http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=8529529
Undercover Activists Rescue Ducks From Foie Gras Farms in CA and NY
FARMINGTON, Calif. and FERNDALE, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Activists from the Animal Protection and Rescue League have once again
penetrated security at the two main factory farms that force feed ducks in
the U.S. to make the gourmet appetizer "foie gras," or fattened liver.
The activists took video of conditions and rescued several ducks in both
California and New York. "Hot in Cleveland" actress Wendie Malick narrated a
video of the animal cruelty investigations, which is now posted at
www.StopForceFeeding.com .
"These young activists took great personal risk to expose cruel
conditions at these factory farms," states Bryan Pease, an attorney for the
group. "Activists who previously rescued ducks from these same locations
were charged with felony burglary."
Some of the video obtained
includes footage from hidden cameras the activists installed to capture the
actual force feeding process. Hudson Valley Foie Gras repeatedly claims
their ducks do not try to escape the force feeding, but the undercover
footage shows them huddling in the corner of their pens as a worker grabs
them by the wings and shoves a large metal pipe down their throats.
In order to make their livers over 10 times their normal size and almost
entirely fat, foie gras producers force feed the ducks massive quantities of
food three times per day for almost a month. Many ducks do not survive the
process, and the activists found trash barrels filled with dead ducks in
both factory farms.
The animal cruelty investigation mirrors
conditions found in 2002-2004 when APRL previously exposed the force feeding
industry. A California statewide ban on sale and production of foie gras
takes effect this July. Some chefs opposed to the ban have been claiming the
ducks "go to the feeders." An investigative reporter recently confronted a
chef who claimed this, and the chef was unable to back up this statement
with any evidence:
http://iteamblog.abc7news.com/2012/02/ducks-want-to-be-force-fed.html
According to APRL, less than a tenth of a percent of all restaurants
in the U.S. serve foie gras. Over 100 restaurants in California have removed
the item without waiting for the ban to take effect, and only about 300
restaurants in the state are still serving it. The cities of Los Angeles,
San Francisco, San Diego, West Hollywood, Berkeley, Carlsbad and Solana
Beach have all passed resolutions in support of the statewide ban.
More info is online at
www.StopForceFeeding.com .
SOURCE Animal Protection & Rescue
League
Animal Protection & Rescue League
Web Site:
http://www.stopforcefeeding.com
[video at full story link]
In 2003, Dan Noyes and the ABC7 I-Team led an investigation into the
treatment of animals for the process of making the delicacy foie gras. That
investigation resulted in legislation that left activists celebrating and
the culinary community polarized. Dan Noyes stopped by 7Live to update us on
this story and to offer a preview of his upcoming report on ABC7 News.
--
full story:
http://7liveonline.com/Foie-gras-fight-far-from-over/8528985
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A statewide ban on foie gras goes into effect this
summer -- in no small part the result of ABC7 I-Team reports eight years
ago.
It is a food fight that made headlines and spurred debate around the
world, and some of the pictures are disturbing. California is the first
state to ban foie gras, and both sides are gearing up before the law takes
effect July 1.
...
It all started eight years ago with an incident the
FBI labeled an "act of domestic terrorism." The I-Team first showed you the
crime scene photos after members of the Animal Liberation Front trashed a
Sonoma restaurant owned by renowned chef Laurent Manrique that specialized
in foie gras. The walls were spray painted and the drains were clogged with
cement to symbolize force-feeding.
"Violence was used; there was an attempt to coerce them and their way of
thinking and the way they live their lives, and that is terror," FBI
spokesperson LaRae Quy said in September 2003.
...
"We really didn't
know that as we walked in we were going to encounter sick birds, dead birds,
birds with open festering wounds," activist Sarahjane Blum said in September
2003.
The activists found dead and dying ducks and others whose livers were so
engorged that they couldn't move -- couldn't defend themselves against rats
that were eating them alive.
--
full story:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=8529529
