OUR RESPONSIBILITY

We believe in a code of ethics. The code of the west, a code that cowboys hold dear. To live life with courage, pride, and fairness. This code is all too familiar to Nolan Ryan, so we make sure all of our practices reflect these key values, and ring true every single day.

ANIMAL WELFARE
We also believe its our ethical responsibility to ensure that all of our partners provide proper animal care. This is essential to our business and we go over and above what industry standards define. While we partner with industry leaders in this field, it is our duty to ensure they remain accountable and progressive in carrying out the best practices for animal welfare. 

Our commitment to animal welfare and that of our suppliers is based on the Five Freedoms:

  • Freedom from pain and injury or disease
  • Freedom to express normal behavior
  • Freedom from hunger and thirst
  • Freedom from fears and distress
  • Freedom from discomfort

TEMPLE GRANDIN RESPONSIBLE CARE PROGRAM
We partner with Dr. Temple Grandin to ensure all of our animals are cared for and treated with respect. We’re proud to be the first beef company to invest and utilize the Temple Grandin Responsible Cattle Care Program to assess animal condition and well-being before they are harvested. This audit system is in addition to the industry standard audits conducted.

Our animal welfare requirements have been founded on and adopted from a culmination of various guidelines from industry leading organizations. To learn about those programs, visit the links listed below.FOOD SAFETY 
Food safety is at the core of everything we do. Our food safety philosophy and policies have been developed following a comprehensive, science-based and risk-based approach. We evaluate and hand select supplier partners who share our food safety philosophy, and who operate with transparency and accountability fostering a food safety culture. Our supplier facilities operate under the regulatory requirements of the FDA and/or USDA. 

All supplier facilities are audited on an annual basis by an independent 3rd party. The facilities are compliant with the requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). Nolan Ryan Brands Director of FSQR & Product Development also conducts annual audits of each supplier facility verifying implementation of process controls and established best practices including, but not limited to:

  • HACCP plan compliance
  • Supplier approval and monitoring
  • Hygienic handling of product
  • Sanitation programs before, during and after daily operations
  • Accurate labeling
  • Product traceability
  • Environmental microbiological monitoring
  • Allergen control
  • Compliance with product specifications
  • Food security
  • Finished product inspection and testing 

If potential issues are found, they are investigated and addressed immediately resulting in process control and improvement. Our ongoing performance monitoring of product and production processes enable us to reach our goal of producing the safest and highest quality food possible. We take pride in doing our very best every day for our customers.