HERNDON, Va. (PRNewswire) — Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), the leading international non-profit certification organization improving the lives of millions of farm animals in food production, announced this week that Open Farm will be the first producer of Certified Humane® Raised and Handled® pet foods in Canada.
Open Farm, a Canadian-based pet food company, launches their Certified Humane® dog food products in stores across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes this week. Open Farm works exclusively with farmers who share their commitment to exceptional quality and sustainable practices in order to make better food for pets while doing good for family farms, farm animals and the environment.
"Since Humane Farm Animal Care launched in 2003, pet owners have been clamoring for pet foods with meat and chicken that were Certified Humane®," said Douglass. "We're excited to see such a product finally hit the marketplace. It will give Canadian pet owners the opportunity to purchase pet food that reflects their humane values."
Under the Certified Humane® Raised and Handled label, Open Farm will use only meat and poultry products in their pet foods that come from Certified Humane® farms and ranches. The Certified Humane® label assures consumers that farm animals are raised on farms where they can express their natural behaviors, such as flapping wings and moving around freely in their environments. The farm animals must also be raised without animal by-products and without the use of antibiotics.
"As an animal lover and ethical eater, it was very important that Open Farm work only with farmers who respect the animals under their care, raising them in accordance with strict ethical and humane standards," says Jacqueline Prehogan, President of Open Farm. "The Certified Humane® stamp gives pet parents a high level of comfort in knowing where their pet's food comes from and, for the first time, having the choice to buy humane pet food."
Prehogan goes on to say, "Farm animals covered by Certified Humane's® extensive standards are fed a healthy vegetarian diet, free of antibiotics and growth hormones, and live natural lives with space, shelter and gentle handling. Because of this, the quality of meat produced under the program is exceptionally high, and pet parents can know that they are making a major difference in the lives of farm animals by supporting our brand."
Open Farm plans to expand their Certified Humane® pet food product line into Western Canada and the United States in 2015.
To find a store near you that sells Certified Humane® products, visit www.certifiedhumane.org or download the free Certified Humane® App for iPhone or Google Play for Android, which offers English and French language options for consumers.
To learn more about Open Farm, visit www.openfarmpet.com.
For more information on HFAC and the Certified Humane® label, visit www.certifiedhumane.org.
About Humane Farm Animal Care
Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) is the leading international non-profit certification organization improving the lives of farm animals in food production. The Certified Humane® Raised and Handled certification label assures consumers that meat, poultry, egg, or dairy products are produced
according to HFAC's precise standards for humane farm animal care. Animals must receive a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones and be raised with shelter, resting areas and space sufficient to support natural behaviors. Learn more about HFAC at www.certifiedhumane,org.