I would imagine that most of us care about animals but sometimes we don’t think about the animals that help produce our food – especially during the holiday season. So this season the ASPCA, Food Chain Workers Alliance, GRACE Communications Foundation, and the Natural Resource Defense Council are working hard to give consumers with he information they need before they head to the grocery store for holiday shopping. And they are focusing on farm animal welfare by doing so. Here are some tips for being a savvy consumer while supporting humane practices!
Don’t Be Duped – Marketing schemes can play a huge factor when it comes to food purchases. So often consumers want to buy humanely-raised food, but labels can be meaningless or downright misleading at times! What’s the difference between “all-natural” or “free-range” or “cage-free”? That’s why the ASPCA has produced guides like this one to help consumers distinguish what matters. https://www.aspca.org/shopwithyourheart/consumer-resources/meat-eggs-and-dairy-label-guide
Don’t Waste the Food You Have – This is an area I really need to work. It’s a little embarrassing how often I buy produce and it goes bad just sitting in a drawer in my fridge. This Groceries Guide will help you understand how all these elements fit together to help people, animals, and ultimately the planet. Did you know 40% of food in America goes uneaten? That’s just crazy.
Buy Locally – We occasionally get our produce from The Produce Box. Shopping locally, like from your local farmer’s market or CSA, can keep your shopping dollars in your local area and also decrease the need for factory-farmed foods. Check out the ASPCA guide for shopping locally and how to begin conversations with local producers in your area. https://www.aspca.org/shopwithyourheart/consumer-resources/how-shop-farmers-marke
Shop With Your Heart – At the ASPCA Shop With Your Heart website you’ll find an abundance of options for healthy and humane food choices, along with tips on how to begin to implement them in your own family.http://www.aspca.org/ShopWithYourHeart
As consumers we have all the power to shift the focus of major companies and corporations. And that begins with understanding how our shopping choices can directly affect the lives of the animals that help bring us the meals we serve our family.
This is a pro-bono post. No compensation was received.
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