Contact: Michele
Wells
Humane Farm Animal Care (303) 417-0696
Herndon,
Va., —
Long-time New York City-area veal packer David Mosner Inc.,
Hunts Point Market, the Bronx, has been certified to use the
"Certified Humane Raised and Handled" label by Humane Farm
Animal Care (HFAC), the non-profit organization that certifies
the humane treatment of animals raised by
meat, poultry, egg or dairy
producers.
The Certified
Humane label was unveiled in May 2003 and is now being used by
34 companies. HFAC introduced stringent standards for the humane
raising of young dairy beef cattle used in veal production in
May 2005. To be certified to use HFAC’s “Certified Humane” label
on veal products, a producer must raise its young dairy beef
calves without confinement, in small groups, without tethers and
on a wholesome diet that satisfies basic nutritional needs,
including iron and fiber.
David Mosner Inc. has supplied its Mosner All Natural Veal to
the retail and foodservice trade for over 45 years. The
company's raising practices are based on state-of-the art,
humane European production methods. Bull calves come from dairy
farms in the Midwest, and the company maintains traceability
from birth to marketing.
"We take extra care in raising veal calves in open pens without
tethers. They are fed a balanced diet of milk and roughage to
allow for the development of the rumen," said Michael Mosner,
president of David Mosner, Inc.
The leading supplier of premium veal on the East Coast, David
Mosner Inc. supplies veal to D'Agostino's, Food Emporium, Whole
Foods, Fairway and other quality New York-area grocery outlets.
It plan to expand to many other areas of the nation. More
information is available at www.davidmosner.com
HFAC’s Animal Care Standards for all farm animals mandate that
feedstuffs must be free from antibiotics, growth-promoting
hormones and mammalian-derived proteins, with the exception of
milk and milk products. Calves must be given roughage by the age
of five weeks. Since dairy beef calves are marketed at a young
age, castration and dehorning are not allowed.
Compassionate, gentle handling is a requirement throughout the
production system, and the use of electric prods is prohibited.
Buying calves from auction barns and sales barns is not
permitted. Calves may only be purchased from the dairy where
they were born and transported directly to the farm where they
will be raised. Transport time is limited to less than three
hours. All calves must have access to adequate space to stretch
out and lay comfortably.
HFAC’s Animal Care Standards were developed by a veritable
“Who’s Who” of national and international animal scientists and
farm-animal welfare experts. Producer compliance with the HFAC
standards is verified through annual on-site visits by HFAC’s
third-party inspectors.
HFAC is a national nonprofit organization supported by the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA),
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), regional and
local animal protection organizations, foundations and
individuals. More information can be found at HFAC’s website,
http://www.certifiedhumane.com
