WSPA Adds 300 New Restaurants to its Eat Humane Guide

Expanded list now features nearly 500 eateries across major U.S. cities that offer humanely-raised menu options to consumers

BOSTON, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Just in time for the holiday season, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) today announced a new and improved version of its Eat Humane restaurant guide. Featuring 300 new restaurants, the guide now offers consumers more options for eating at establishments that serve at least one humanely-raised item on the menu.

The Eat Humane restaurant and grocery guides aim to help consumers make better decisions when buying food products – namely, by avoiding foods that come from large, factory-style farms, which cause extreme animal suffering and have been linked to a broad range of environmental problems.

WSPA created the restaurant guide in 2009 by scouring menus from restaurants across 15 major U.S. cities to identify more than 100 restaurants that use humane products. This year, WSPA furthered its research and uncovered 300 new restaurants that provide diners with a humane option – all of which are now listed on www.EatHumane.org.

"We are thrilled that nearly 500 restaurants across the U.S. are offering humanely-raised meals," adds Sharanya Prasad, WSPA's U.S. Programs Manager. "The industry is beginning to realize that their customers care about the treatment of animals raised for food – and that's definitely a step in the right direction. However, when it comes to ending factory farming, there is still so much work to be done."

WSPA urges consumers to continue to demand that their meals come from a higher level of animal welfare than products from factory farms. For example, products labeled "Pasture Raised," "USDA Organic," "Animal Welfare Approved" or "Certified Humane" indicates that animals were raised under more humane standards – meaning they were fed more natural diets, had the space to move around and behave naturally, and were not given antibiotics or hormones in order to boost productivity.

"The next time you're dining out, ask the restaurant manager whether or not they are using products with those labels. If they are – that's fantastic! But if not, suggest that they add humane, pasture-raised or organic choices to the menu. If more consumers speak up, restaurants will begin to listen," says Prasad.

If you know of a restaurant that should be added to the Eat Humane restaurant guide, please email [email protected].

Eating in for the holidays? Use WSPA's Grocery Store guide at www.EatHumane.org or via the free Eat Humane Food Guide iPhone App, which lists the best brands of humane foods at your local grocery store.

About The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

Through its alliance of more than 1,000 animal welfare groups – with at least one member in virtually every country of the world – WSPA works where there is the greatest need to stop animal suffering and cruelty. For more information, visit www.wspa-usa.org, follow us on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook.

SOURCE World Society for the Protection of Animals