Whether it’s grass-fed beef or air-chilled chicken, you deserve to feel good about the meat you’re buying. For meat and poultry throughout our Meat department, our standards and strong relationships with farmers and ranchers 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 or ranch.
No antibiotics, ever.
No added growth hormones through feed, injections, implants or any other method.*
100+ animal welfare standards for fresh beef, pork, lamb, chicken and turkey.
Our Baseline Standards
Our baseline requirements for our Meat department are stronger than most anywhere.
No antibiotics, ever. If an animal needs antibiotic treatment, it is separated from those bought by our Meat department.
No added growth hormones through feed, injections, implants or any other method. (Federal regulations allow the use of hormones when raising cattle and lambs, but we don't.)
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, using criteria and areas of evaluation developed by Dr. Temple Grandin.
We do not sell foie gras.
Animal Welfare Certified Meats
In our Meat department, all fresh beef, pork, chicken, turkey and lamb (except kosher turkey and chicken) must be certified to meet 100+ animal welfare standards by the Global Animal Partnership opens in a new tab. Founded in 2008, Global Animal Partnership’s tiered system not only gives you the knowledge to make informed food choices, it provides farmers and ranchers with a road map to improve their welfare practices.
Global Animal Partnership
Global Animal Partnership is a nonprofit organization made up of farmers, scientists, retailers, manufacturers and animal advocates, all collaborating with a common purpose: improving farm animal welfare.
Below are the descriptions you’ll find on Animal Welfare Certified items. From Base Certification to Step 5+, each step has its own requirements that must be met before authorized, independent certifiers can assign a level of certification.
Base Level: 100+ standards; no cages, crates or crowding
Enrichments provided to encourage natural behavior
Access to outdoors with environmental enrichments
Raised on pasture; no feedlots
Raised on pasture; no physical alterations
Entire life on same farm
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, kosher or air-chilled 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. In addition, it must be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified (except kosher chicken, which must meet the G.A.P. standards but cannot be certified due to different slaughter requirements).
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.
We take the welfare of broiler chickens seriously. Learn more about our commitment to broiler chicken welfare.
Beef
We’re pleased to offer the best selection of beef around with organic, grass-fed, local, dry-aged and grain-finished choices. Every option is high quality with great flavor. All of our fresh beef must meet our basic Meat department standards and be Animal Welfare Certified.
No supplemental growth hormones
Raised on pasture or range for at least two-thirds of the animal's life
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 pork chops to organic ground pork, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. All of our fresh pork must meet our Meat department standards and be Animal Welfare Certified and include the following:
No gestation stalls or farrowing (birthing) crates
Bedding required in housing
No supplemental growth hormones
Turkey
Heritage, heirloom, organic, kosher — 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. Our fresh turkey must meet our basic Meat department standards and the birds must be provided with appropriate litter for comfort and to satisfy natural foraging instincts. In addition, it must be G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified (except kosher turkey, which must meet the G.A.P. standards but cannot be certified due to different slaughter requirements).
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 and be Animal Welfare Certified, which includes the following:
No added growth hormones
Raised on pasture or range for at least two-thirds of the animal's life
Read more about our lamb standards and suppliers.
Veal
From tender cutlets to organic ground veal, each of our stores offers its own selection for everyday and special occasions. Our standards prohibit calves being kept in individual stalls or crates, so they have social interactions with other animals. And the meat is exceptional, tender and versatile. Our veal must meet our Meat department standards and adhere to the following:
No supplemental growth hormones*
No animal by-products in feed other than cow’s milk
Pasture-raised or group housing only; no tethering or individual crates
Provided with grass/forages and grain.
Bacon, Ham, Sausage, Hot Dogs and Frozen Foods
Our bacon, hot dogs and sausages meet our basic Meat department standards and are made without synthetic nitrates or nitrites. All frozen items in our Meat department, including breaded chicken nuggets, breakfast sausages and more, must meet our standards as well.
Organic Meat and Poultry
Just like any food labeled “organic” in the U.S., meat products have to meet very specific, federally regulated standards, including for organic processing. Meat and poultry labeled organic must come from animals fed organic — which also means non-GMO — feed, given fresh air and outdoor access, and raised without antibiotics or added growth hormones.*
Behind the Scenes: Our Meat Department
Watch this video to learn more about our meat suppliers and products that go above and beyond.
Meet a Pork Supplier: Thompson Farms
Take a tour of Thompson Farms, a family-owned hog farm in Georgia that supplies pork to Whole Foods Market and is Animal Welfare Certified to Step 4.
*There are no hormones approved for use in the production of poultry, goat, veal calves, mature sheep or exotic, non-amenable species (such as bison, buffalo, elk and venison).
