Ban Force Feeding Ducks (Foie Gras) in New York

"Foie gras," literally fatty liver, is a disease marketed as a delicacy. It is the liver of a duck or goose enlarged to up to 10 times its normal size by force feeding, produced by cruel and inhumane farming practices.

At just a few months old, ducks are confined inside dark sheds and force-fed enormous amounts of food several times a day. A farm worker grabs each duck and, one by one, thrusts a metal pipe down their throats so that a mixture of corn can be forced directly into their gullets. In just a matter of weeks, the ducks become grossly overweight and their livers expand up to 10 times their normal size. Ducks suffer impaired liver function, and the expansion of the abdomen makes it difficult for birds to breathe. Insertion and removal of the feeding tube scratches the throat and the esophagus, causing irritations and wounds and thus exposing the animal to risk of mortal infections.

Consider banning foie gras because of the inherent cruelty involved in force-feeding waterfowl to make them so sick that their organs swell up to ten times their normal size. 15 nations around the world have either banned force-feeding outright or deemed it illegal under established animal protection laws.

NY Senator Charles Schumer
New York City
757 Third Avenue
Suite 17-02
New York, NY, 10017
phone: 212-486-4430
fax: 212-486-7693
e-mail: https://schumer.senate.gov./Contact/contact_chuck.cfm