Whole Foods Market Scam: Why Animal Welfare Isn't Animal RIGHTS

I applaud Whole Foods Market and their efforts to raise the standards of animal production from the lowest, confinement animal feeding operations (CAFO's), to where animals have room to roam, feed on pasture, hang out with their buddies, and generally do what animals like to do. Yes, their lives are ended by people, but if it's done with skill and respect, it is a painless and quick end to a life with dignity. Last time I was in Whole Foods, there were no meat products above a "2" rating which means there's a long way to go. See below for Ethical Vegan's definitions of each step. Good on 'ya Whole Foods!

Please vegans, realize that the vast majority of people eat meat and use animal products. We need to rescue the billions of animals confined in crowded, unhealthy factories being dosed with antibiotics to keep them alive. Relieve the suffering of the animals trapped in the industrial farm system, and improve the working conditions of CAFO workers. Waiting for a pie-in-the-sky future where nobody eats meat means that billions of animals are condemned to suffering.

It's too bad animalia libero hasn't posted here in a long while.
I'm glad you have the same conscience he has EthicalVegan.
It breaks my heart to see any of God's creatures treated like
slaves, and worse. Noone who works in a slaughterhouse can
ever forget the carnage they see. They don't eat meat at all
generaly because they associate it with the extreme cruelty
they see. It amazes me that people in their pride can't see
themselves as animals too. And won't make the connection
as Jesus said: " What you do to the least of these you do to
me " Because if they would, they'd see why to the 1% on the
top of the human food chain, see them as they see the cows,
abd pigs, and sheep, and chickens. When I swallow my table
spoon full of cod liver oil in the AMs, I say a prayer for the cod
who were sacrificed to enable me to heal here in the New York
Winters.

Step 5+

Animal centered; entire life on same farm

Animals raised to Step 5+ standards must be born and live their entire lives on one farm.

Step 5

Animal centered; all physical alterations prohibited

Animals get to live their whole lives with all the body parts they were born with.

Step 4

Pasture centered

When living outdoors, chickens get to forage, pigs get to wallow and cattle get to roam.

Step 3

Enhanced outdoor access

Pigs and chickens might live in buildings but they all — yes, each and every one of them — have access to outdoor areas.

Step 2

Enriched environment

Animals are provided with enrichments that encourage behavior that's natural to them — like a bale of straw for chickens to peck at, a bowling ball for pigs to shove around, or a sturdy object for cattle to rub against.

Whole Foods Market's Step #1

Step 1

No crates, no cages

Animals live their lives with space to move around and stretch their legs.