New Book - Animal Factory by David Kirby

Last night I went to a book signing at The Regulator Bookshop in Durham for a new book by David Kirby called Animal Factory. I have yet to read it, but once I do I'll post any comments I have about it, including whether I think it's recommended reading (based on what was discussed at the signing, I already feel that it is).

While not a vegetarian, the author is strongly critical of the CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), which raise the large majority of animals grown for meat in America. He advocates for a reform of the CAFO system from government, and, more immediately, for consumers to make more informed choices about where and from whom they purchase their meat, dairy, and eggs.

To help people find producers of meat, dairy, and eggs that raise their animals more humanely (which is not only better for the animals but also results in healthier and safer food for the consumer), the Animal Welfare Institute (who had a representative at the book signing I attended) has created the Animal Welfare Approved program, which "audits and certifies family farms that utilize high-welfare methods of farming. Through this program, "farmers benefit from having a third-party affirmation of their practices and consumers benefit by knowing that the label means what it says."

On the Animal Welfare Approval website, you can find out which farms in your state have been AWA-approved. The AWA seal of approval is more trustworthy than the USDA Organic seal, because it means that "animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range on true family farms with the 'most stringent' welfare standards according to the World Society for the Protection of Animals in both 2008 and 2009 reports. The standards have been developed in collaboration with scientists, veterinarians, researchers and farmers and incorporate best practice and recent research. Annual audits by experts in the field cover birth to slaughter."

Knowing where your food comes from is critical for both meat eaters and vegetarians alike in an age when the sources of our food are increasingly harmful not only to the animals, but also to our health and to the environment. Avoiding factory-produced meat, dairy, and eggs is an essential part of being a conscious eater, and doing so is increasingly possible with resources like the one provided by the AWI.