Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane, Organic certification

Update 04.21.2011: A better certification than both 'Certified Humane' and 'Organic' is 'Animal Welfare Approved'. For example, while both 'Certified Humane' and 'Organic' allow debeaking of chickens and forced molting through starvation to maximize egg production, 'Animal Welfare Approved' doesn't. Here's a chart comparing the different certifications for eggs: www.grist.org/phpThumb/phpThumb.php?src=http://www.grist.org/i/assets/humane_eggs.jpg&w=615. Here's another one which addresses forced molting: www.humanesociety.org/issues/confinement_farm/facts/guide_egg_labels.html. Comparison charts for all animals: www.eathumane.org/pages/2500_comparing_food_labeling_programs.cfm

To find places in your area which are Animal Welfare Approved, just type in your zip code on this page: www.animalwelfareapproved.org/product-search

Previous 01.15.2010: The Certified Humane Raised & Handled® program is a farm animal welfare and food labeling program in the U.S. dedicated to improving the welfare of farm animals in food production and include all stages of the animal's life including handling and slaughter. Humane Farm Animal Care's Animal Care Standards require that animals have ample space, shelter and gentle handling to limit stress. Here’s a list of products that are certified humane products. In San Francisco, there are many stores that carry certified humane products: Prather Ranch Meat Company (at the Ferry Building), Andronico’s, Bi-Rite, Buffalo Whole Foods, Good Life Grocery, Harvest Ranch Market, Mollie Stone’s, Nature’s Stop, Other Avenues, Rainbow Grocery, Real Foods, Tower Market, Valencia Natural Foods, and Whole Foods. Most of them have only dairy, none have eggs, a few have meat and deli items. Delica (in the Ferry Building) gets some of its meat from Prather Ranch. Incanto is a certified humane restaurant in San Francisco.

Related:
Temple Grandin (2010) is a biopic of Temple Grandin (played by Claire Danes), an autistic woman who became one of the top scientists in humane farm animal handling.

Favorite vegan dishes in San Francisco —
Hijiki-soybean salad at Delica (vegetarian-friendly)
Papaya salad at Out the Door (vegetarian-friendly)
Bean curd rolls, bittermelon-tomato, 'seabass'-eggplant at Enjoy (vegetarian)
Anything at Millenium (vegan)