What is the ASPCA®?

Founded in 1886, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of animals all over the country. The organization was the first of its kind to be established in North America, and has been providing resources for everyone from consumers to pet owners to farmers since its inception. As stated by founder Henry Bergh, the ASPCA®'s mission is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States."

Animal Advocacy

In the form of guides, policy and position statements, fundraising, and more, the ASPCA® encourages education and action surrounding key issues like animal homelessness and animal cruelty. In addition to mobilizing those who are passionate about animal welfare, the ASPCA® acts as a news source for current and future laws and policies that affect farm animals and wildlife in the United States and beyond. Companion animals, animals in research and education, and animals in entertainment also fall under the purview of the organization.

What is the Shop With Your Heart Brand List?

At its heart, the ASPCA®'s Shop With Your Heart Brand List is a resource for consumers. It helps decode the slew of confusing labels and options at the grocery store so that you can use your purchasing power to support brands like Nellie's Free Range Eggs that treat animals with kindness and care. The list also helps consumers navigate tricky sections of the grocery store where factory farming is ever-present, like the egg, dairy, and meat aisles.

The Shop With Your Heart Brand List can be found here.

What does the Shop With Your Heart Brand List include?

The list is made up of brands that are certified by one of three animal welfare certifiers that the ASPCA® recognizes as comprehensive, transparent, and trusted. These brands are categorized by type of product offered, including eggs, meats, dairy, soups, and snacks. Along with a brand list, the ASPCA® also provides a label guide, curated shopping lists, and more consumer resources that can be found here.

Why is Nellie's on the list?

The ASPCA® recognizes Certified Humane, our third-party certifier, as one of three meaningful welfare certification organizations with high standards and strong oversight that address the needs, wellbeing, and happiness of the animals on all participating farms. Certified Humane is a program run by the nonprofit Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) organization whose mission - like the ASPCA®'s - is to improve the lives of farm animals. The Certified Humane seal on our cartons ensures that all our free range farms meet HFAC's rigorous standards of care and pass their annual farm audit. In 2003, Nellie's became the first Certified Humane Egg producer in the country, leading the charge for kindness and a move away from factory farming in the egg industry.

In practice, this means that on every small farm that produces our eggs, rigorous standards for outdoor access, dust-bathing areas, grassy grazing zones, and shelter are always upheld. Nellie's hens are given space and enrichment to support their natural behaviors, and these high standards and commitment to animal welfare align with the ASPCA®'s guiding principles and vision for animals of all kinds.