Chicago Won’t Swallow Foie Gras Cruelty |
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April 26, 2006
Chicago, a city well-known for its meatpacking history, the city upon which Upton Sinclair's The Jungle was based, now has a new claim to fame—compassionate leadership. A new ban on the sale of foie gras, a paté notorious for its cruelty, has earned the Windy City a place in animal welfare history.
Thanks to the leadership of Alderman Joe Moore (D-49th Ward) and the City Council, Chicago joins California and more than a dozen countries—including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland—in taking legislative action on the issue of foie gras and cruel force-feeding practices.
On April 26, the council passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of foie gras. Foie gras is a "delicacy" made from the diseased, fattened liver created by force-feeding ducks or geese, which can cause painful bruising, lacerations, sores, and even organ rupture. Due to this abnormal diet, the birds' livers can enlarge up to 10 times the normal size, making it difficult for the birds to move comfortably, though sometimes they have no choice. Often, the birds are crammed into small cages where they cannot even turn around or spread their wings.
Taking effect within the next three months, the ban forbids the sale of foie gras by Chicago restaurants, supermarkets, or any other vendors.
Speaking Out Against "Unspeakable Cruelty"
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The HSUS's full-page ad ran in the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Alderman Joe Moore authored and championed the animal welfare bill. In October 2005, the bill gained the unanimous support of the Chicago City Council Committee on Health before entering the Council for a vote.
According to an opinion piece that Alderman Moore authored for the Washington Examiner in October 2005, "We in the Chicago City Council can do our part to discourage this barbaric agricultural practice by outlawing its sale within our city. The fewer restaurants that serve this product of animal torture, the fewer animals who will be subject to this unspeakable cruelty."
The feeling seems to have extended beyond Chicago's city hall and into the rest of the state. Last year, the Illinois State Senate unanimously passed similar legislation banning foie gras production—Senate Bill 413 authored by Senator Kathleen J. Wojcik (R-28th District). The bill is awaiting passage by the Illinois House of Representatives this year.
Praise from The HSUS
"The HSUS commends the Chicago City Council for passing this humane ordinance and halting the sale of one of the most cruel and indefensible factory-farmed products," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The HSUS. "Alderman Moore and Chicago lawmakers have taken the lead in ending the abuse of ducks and geese for a mere table treat."
In addition to working with Farm Sanctuary and other organizations, The HSUS actively supported the measure since its inception, mobilizing its Chicago-area members and taking out full-page ads in prominent newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and The Catholic New World. Hundreds of people contacted the Chicago City Council in support of the ban.
The council clearly got the message.
"Many describe the production process for foie gras as cruel and inhumane," Alderman Moore wrote in October. "I think that's an understatement...The force feeding lasts from two to four weeks before the birds are slaughtered and during that time the birds experience increased pain and suffering with each passing day."
As the first city council to approve a ban on the sale of foie gras, Chicago could be a model for other humane-minded municipalities. For the sake of the 500,000 birds abused and killed for foie gras each year, we encourage other cities and counties to give Chicago the sincerest form of flattery. For help on initiating a similar measure where you live, please contact factoryfarming@hsus.org.
See the Video
Foie Gras
Related Links
Force-Fed Abuse
