| | In a recent opinion article in the National Provisoner Dr. Robin R. Ganzert, President and CEO of the American Humane Association (AHA) commented on the need for an ethical and reliable third-party auditing system to provide consumers with a sense of security concerning the livestock products they purchase. The article as circulated by the AHA is reproduced for the information of readers of CHICK-CITE. |
There was a time in our culture when many consumers were more connected to food and agriculture. Citizens knew a farmer or grew up near a farm, milk was delivered directly to people’s doorsteps, and consumers regularly visited their neighborhood butcher.
Yet business consolidation, innovation and technology dramatically changed this way of life, seemingly right before our eyes.
Similarly, animal welfare in food production is no longer just about farmers and ranchers and the way they treat their animals. It is now part of a comprehensive food system that includes consumers, retailers and restaurants, government and regulatory agencies, NGOs, auditors and certifiers, and educators. Our food system is predicated on a model of safety and affordability while aspiring to a balance that is moral and defensible.