Animal Care & Well-being

Our commitment to humane animal care and well-being

Animal care and well-being are central to who we are as a company. Our vast network of contract farmers and nearly 7,000 team members adhere to a stringent, zero-tolerance policy against any form of animal mistreatment. In addition, Butterball voluntarily participates in a third-party animal welfare oversight program through American Humane Society (AHS).

In 2013, Butterball was the first, and remains the only, commercial turkey company to be awarded the coveted American Humane Certified™ certification mark. This certification, which is present on all our packaging, is assurance that we are committed to producing healthy, high-quality turkeys in a responsible way.

Butterball goes above and beyond industry standards by following the animal care guidelines set by AHS farm program and the National Turkey Federation, and we continually assess our policies, procedures and emerging technologies to enhance our standards of care. Our efforts are a testament to the emphasis we place on ethical and humane treatment of our turkeys.

American Humane Certified™ products

For over a decade, Butterball has proudly produced American Humane Certified™ products. This distinction sets Butterball apart from other turkey products.

To maintain our American Humane Certified™ certification, we hold our contract farmers, operations team, transportation partners and harvest facilities accountable to 200 rigorous, science-based standards annually audited by American Humane Society (AHS), the first and largest Farm Animal Welfare Audit Program in the U.S. In addition to AHS audits, we conduct internal humane audits quarterly following American Humane Society’s standards.

Our certification with American Humane Society has allowed Butterball to adopt the latest scientific research and technologies to enhance the well-being of our turkeys, reinforcing our integrity and commitment to ethical and humane practices.

“The American Humane Certified™ Farm program empowers consumers to make choices that align with their values, knowing the food they serve comes from farms that put animal welfare first. Butterball has long demonstrated how a trusted brand can prioritize humane practices while bringing people together around the table. Their commitment shows that doing what’s right for animals is also what’s right for families.” - Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane Society