For a lot of folks, reducing meat consumption has become a healthy habit. But for various reasons, dedicated vegetarianism or veganism isn’t for everyone. If that sounds like you, I want you to know that you shouldn’t feel ashamed about it. You can still have an impact and make a difference by shopping responsibly and buying meat from ethical brands that don’t treat animals like garbage; I hope this article encourages you to do so.

It can seem overwhelming at first, but you don’t have to become an all-knowing food detective to get it done. It’s really just about doing a bit of homework and getting to know labels. For a quick read on labels you’ll see listed below, click here.

Here’s a list of Welfare Certified Brands broken down by product and certification.

*Please note that this information is accurate at the time of posting. I will do my best to keep this information as up to date as possible.

 

POULTRY

Ayrshire Farm certified humane

Bilinski’s – Chicken Sausage, Meatballs, Patties GAP step 3

D’Artagnan – Green Circle Chicken Line certified humane

Farmer Focus certified humane

Firefly Farms certified humane

Hip Chick Farms – Organic Chicken Fingers, Meatballs, Strips, Breakfast Sausages GAP step 3

Koch’s Turkey certified humane

Mary’s Free Range Chicken GAP step 3  GAP step 4 GAP step 5

Mary’s Free Range Turkey GAP step 3  GAP step 5

Murray’s Chicken certified humane

Naked Truth GAP step 2

Red Wheelbarrow certified humane

Smart Chicken – Organic Line certified humane

White Oak Pastures Awa logo certified humane GAP step 5+

Wilde Chicken Chips – Barbecue, Buffalo, Sea Salt & Vinegar, Jalapeno GAP step 2

Wilde – Turkey Jerky GAP step 3


BEEF

Ayrshire Farm certified humane

Aspen Ridge certified humane

Baldwin Beef Awa logo

Brasstown Beef GAP step 4

Country Natural Beef – Ground Beef GAP step 4 *Only sold in Whole Foods

Creekstone Farms – Premium Black Angus Beef certified humane

Mariposa Ranch certified humane

Niman Ranch certified humane

Redger Farms GAP step 4

Shire Gate Awa logo

Skagit River Ranch certified humane

Teton Waters Ranch certified humane

White Oak Pastures certified humane GAP step 4 GAP step 5+


PORK

Ayrshire Farm certified humane

Circle B Ranch – multiple pork products Awa logo certified humane

duBreton – Rustic Farm pork; Organic Ham, Bacon & Ground Pork  certified humane

Fra’ Mani – all sausages certified humane

Goodnight Brothers – All Natural Products Awa logo

Llano Seco – all pork products GAP step 2

Newman Farms certified humane

Niman Ranch certified humane

North Country Smokehouse – Bistro Ham certified humane

The Naked Pig Meat Co. Awa logo certified humane

Thompson Farms GAP step 5+

White Oak Pastures GAP step 5+


EGGS

Alderfer’s Eggs certified humane

Aldi Brand: Simply Nature Cage-Free Organic Eggs certified humane

Ayrshire Farm certified humane

Barnstar – Cage-Free, Organic Brown Eggs certified humane

Blue Sky Family Farms certified humane

Born Free Eggs certified humane

Carol’s Eggs certified humane

Central Market – Organic Pasture Raised Eggs certified humane

Contented Hen certified humane

Davidson’s Safest Choice Cage-Free Eggs certified humane

Eco Meal Cage-Free Eggs certified humane

Egg Innovations certified humane

Eggology – Pure Egg Whites, Cage-Free certified humane

Farmer’s Hen House certified humane

Giving Nature certified humane

Great Day certified humane

Green Meadow Organics certified humane

Happy Belly Cage-Free Eggs certified humane

Judy’s Family Farm certified humane

Kirkland Organic Eggs certified humane

Lathem Farms certified humane

Natural Grocer’s Pasture – Raised Eggs certified humane

Nature Fed Cage-Free Eggs certified humane

Nature’s Yoke Cage-Free Eggs certified humane

Nellie’s Free Range Eggs certified humane

Nest Fresh certified humane

New Seasons Cage-Free Eggs, Free Range Organic Brown Eggs certified humane

Pete and Gerry’s certified humane

Phil’s Fresh Eggs certified humane

Raley’s – Cage-Free Brown Eggs certified humane

Safeway Brands: O – Organic Eggs & Open Nature Cage-Free Eggs certified humane

Sauders – Cage-Free Brown, Free Range, Pasture Raised Eggs certified humane

Sharon’s Cage-Free Brown Eggs certified humane

South Mountain Creamery Cage-Free Brown Eggs certified humane

Stiebrs Farms – Sunrise Fresh, Go-Organic & Natural Choice Eggs  certified humane

The Country Hen – Organic Brown Eggs certified humane

The Farmer’s Hen – Cage-Free Brown Eggs, Organic Cage-Free Brown Eggs, Hard Cooked & Peeled Cage-Free Eggs certified humane

Vital Farms certified humane

White Oak Pastures certified humane

Wilcox Farms certified humane


If you’re having trouble finding these animal-friendly brands at your local supermarket, present them with a customer request letter to show them that there’s a demand for ethical products!

For more in-depth lists including cheese, pet food, condiments, etc., head on over to the The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®(ASPCA®)’s Website here.

Featured photo credit: Annie Spratt