Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:57:46 -0700WeeblyFri, 07 Aug 2026 00:08:48 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/what-about-meat-labeled-humaneThe market for so-called “humane” products can be confusing to even the savviest consumers. This article from Farm Sanctuary offers an in-depth answer to the common question: “What about meat labeled ‘humane?’”]]>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:19:12 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/new-investigations-into-calif-calf-raising-operationsAcross California, primarily in the Central Valley, dozens of calf-raising operations receive newborn calves from dairies and raise them during the first months of their lives. These facilities play a critical role in modern industrial milk production, yet they remain largely invisible to the public. It's a system in which newborn calves routinely endure intensive confinement, neglect, and violent handling.​
​Read more from Factory Farm watch here.
California is the nation's largest milk-producing state, producing nearly one-fifth of the country's milk supply. What happens here offers a window into the harsh realities of the dairy industry, an industry that fundamentally relies on separating newborn babies from their mothers — and increasingly, shipping those vulnerable newborns to factories where intensive confinement and rough handling are the standard.
]]>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/costco-supplier-investigationA disturbing new investigation by Mercy for Animals reveals how easy it is for farms to subvert organic rules — and hide animal cruelty. Read more on the story from Vox here.
While organic chicken certification does, on paper, legally require better animal welfare than conventional rearing: more space, fresh air, outdoor access, and other improvements. This new undercover investigation reveals that these expectations may often be far from reality.]]>Tue, 12 May 2026 16:59:33 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/clover-supplier-found-abusing-calvesIn late February, animal rights activists from Direct Action Everywhere flew a drone over a calf ranch in the Central Valley and watched as workers kicked and punched the animals. A "certified humane farm," Agresti Calf Ranch is operated by Double D Dairy and supplies to Clover Sonoma. As is usual with cases like these, where inhumane treatment and abuse is documented, the company will blame a few employees or call the business as usual an isolated incident. Repeated investigations have shown otherwise, even with the documentation is incidental as was the case here where investigators were simply taking drone footage of factory farms. Read more from the LA Times here. Information about factory farms in california can be found at factoryfarmwatch.org.]]>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:43:43 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/charges-filed-against-rescuers-of-sick-goats-at-a-whole-foods-farmFour activists were just charged with felony grand theft, felony conspiracy, and trespass for openly rescuing two sick, baby goats from the largest goat milk producer in the U.S., Meyenberg, which supplies to Whole Foods and other major retailers. The rescue followed a months-long investigation that found dozens of dead mother and baby goats were regularly being dumped into an illegal dead pile on the property. Learn more about the case and investigation from DxE here.]]>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:37:07 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/alexandre-family-farm-loses-two-certificationsAfter Farm Forward exposed serious animal welfare concerns at Alexandre Family Farm, the company has now lost two of the certifications it relied on to market itself as a humane and regenerative dairy.
Alexandre can no longer claim the “Certified Humane” and “Regenerative Organic Certified” (ROC) certifications, or use them to enable and perpetuate consumer fraud and the abuse of dairy cows we uncovered. Read more from Farm Forward here.
For many consumers, the distinctions between meaningful and meaningless certifications are nearly impossible to parse. Labels blur together, and companies benefit from the appearance of oversight even when the standards behind those labels are weak.]]>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:11:59 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/alarming-new-report-shows-how-cage-free-hens-sufferA new white paper sets out the case, and a strong case, that industrial “cage-free” systems cause many of the same cruelties—and can in some ways add to them—for birds, who despite the fancy labels and pictures of bucolic paradise, still endure crowding, mutilations, injury, chronic stress, transport, and terrifying deaths. See the report and more info here.]]>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/website-on-californias-factory-farming-industry-launchedCalifornia has one of the largest factory farming industries in the nation, with over 1300 large-scale animal operations that collectively raise hundreds of millions of animals every year. With this map and database, you can see exactly where these facilities are located and learn about their impacts on the state.
​Factory Farm Watch aims to democratize access to information about the often secretive operations and impacts of factory farms in California. It is a resource for journalists, policymakers, advocates, and residents.
]]>Sat, 01 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/whole-foods-backed-animal-welfare-program-sued-for-deceptive-labeling​According to the lawsuit, the Global Animal Partnership (GAP), a humane-washing scheme and Whole Foods 365 brand affiliate, puts “animal welfare certified” labels on products that come from animals who have been kicked, slammed, and endured many other egregious cruelties. The misleadingly labeled product is then sold to well-meaning shoppers at Whole Foods and other grocers. Read more about the lawsuit here.]]>Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:35:22 GMThttp://cruelfoods.com/news/humane-welfare-groups-leave-gap-board​After more than a decade of sitting on the board of directors of a group that slaps deceptive “animal welfare certified” labels on meat sold at Whole Foods, national animal welfare groups the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the United States), and Compassion in World Farming have quietly fled the board of the Global Animal Partnership. Read more from PETA here.]]>