Buying Humane Meat

Some people could care less where their meat comes from; they believe that people are far superior to animals, thank you very much, and should be able to feast upon them without guilt and with gusto. Others are quite the opposite, believing that, as people are animals, they shouldn’t eat their fellow sentient beings—that their food shouldn’t “have a face”—as well as that eating meat harms the environment.

Then there are those of us who are in-between, who have tried to go vegetarian but have had some trouble, relapsed, and gone back into the vegetable and tofu rehab center on multiple occasions. Sure, we really like animals and don’t want them in pain, and we care about the earth and are avid recyclers—but we’ve been raised as carnivores, our families all eat meat and it’s a hard lifestyle where we live—especially for those of us in rural areas.

So what’s a carnivore with a conscience to do? For starters, eating less meat helps, no matter what anyone tells you. (And with the average American consuming a whopping 69 pounds of meat each year, our collective arteries would likely sigh with relief.)

Trying out the fake meats on the market could work, too—especially if you have access (and take the time to get used to it). But if that just doesn’t work for your family, try buying a more humane form of meat.

Hardcore activists will tell you that “humane meat” is an oxymoron, and they are essentially right; in the case of taking a life, there’s nothing humane about meat. Yes, you have to kill to get it (unless you eat the fake stuff). But if you absolutely have to buy meat, you can buy from providers that treat their animals more humanely and try to give them painless deaths.

Formally known as “Certified Humane Raised & Handled” meat, it comes from farmers who try to provide better living conditions and room to move, graze, and socialize for the animals. Animals who come from these farms receive a healthy diet and fresh water, are able to participate in their natural behaviors, and are guaranteed the most humane standards for slaughter possible, among other things.

The idea was started by the Humane Farm Animal Care nonprofit group, who wanted to give consumers a more socially conscious choice when buying meat. You can learn more about Certified Humane Raised & Handled meat at their website.