Ethical Eating.

Whole Foods Market is known for providing their customers with high quality, organic and ethically produced products. It was no surprise when, in January, Whole Foods announced that it would be increasing the standards for meat sold in their stores. 

"The more you know about our meat, the better" is the tagline of Whole Foods Market’s launch of a 5-step animal welfare rating system. The company has collaborated with a non-profit organization, The Global Animal Partnership, to certify the welfare of meat sold in their stores. The rating system provides customers with information about how the animal was raised ranging from 1, no cages or crowding, to 5, the most animal centered rating. Details can be found on the Whole Foods Market website or in their Animal Welfare PDF.

The store has also publicized it will no longer sell meat that has not been certified and ranked, which is a big accomplishment. So far the system is only for ranking beef, pork and chicken with the certification of turkey and lamb still in the works. Whole Foods is hoping that by increasing the transparency of where the meat comes from, farmers within the industry will be encouraged to improve their current practices.  The animal welfare ranking system provides Whole Foods Market’s, already ethically conscious, meat eating, consumers with yet another tool to ensure quality food. Here is your chance to enjoy a nice steak dinner without being plagued by guilt!