World Society for the Protection of Animals launches first-ever database that helps consumers find humane restaurants committed to animal welfare and the environment

November 18, 2009

Boston, MA - As the holiday season approaches, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) announced this week the launch of an unprecedented database at EatHumane.org featuring over 150 restaurants in 15 U.S. cities. WSPA aims to help diners find restaurants that serve a variety of humanely raised meat and dairy products that have not been factory farmed, a method which has been linked to environmental issues.

“We applaud these restaurants for their commitment to educating diners on the benefits of eating humanely raised meat and dairy,” says WSPA U.S. program officer Sharanya Prasad. “The inclusion of humane terms on a wide range of menus is an encouraging sign confirming a growing awareness of the advantages of eating humane.”

To build the database, WSPA selected fifteen cities* by region, metro population and popularity as a tourist and business travel destination. WSPA experts scoured menus to identify meat, dairy and egg products that come from a higher level of animal welfare than products from factory farms.  For example, products labeled “Pasture Raised,” “USDA Organic,” “American Humane Certified,” “Animal Welfare Approved” or “Certified Humane” indicates animals were raised under more humane standards.  WSPA spoke with restaurant chefs to verify accuracy of the information.

WSPA wants to build this database for consumers, and encourages other humane U.S. restaurants to email restaurants@wspausa.org to apply to be added to the list.    

Prasad adds, “The database can help consumers support restaurants which acknowledge animals and, in turn, the environment.  The holidays are a time when people eat out to celebrate.  Why not make your celebration a humane one that makes a difference.”

Eating in for the holidays? Check out WSPA’s Grocery Store Database at EatHumane.org to find the best brands of humanely labeled foods at your local grocery store.

WSPA has built the world’s largest alliance – over 1,000 animal welfare groups in 150 countries – dedicated to alleviating animal suffering.  WSPA works with its partners in countries where the animal welfare need is the greatest.  More at wspa-usa.org.

*Cities featured on database

Atlanta, GA
Boston, MA
Charleston, SC
Chicago, IL
Cleveland, OH
Dallas, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Minneapolis, MN
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Portland, OR
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Washington, DC

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Media contact:
Rodi Rosensweig for the World Society for the Protection of Animals
Phone: (203) 270-8929; E-mail: Rodicompany@earthlink.net