For meat and poultry throughout our Meat department, our standards and strong relationships with farmers mean we know where the animals were raised. We also care about how animals are raised — and we’ve developed our rigorous standards with their welfare in mind.

What Makes Our Meat Different?

• Transparency and traceability to farm.

• No added growth hormones through feed, injections, implants or any other method.*

• Animal welfare standards for fresh beef, pork, lamb, chicken and turkey.

Our Baseline Standards If it doesn’t meet our standards, we won’t sell it.

• No added growth hormones through feed, injections, implants or any other method.

• No animal by-products in feed, including feather meal or rendered fat.

• Beef cattle, sheep and goats must spend at least two-thirds of their life on pasture.

• No crates, cages or tethers permitted.

• Animal producers must meet our standards for how the animals are raised, transported and slaughtered.

• A traceable audit system is required that tracks animals from birth to slaughter.

• Required inspections for animal welfare at slaughter.

Whole Foods Market Meat: We work to a minimum of Red Tractor standards to ensure that our animals are healthy with the right living space, food and water. Our suppliers and award-winning farmers strive for the very best in animal health and well-being.

Animal-Specific Standards: We hold all of our meat to high standards. But different animals have different welfare needs, and we strive to address those as well. Here are some ways in which the many types of meats we sell are held to specific standards:

Chicken: From organic, free-range fresh chicken to frozen gluten-free chicken nuggets, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our fresh chicken must meet our basic Meat department standards.

• On poultry products (chicken and turkey) you may see the phrase, “Complete Traceability to Farms.” This means further steps were taken to ensure that specific traceability procedures are in place at each step of the supply chain.

Beef: We’re pleased to offer the best selection of beef around with organic and dry-aged choices. Every option is high quality with great flavour. All of our fresh beef must meet our basic Meat department standards.

Pork: We work with dedicated farms and producers to make sure that our pork is the best, whether it’s for everyday meals or your special celebrations. From thick-cut organic pork chops to organic ground minced pork, each of our stores offers its own selection.

Turkey: Organic, free range — these are just a few words that describe our extensive selection of turkeys. Each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. All of our fresh turkey must meet our Meat department standards:

• On poultry products (chicken and turkey) you may see the phrase, “Complete Traceability to Farms.” This means further steps were taken to ensure that specific traceability procedures are in place at each step of the supply chain.

Lamb: Perfect for burgers, oven roasting or grilling — lamb is a versatile meat for everyday and special occasions. From an impressive grass-fed rack of lamb to seasoned lamb sausages, all of our fresh lamb must meet our Meat department standards which includes the following:

• No added growth hormones