The Humane Society of the United States applauds Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez for making it clear that California’s Legislature will not repeal or weaken the state’s ban on the sale of foie gras if it is produced by force feeding of the animals. The HSUS also extends its great thanks to former Senate president pro tem John Burton, who was the author of the 2004 legislation and who spoke out in a tremendously compelling way that the ban should go into effect without delay.
“Shoving a pipe down a duck’s throat to force-feed him is cruel and inhumane, and California lawmakers were right to ban this animal abuse, which has also been legislated against in more than a dozen countries,” noted Jennifer Fearing, California senior state director. “Senator Steinberg and Speaker Perez have been strong advocates for animal welfare and common sense, and their decision not to bring this up is more evidence of the same from them.”
Despite the outlandish claims of a select group of non-innovative and uncompassionate chefs, the science is clear that ducks and geese experience fear, as well as acute and chronic stress from the multiple daily force-feedings and the pain associated with them. And force-feeding can cause a number of injuries: bruising or perforation of the esophagus; hemorrhaging and inflammation of the neck resulting from the repeated insertion of the pipe into the throat; and asphyxia caused by food improperly forced into the trachea.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.