More companies around the world are adjusting their farm-animal confinement policies and requesting clarification of consumer labels to reflect these changes, largely in response to U.S. voter-led initiatives and the implementation of farm policy reforms in the European Union.

Growing public awareness of the environment, health, and animal welfare issues has led major retailers to phase out various animal confinement practices, as an estimated 73% of emerging human diseases are derived from animals. Legislation has also contributed to the industry shift.

Those opposed to animal confinement are more supportive of a “naturally raised” label for meat and other animal products. Although this terminology currently denotes how an animal is fed or cared for, it does not represent any information as to how an animal is confined. Additionally, the “natural” label only describes how the meat is processed.