Certified Humane meat that Earls restaurants use called ‘gold standard’ for livestock

Popular restaurant Earls has announced it will only serve Certified Humane beef in its 66 restaurants, making it the first chain in North America to do so.

But what is Certified Humane?

It’s a program based out of the United States and represents 130 farms that follow strict standards about how animals are raised and doesn’t allow the use of antibiotics, steroids and growth hormones. It also requires that livestock not be in cages.

“No Cages, no crates, no tie stalls. Animals must be free to do what comes naturally. For example, chickens are able to flap their wings and dust bathe, and pigs have the space to move around and root,” the organization’s website states.

The standards followed by Certified Humane farmers are based on principals designed by Temple Grandin and created by a panel of 36 “animal scientists and veterinarians from Canada, Europe, South America and the U.S.,” the website states.

Certified Humane products became more widely available in Canada in 2013 when Sobeys stores started selling the meat and poultry products.

READ MORE: Decision by Earls to drop Alberta beef provokes backlash

Other Canadian chains have been promoting their use of products without antibiotics, including A&W, but it does not use Certified Humane products. McDonald’s restaurants have recently been promoting their use of Canadian beef, eggs and potatoes.

In videos promoting its switch to Certified Humane beef, Earls beef purchaser Dave Bursey describes the program as the “gold standard” for raising livestock.

“They are raised ethically from birth to pasture to harvest,” Bursey says.

The North Vancouver-based company has faced backlash over its announcement because Earls previously used Alberta beef, and its Certified Humane beef is from Creekstone Farms in Kansas.

Earls has said that there wasn’t enough antibiotic and hormone free beef in Alberta to meet its demand.
In Canada, growth hormones are only approved for use in beef cattle, they are not allowed in poultry, pork and dairy cattle.

Antibiotics can only be used in Canadian livestock to treat, prevent or manage disease and in some cases to promote growth, but any antibiotics require veterinary supervision and meet Health Canada’s standards.

Certified Humane livestock are “raised without antibiotics,” which means the animals have not received any antibiotics in their life.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this online story incorrectly stated the number of farms that follow the Certified Humane program.