What’s the best way to buy ethically raised animal products?

I’m not vegetarian or vegan, but I am against animal cruelty and try to be as conscious of this when buying meat, eggs, and dairy. I don’t believe killing animals or harvesting milk/eggs is wrong, but I want to be sure that the animals are raised in a good environment. Anyway, what’s the best way to make sure that the animal products I buy come from ethically treated animals? I’ve often heard that “grass fed” beef and “free range” eggs are often still raised in factory farms; they just give the cattle breads or hay to eat, or the chickens are just not cooped up but still raised in cluttered conditions.

Is there a way to ensure that these animals were raised outdoors on a traditional farm? I’ve been trying to shop at a farmers’ market lately, so are most farmers’ market farmers owners of traditional farms, or are they often factory farm owners as well?

BlueVeins · 22-25

Best is hunted meat, they live their whole lives in the wild doin' animal things, and only suffer for a few minutes, tops at the end.

RopinTexan · 31-35, M

@BlueVeins Agreed 100%! I love wild game, but they don’t really sell it at stores…

pentacorn · F

shop at a health food store, where you can inquire about the stock.

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pentacorn · F

@RopinTexan it means that, and that the animal is treated humanely throughout its life and killed in a humane/low stress way.

RopinTexan · 31-35, M

@pentacorn Thats neat, I thought it was just a Jewish thing. Do they still have pork and shellfish there? I don’t know if I’d be willing to give up shrimp…

pentacorn · F

@RopinTexan no, being kosher means no pork or shellfish so there’s none of that, but you could always get those things somewhere else. but you could pick up a lovely brisket!

SW-User

Watch for the term "free range" it is often misleading. What you really want is "pasture raised".

Ideally, you should be able to check for yourself, but I know that's difficult for most people.

RopinTexan · 31-35, M

@SW-User So “pasture raised” means they were literally raised outdoors in a real pasture, right?

SW-User

@RopinTexan It means they were raised outdoors, yes. But, pasture raised are not well regulated so outside can mean a very small area. Free range just indicates they had access to an outside area for part of the day. Not that they actually ever went outside.

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@SW-User Ya free range can just mean they are not in a tiny cage they could be thousands living in one horrible confined area. I like them to be able to go outside

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

Maybe buy from a neighbor. The government has made it nearly impossible to do legal trade in milk products from private farmers. You can usually buy eggs easily though.