AR-News: (US-CA) Assembly Committee Passes Bill to Ban Foie Gras

[Pam at AVAR]

FOR IMMEDIATE 
RELEASE                                                   June 23, 2004

Contact:        Teri Barnato, AVAR, 530-759-8106 or 530-219-7192 (cell)
                 lauren Ornelas, Viva!USA - 530-759-8482 or 530-848-4021 (cell)

  California Assembly Committee Passes Bill to Ban Force Feeding
of Ducks and Geese, Sales of Product in State

Sacramento, CA...The California Assembly Business and Professions Committee 
today voted to approve SB 1520, a bill that would ban the force feeding of 
ducks and geese and sales of foie gras from force-fed animals in 
California. The bill, authored by Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, 
passed out of the committee with more than the required seven votes.

Prior to the vote, Burton asked committee members to take a stand against 
the cruel practice of force feeding. "Cramming food down a duck's throat to 
make a gourmet item known as foie gras is not only unnecessary, it's 
inhumane," said Senator Burton. Testifying in support were Dr. Michael 
Appleby, a poultry scientist, two veterinarians, Drs. Laurie 
Siperstein-Cook and Barbara Hodges, and several dozen animal advocates.

Foie gras is produced by force feeding ducks or geese large amounts of food 
so that their livers swell to up to 10 times normal size. A pipe is shoved 
down the bird's esophagus and food is forced into the stomach. The process 
is repeated two or three times daily for two or three weeks until the birds 
are slaughtered.

SB 1520 will now head to the Assembly floor for a vote. During the Senate 
legislative hearing in April, the bill was amended to include a 7 1/2-year 
phase-out period before the law takes effect. Currently, there is only one 
California farm, near Stockton, which uses force feeding to produce foie 
gras. But, other businesses have indicated an interest in opening foie gras 
farms in California.

Four animal protection groups are sponsoring SB 1520. They include: the 
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, Farm Sanctuary, Viva!USA, 
and Los Angeles Lawyers for Animals.

####

Pam Runquist
Director of Companion Animal Issues
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
PO Box 208
Davis, CA 95617-0208
Tel: (530) 759-8106
pam at avar.org

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