Consumer demand for more humanely raised and healthier foods has led to labels such as “cage free,” “no antibiotics used,” and “no hormones administered.” However, these labels typically cover only a single aspect of the product’s origin and may be redundant or misleading. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has categorized these different labels and surveyed their availability among the U.S.’s top 23 grocery chains.

The majority of U.S. consumers want the choice to buy animal-based foods from sources that are more humane than typical farms and slaughterhouses. This article describes two surveys conducted in 2007; one was by WSPA-USA and the other was from Oklahoma State University. The results showed that 68% and 49% of survey respondents, respectively, felt concern for farm animals.

The greatest selection of humanely labeled foods were found at the following grocery chains:

1. Whole Foods Market
2. Wegman’s Food Markets
3. Ruddick Corp. (Harris Teeter)
4. H.E. Butt Grocery Co. (Central Market, HEB)
5. (tie) Kroger; Publix Super Markets Inc.
6. Hy-Vee Food Stores Inc.
7. Meijer Inc.
8. (tie) Safeway Inc.; Trader Joes Co.