Whole Foods' Humane Farm Animal Care Standards
To be considered as a producer or vendor eligible to sell meat, meat products or products that contain meat at Whole Foods Market, each farmer, rancher or processor must first meet the following criteria:
-The animals must not receive any added growth hormones through feed injections, implants, or any other method.
-The animals must not receive antibiotics, ever. Sick animals must receive safe and humane treatment but antibiotic-treated animals must not be sold to Whole Foods Market as natural.
-All animals must be humanely raised, transported and slaughtered.
-No animal by-products are allowed in feed, including feather-meal or rendered fat.
-The time on a feedlot cannot be more than one-third of the animal's life.
-The facility or ranch must be designed to support and enhance the land, water and air environmental quality.
-The facility must use a traceability audit system that tracks individual animals or flocks from birth to slaughter.
-The facility must have a prepared, actionable recall program.
-If the facility has a split operation (part conventional/part natural), the producer must demonstrate an annual continual percentage increase of animals raised as natural.
-The operation must provide full disclosure of management practices and feed rations.
-The operation must have a documented training program for all of their employees.
-The operation must have an internal audit program to monitor compliance with Whole Foods Market standards, with governmental regulations and with their own internal protocols.
-The operation must receive passing scores in both the required audit of animal welfare in their slaughter facility and required food safety audit of their fabrication facility (Step 4 in approval process)
Step 2: Annual Verification Statement Affidavits
-The operation must submit information (updated annually) about raising and handling practices, animal welfare at the ranch/facility, feed, medical practices, facility design, split operation status, environmental conditions, environmental sustainability, traceability, labeling, animal welfare in transportation and in the slaughter facility, employee training, and recall systems.
-Whole Foods Market must receive an agreement from each producer to keep us current if any changes are made in their production system that would change answers previously submitted to us on the affidavit.
Step 3: Annual on-farm/facility inspections
-To verify if a producer's animals are humanely raised on the farm/ranch, each producer's operation must be audited annually by Whole Food Market to ensure that the following expectations are being provided:
-A wholesome diet and clean drinking water to maintain the animals' good health and satisfy their nutritional needs.
-Well-managed living conditions suitable to the species with adequate space, good ventilation and temperature level, and an environmentally sound sanitation system that protects the animals from physical discomfort and distress.
-Trained and skilled managers and caretakers competent in animal husbandry and welfare.
-An established preventative healthcare system, including medical treatment when needed.
Step 4: Third-Party Animal Welfare & Food/Safety Good Manufacturing Practices Audits
-Mandatory 3rd party audit of animal welfare in the slaughter facility, developed by animal welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin. Areas of evaluation include:
-Animals handled with patience, skill and respect
-Proper condition and upkeep of all equipment
-Clean, well-designed facility ensuring quiet movement of the animals
-Appropriate flooring to ensure the animals' stability
-Healthy condition of animals upon arrival
-Calm, efficient unloading procedures
-Mandatory 3rd party food safety audit of slaughter and fabrication facility. Areas of evaluation include:
+External areas
+Slaughter/fabrication facilities and equipment
+Coolers/freezers/chilled transport
+Staff areas
+Personal hygiene, tools and access control
+Sanitation
+Documentation
+Slaughtering and fabrication practices
-The animals must not receive any added growth hormones through feed injections, implants, or any other method.
-The animals must not receive antibiotics, ever. Sick animals must receive safe and humane treatment but antibiotic-treated animals must not be sold to Whole Foods Market as natural.
-All animals must be humanely raised, transported and slaughtered.
-No animal by-products are allowed in feed, including feather-meal or rendered fat.
-The time on a feedlot cannot be more than one-third of the animal's life.
-The facility or ranch must be designed to support and enhance the land, water and air environmental quality.
-The facility must use a traceability audit system that tracks individual animals or flocks from birth to slaughter.
-The facility must have a prepared, actionable recall program.
-If the facility has a split operation (part conventional/part natural), the producer must demonstrate an annual continual percentage increase of animals raised as natural.
-The operation must provide full disclosure of management practices and feed rations.
-The operation must have a documented training program for all of their employees.
-The operation must have an internal audit program to monitor compliance with Whole Foods Market standards, with governmental regulations and with their own internal protocols.
-The operation must receive passing scores in both the required audit of animal welfare in their slaughter facility and required food safety audit of their fabrication facility (Step 4 in approval process)
Step 2: Annual Verification Statement Affidavits
-The operation must submit information (updated annually) about raising and handling practices, animal welfare at the ranch/facility, feed, medical practices, facility design, split operation status, environmental conditions, environmental sustainability, traceability, labeling, animal welfare in transportation and in the slaughter facility, employee training, and recall systems.
-Whole Foods Market must receive an agreement from each producer to keep us current if any changes are made in their production system that would change answers previously submitted to us on the affidavit.
Step 3: Annual on-farm/facility inspections
-To verify if a producer's animals are humanely raised on the farm/ranch, each producer's operation must be audited annually by Whole Food Market to ensure that the following expectations are being provided:
-A wholesome diet and clean drinking water to maintain the animals' good health and satisfy their nutritional needs.
-Well-managed living conditions suitable to the species with adequate space, good ventilation and temperature level, and an environmentally sound sanitation system that protects the animals from physical discomfort and distress.
-Trained and skilled managers and caretakers competent in animal husbandry and welfare.
-An established preventative healthcare system, including medical treatment when needed.
Step 4: Third-Party Animal Welfare & Food/Safety Good Manufacturing Practices Audits
-Mandatory 3rd party audit of animal welfare in the slaughter facility, developed by animal welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin. Areas of evaluation include:
-Animals handled with patience, skill and respect
-Proper condition and upkeep of all equipment
-Clean, well-designed facility ensuring quiet movement of the animals
-Appropriate flooring to ensure the animals' stability
-Healthy condition of animals upon arrival
-Calm, efficient unloading procedures
-Mandatory 3rd party food safety audit of slaughter and fabrication facility. Areas of evaluation include:
+External areas
+Slaughter/fabrication facilities and equipment
+Coolers/freezers/chilled transport
+Staff areas
+Personal hygiene, tools and access control
+Sanitation
+Documentation
+Slaughtering and fabrication practices
This information came from their website, which can be found here
