Meyer Natural Foods, Loveland, Colo., launched a Humanely Handled program, designed to further strengthen Meyer’s strict standards for raising and producing cattle and establish a program that farmers and ranchers can use to produce the highest-quality beef in the most humane manner.

The program focuses on all aspects of the production and development process from traceability, cattle housing, transportation and third-party validation to environmental protection, disbudding and castration. The program is also a USDA FSIS-Approved third-party- certified process.

“Our goal was to develop a program that would reflect Meyer Natural Foods’ values of treating cattle with respect,” says Mark Nelson, compliance officer. “It was important to us to create a thorough program as well as have the highest levels of transparency so our consumers can trust Meyer to provide the highest quality beef.”

Cattle used for Meyer Natural Foods’ brands— Meyer Natural Angus, Laura’s Lean Beef, Dakota Beef, Local Harvest and Premium Natural Beef—are fed a vegetarian diet of grasses and grains, and their all-natural diet never includes growth hormones or antibiotics. The Meyer Natural Foods Humanely Handled Program verifies the origins of its cattle and ensures they are born, raised, fed and processed in accordance with the requirements of the program, as well as USDA regulations.