NSF Certifies First U.S. Farm to Global Traceable Down Standard

ANN ARBOR, Mich. and Middlebury, Ind. – NSF, a global public health organization, recently certified Culver Duck Farms, Inc., to the Global Traceable Down Standard (Global TDS). This certification demonstrates Culver Duck’s commitment to the highest levels of animal welfare and down traceability.

“Achieving NSF certification to the Global Traceable Down Standard was pivotal for Culver Duck as we continuously strive to improve the welfare of our animals,” said Sean Smith, Director of Compliance and Project Development at Culver Duck Farms, Inc. “We recognize our ethical obligations and moral responsibilities to the animals under our care and view NSF’s Global TDS as a way to further demonstrate that commitment.”

NSF’s Global TDS is an industry-wide standard for farms, brands and manufacturers that are committed to more responsibly-produced down. Covering both industrialized supply chains in the food sector and collector-based supply chains involved with family farms, the standard defines animal welfare and traceability requirements from parent farm to factory.

“Culver Duck came to us with a sincere desire to improve conditions for its animals and make changes using the Global TDS requirements as a roadmap,” said Joshua Brugeman, Business Unit Manager for Responsible Sourcing at NSF. “We applaud Culver Duck for achieving this certification and we hope others in the industry will learn from its journey.”

To earn Global TDS certification, farms must adhere to rigorous certification requirements and participate in on-site audits of:

• Animal welfare practices, including strict prohibitions on force feeding and live plucking
• Traceability management systems, showing an unbroken chain of custody of the verified down
• Education and outreach throughout each level of the supply chain

To maintain Global TDS certification, farms must continually comply with certification requirements, participate in annual on-site audits and respond to corrective actions in a timely manner.

For more information on the Global TDS and NSF certification, please visit the Global Traceable Down web page. NSF also offers certification to the Responsible Wool Standard from Textile Exchange.

Editor’s Note: For media interviews, please contact Thomas Frey, APR at media@nsf.org or 734-214-6242.

About NSF: NSF (nsf.org) is a global independent organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the water, food, health sciences and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. With clients in more than 170 countries, NSF is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality and Indoor Environment.

NSF’s sustainability certification, testing and consulting services can lower risk, increase growth and reduce costs, while instilling marketplace and investor confidence. Services include safer chemistry, responsible sourcing for food and textiles, landfill-free, climate services, sustainable product certification and e-waste and forestry verifications.

About Culver Duck: Located in the Amish Country of Northern Indiana, Culver Duck is a vertically integrated production system that produces and processes an all-natural, White Pekin Duck. Raised on actual Amish family farms, Culver Duck birds are housed in open, barn-type structures with ample fresh air, water, natural sunlight, and plenty of room to roam and congregate with other ducks. The all vegetarian feed the ducks consume consists of the highest quality ingredients that are free of antibiotics.