CAGE FREE
Seen on: eggs.Implies birds are not confined to cages -- but can mean they are kept inside a warehouse or barn. No independent verification of this claim. "Consumers shouldn't take it to mean [birds] were treated humanely or given space," said Urvashi Rangan, senior scientist and policy analyst for Consumer Reports magazine.
FREE-RANGE, OR FREE-ROAMING
Seen on: poultry, eggs.
For poultry, defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as animals that have "been allowed access to the outside" for an undetermined period. No USDA definition for eggs. No independent verification of this claim.
NATURAL Seen on: meat, poultry.For meat, defined by the USDA as "containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed." No reference to how an animal was raised, or to any use of antibiotics or animal byproducts. No independent verification of this claim.
NO ANTIBIOTICS ADMINISTERED Seen on: meat, poultry.Defined by the USDA as animals raised entirely without antibiotics. No reference to use of pesticides or animal byproducts. No independent verification of this claim.
NO HORMONES ADMINISTERED Seen on: dairy, meat, poultry.Defined by the USDA as coming from animals that were not given any added hormones. Claim might not be worth much when it comes to chicken -- federal law already prohibits the use of hormones in poultry production. No independent verification of this claim. "It's truthful but not meaningful [for poultry]," Rangan said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.ecolabels.org, www.greenerchoices.org
