Creature comforts.

Of course animals should be treated well before they're killed and eaten. But how best to accomplish this goal?

In order to give the best beast-care guidelines to ranchers and other meat producers, Whole Foods Market is establishing the Animal Compassion Foundation.

"We believe that as animals are raised for food that it's imperative in the first order of importance that those animals be treated humanely--to the extent that you can," said Michael Besancon, regional president of Whole Foods.

He said the foundation will compile research and distribute information to smaller farms so they can meet the company's guidelines.

"We have standards for ducks, we are in the final process for sheep and pigs," Besancon said. Turkeys, chickens, pigs and sheep will all have access to the outdoors, he said.