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American Humane Certified to Launch Online Training of Humane Animal Care for Food Producers

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 March 2009, 12:45 CDT

DENVER, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Unveiling yet another innovative industry first, the American Humane Certified(TM) farm animal welfare program today announced it will launch an online Humane Care Training Program for food producers to use in educating employees, growers and contractors who handle animals. The training will complement and expand American Humane Certified's existing national program of auditing and certifying the humane handling of animals raised for food.

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The new American Humane Certified Humane Care Training curriculum will be developed by John J. McGlone, Ph.D., animal and food science professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, in association with Farm Animal Care Training and Auditing (FACTA, LLC), which provides independent, professional, science-based animal care training and auditing services. McGlone is the principal partner at FACTA, which is a privately held company that owns no equity or controlling interest in pork, beef, dairy or poultry production, processing or food retailing. FACTA relies on the best animal welfare science and leading scientists to develop its programs.

CDC Global Services Inc., which developed the web-based data-reporting components for American Humane Certified's True Humane Tracking(TM) auditing process, will develop technical aspects of the online learning system. The online video components will be provided by HS3 Technologies Inc., developer of the live, online video monitoring for American Humane's unique auditing process.

American Humane Certified is the nation's oldest and fastest growing animal welfare certification program, with more than 50 million farm animals now covered. The program's True Humane Tracking(TM) system is a proprietary, three-tiered audit system. This state-of-the-art method delivers transparency, accountability and consistency to producers, retailers and consumers. Producers who successfully comply are allowed to use and promote the American Humane Certified label on their products, attesting to the humane animal care that consumers are demanding along with other sustainable farming practices.

The new training program will begin testing in the spring of 2009, and should be available for widespread use by food producers in July 2009. The training will be required as a key component of American Humane's certification process. It will feature easy access and clear, comprehensive lessons for anyone working in direct contact with animals. Every species will have its own training module that incorporates video and graphics to demonstrate key points. It will be the first humane training curriculum offered to producers and employees to demonstrate and reinforce science-based and compassionate animal welfare standards.

For large food-service companies, the training will illustrate a significant, socially responsible undertaking, especially as they require their employees and independent suppliers and growers to be trained in humane care and animal welfare standards. Other users likely will include universities and government agencies dealing with agriculture, such as the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

About American Humane Certified

American Humane Certified is the United States' first animal-welfare program dedicated to the humane treatment of farm animals. It is the fastest growing independent animal-welfare label program in the U.S. American Humane has certified producers representing more than 50 million farm animals through American Humane's science-based program. American Humane auditors are rigorously trained in the American Humane Certified species-specific standards and are certified by the Professional Animal Auditors Certification Organization (PAACO). As consumers and retailers are increasingly concerned about how food is raised, producers are seeking independent verification for the marketplace. American Humane Certified believes animal welfare should not only be good for animals but also economically viable and feasible for producers. American Humane Certified works with agriculture to educate and motivate producers and demonstrate the economic and social benefits of animal welfare. American Humane Certified works closely with its independent Scientific Advisory Committee, industry professionals and producers to ensure that industry advancements and best practices are part of American Humane certification standards. Based on American Humane's 131-year legacy of being the gold standard for humane behavior, consumers trust the American Humane Certified label. Learn more at www.thehumanetouch.org.

SOURCE American Humane Association

Source: PR Newswire

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