Walk through any grocery store, and you’ll see animal-based products labeled as eco-friendly or humane. But behind all the marketing is a world of meaningless labels, subpar standards, and weak oversight. For companies that label products “humanely raised,” the USDA strongly recommends, rather than mandates, a third-party certification. Companies are permitted to define “humanely raised” for themselves, and their definition can be limited to even a single, irrelevant factor, like that the animals were fed a vegetarian diet. In the fight for consumer protection against this type of marketing, we saw some progress this past year. After being accused of misleading consumers, Tyson Foods settled a lawsuit, agreeing to stop making “climate-friendly” claims about its beef. The fight continues, but by choosing to stop eating animal products now, you’re showing these companies that you won’t buy their misleading marketing—or the cruelty hidden behind it.
