Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Certification
The CEO of Halo, Myron Lyskanycz, is on a mission to improve the way farm animals are raised, for their sake as well as the betterment of the pets whose diets depend on high quality protein
What is GAP?
The Global Animal Partnership is a global leader in farm animal welfare that has established a comprehensive step-by-step program for raising animals, with the goal of improving the welfare of animals in agriculture. It touches on issues like cage-free chickens, raising pigs gestation-crate-free and eliminating severe confinement for veal, all of which are examples of ways in which it is possible to consider the life of animals being raised for food.
Why Does Gap Certification Matter?
GAP certification of food is something most of us know little or nothing about, yet it matters in profound ways. The GAP certification label verifies that the animals have been raised following comprehensive standards focused on their care and welfare. GAP makes it easier for us as consumers to find meat products that have been created with respect for all the animals in the food chain.
Halo embraces the Global Animal Partnership (GAP)
Assuming an impressive leadership role in the pet food industry, Halo Purely for Pets has made a commitment to using meat and poultry proteins that are GAP certified. What is remarkable about this corporate decision is that doing so creates a challenge for Halo, to sustain a constant stream in the supply chain of pet food ingredients (to ensure that all the meat products come from certified providers, and that there is a reliable quantity of the ingredients. Sourcing this way also costs substantially more, thereby reducing the profit on the foods — but fundamentally it’s about taking a stand for a better world for all animals.
Compassion and consideration for all animals is a lesson to all of us that with a bit of extra effort and expense, it’s possible to provide nutrition that reflects our core values and shows respect for the farm animals, as well as our own pets.
Can You Find GAP certified foods for your human family?
I’m grateful I can feed my dogs Halo and know I am doing something to speak up for the farm animals whose lives contribute to their food.
Beyond the dogs’ food, the challenge is how to get assurances about all the ingredients that go into my own diet. It’s only when you set out to do that — to make sure everything you buy to eat is GAP certified — that you discover what how large Halo’s accomplishment really is!
—Tracie Hotchner
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Halo is a sponsor on Radio Pet Lady Network, by our invitation.
photo credit: Nicholas Erwin I woke the pigs via photopin (license)
