sale to the public, although there may be limits on thenumber of animals that can be processed.

oRganic/ceRtiFieD oRganicDe nition by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

all r d s s ld s r s h uSDa n lor pr r r d d h dl s d rds. c r

d r f r f r rs s ll r h $5,000 f r r d sr r, d s v r d r d d r f .

In general, organic production limits the use of chemicals, pesticides,hormones, antibiotics and other inputs. However, it does not strictlyde ne production practices related to space per animal or outdooraccess requirements for example, con nement areas are permitted tofatten organic beef cattle.

For information about the National Organic Program and use of the termorganic on labels, refer to these factsheets from the USDA AgriculturaMarketing Service:

Organic Food Standards and Labels: The Facts Labeling and Marketing Information (PDF only)

paStuReD/paStuRe-RaiSeDNo legal or regulated de nition

Implies that animals were raised outdoors on pasture. However, sincethe term is not regulated or certi ed, there is no way to ensure if anyclaim is accurate.

?

r s d l s (cont)

P

?

P?

P?

?

?

?

?P?

10


11/14

peSticiDe-FReeNo legal or regulated de nition

Implies that no pesticide residue can be found on the crop. It does notaddress if pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides were applied at otherpoints in production. No independent third party veri cation.

QuaLity gRaDe anD yieLD gRaDeDe nition by USDA

The USDA primarily grades meat by the amount of marbling orintramuscular fat that is present. Cuts of meat with the greatestamount of fat within the grain of the meat are awarded the highestgrades. Graders evaluate the amount and distribution of marbling inthe rib eye muscle at the cut surface after the carcass has been ribbedbetween the 12th and 13th ribs. The top three grades are prime,select and choice. These terms are only valid if they are accompaniedby the USDA shield.

Quality grades serve to identify the eating characteristics of theproduct. They are a guide to identify the tenderness andpalatability of the meat. Quality grades exist for beef, pork, lamb vealand mutton.

A USDA factsheet on the inspection and grading of meat and poultryis available at www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/inspection _ & _ grading/index.asp

Raw No legal or regulated de nition

This term refers to foods, such as milk, cheeses, cider, vinegar, sauerkraut,or almonds, that have not been pasteurized (heat treated) to a minimumof 145F. No independent third party veri cation.

Raw miLK cHeeSeDe nition by Raw Milk Cheesemakers Association

Cheese produced from milk that, prior to setting the curd, has notbeen heated above the temperature of the milk (104F, 40C) at thetime of milking and that the cheese produced from that milk shall beaged for 60 days or longer at a temperature of not less than 35F (2C)in accordance with US FDA regulations.

RbSt-FRee/RbgH-FReeNo legal or regulated de nition

rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin) and rGBH (recombinant bovinegrowth hormone) are hormones used to boost milk production in dairycattle and have been found to leave residue in the milk. This claim is notveri ed.

Soy-FReeNo legal or regulated de nition

Soy has been shown to transfer through animal feed to food product.Some people wish to avoid soy for diet, allergy or other reasons.

SpeciaL-FeD VeaLNo legal or regulated de nition

The term special fed veal applies to beef/dairy animals that are fed

controlled liquid diets which maintain the calf in a state of anemia,producing a pale ne-textured meat. Veal calves are unlikely to beoffered any forage as this can affect the color of the meat. Calves aregenerally slaughtered at 1520 weeks of age. These production systemsoften provide limited space, with no requirement for beddingor outside access, and are generally considered as providing extremelypoor animal welfare. Also referred to as Formula-Fed, Milk-Fed orNature Fed Veal.

SubtHeRapeautic/non-tHeRapeauticuSe oF antibioticSNo legal or regulated de nition

This term refers to the administration of antibiotics when animals orbirds are not sick or injured, but for the purpose of promoting growth orovercoming disease challenges that are inherent in the system of farmmanagement. For example, cattle on feedlots may be given low dosesof non-therapeutic antibiotic treatments to try to prevent illness fromliver damage due to the grain-based diet they are fed.

SuLFite-FRee/no aDDeD SuLFiteS /containS SuLFiteS (wine)De nition by The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)Sul te or sulfur dioxide is commonly used as a preservative in wines,but can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. A wine can makethe claim Sul te Free if there are no detectable sul tes, or NoAdded Sul tes Contains Naturally Occurring Sul tes. However, ifthe total sul tes in the wine are above 10 parts per million the labelmust state Contains Sul tes.

SuLFuReD/unSuLFuReDNo legal or regulated de nition

Many dried fruits are treated with sulfur to keep them from oxidizingduring and after the drying process. This preserves their originalcolor and acts as a preservative. Unsulfured fruits are often darkbrown in color.

SuStainabLe agRicuLtuReNo legal or regulated de nitionSustainable farming is farming that is socially just, high welfare,economically viable, and environmentally sound. The term isunregulated. Sustainable agriculture was addressed by Congress in the1990 Farm Bill. Under that law, the term sustainable agriculture meansan integrated system of plant and animal production practices having asite-speci c application that will, over the long term:

?

P?

?

P?

?

?

?


?

?N

?

P?


12/14

satisfy human food and ber needs enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon

which the agricultural economy depends make the most ef cient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm

resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles

and controls sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.

tRanSitionaLNo legal or regulated de nition

Transitional is an unof cial term implying that the farm is in the processof moving towards organic certi cation, and is occasionally used onproducts produced by farms in transition to organic certi cation. Farmersmust practice organic methods for three years on a given area of landbefore the products harvested from that land can be sold or labeled ascerti ed organic (see ORGANIC/CERTIFIED ORGANIC). No independent

third party veri cation.

Vegan/ceRtiFieD VeganDe nition by Vegan Action

Foods with this label contain no animal products, such as meat, dairy,eggs, gelatin, or honey and have not been tested on animals. Not allvegan foods use the Certi ed Vegan logo. No independent third partyveri cation even if Certi ed Vegan is displayed.

VegetaRian-FeD/FeD a VegetaRian DietNo legal or regulated de nition

Animals have been fed a diet free of animal products. This does notmean animals were raised outdoors on pasture or were fed a 100 percentgrassfed diet. No independent third party veri cation.

Vine-RipeneD/tRee-RipeneDNo legal or regulated de nition

Fruit that has been allowed to ripen on the vine or tree. Many fruitsthat are shipped long distances are picked while still unripe and rm, andlater treated with ethylene gas at the point of distribution to ripen andsoften them. This term does not mean the fruit is pesticide-free, organic,non-GMO, sustainable or family farmed. No independent third partyveri cation.

r s d l s (cont)

?

P?

?

?


13/14



14/14

a l w lf r a r v d (awa) is a nationalnonpro t organization that audits, certi es andsupports farmers raising their animals accordingto the highest welfare standards, outdoors onpasture or range. Called a badge of honor forfarmers and the gold standard, AWA has cometo be the most highly regarded food label whenit comes to animal welfare, pasture-basedfarming and sustainability. All AWA standards,policies and procedures are available on the AWAwebsite, making it one of the most transparentcerti cations available.

awas l d r r of farms, restaurantsand products enables the public to search forAWA farms, restaurants and products byzipcode, keywords, products and type of establishment. Visit:

.a lw lf r a r v d. r / r d -s r h

a l w lf r a r v d1007 Queen Street | Alexandria | VA 22314(800) 373-8806www.AnimalWelfareApproved.org

@awa r v d

.f k. /l lf r r v d

Animal Welfare Approved 2011

Documents

Food Labeling for Dummies High Res 27 Feb 12 v3