Consumers are more interested than ever in where their food comes from. The same goes for pet food and treats.
While pet food packaging might sport imagery of animals grazing in wide-open fields, this bucolic setting could not be further from the reality of most animals raised for meat in the United States. Most farm animals live in cramped indoor environments inappropriate for their species and under conditions harmful to their health and well-being.
Sacramento dog treat manufacturer Campfire Treats has committed to help change this by having their already all-natural treats and chews certified by Global Animal Partnership (G.A.P.), one of the largest and most comprehensive animal welfare food labeling programs in North America. In doing so, they join a small minority of pet food brands so committed to improving farm animal welfare.
“At Campfire Treats, we believe that loving our dogs should not come at the expense of other animals,” says Campfire Treats’ President and Co-Founder Marko Wittich.
What does G.A.P.-certified mean? Founded in 2008 as an initiative within Whole Foods Market, Austin-based nonprofit Global Animal Partnership develops comprehensive farm animal welfare standards to allow for continuous improvement on farms. Specific sets of G.A.P. standards for each species are regularly updated, reflecting the latest research in agricultural science.
G.A.P. standards are also grounded with achievable, practical application guidance to support farmers in improving welfare over an animal’s entire lifespan. Each farm in G.A.P’s network is audited by an accredited third party every 15 months to ensure animals are being raised in compliance with these standards.
“Pet owners are shopping for meaningful animal welfare claims. Campfire Treats’ new line of certified single-ingredient dog treats are sourced only from farms and ranches certified to G.A.P. standards,” says Diane McDade, G.A.P.’s Business Development Manager.
The ascending tiers of G.A.P.’s Animal Welfare Certified™ labeling system offer shoppers a rare level of transparency into the lives of the animals raised for the meat in a package or at the butcher counter. Labels include meaningful details such as whether animals get outdoor access or are entirely pasture-raised.
G.A.P.’s animal welfare certification is recognized by leading animal rights organizations such as the ASPCA. The Better Chicken Commitment (which Campfire signed onto in 2021) requires food companies and retailers to pledge to only using chicken that has been humanely treated, specifically using only G.A.P.-certified broilers by 2024.
Campfire Treats also joins the ranks of the food industry’s leading animal welfare advocates in ASPCA’s Shop With Your Heart program—a way for ASPCA to connect conscientious consumers to brands on the market that share their values.
“We’ve recognized Campfire Treats’ commitment to a more humane, accountable food system by welcoming them to the ASPCA’s Shop With Your Heart program. We know that so many pet owners’ concern for animals includes those raised on farms, and Campfire Treats’ welfare-verified products give those consumers another option in the marketplace,” says Nancy Roulston, Senior Director of Corporate Policy & Animal Scientist, ASPCA Farm Animal Welfare
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