Current Press Releases

Citizens Voice Their Concern About Foie Gras Production

Newport Beach, California - May 19, 2004 - Animal welfare advocates in Newport Beach, California are voicing their concern about the cruel production of foie gras.

Citizens will be demonstrating outside of Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar at 455 Newport Center Drive at 6:30 p.m. on May 19, 2004, where the national chain will be serving cruelly produced foie gras at its "Golfers and Vintners Wine Dinner."

To make foie gras, ducks and geese are force fed enormous amounts of food two to three times a day when a metal pipe is thrust down their throats. In a matter of weeks, the birds' livers grow up to ten times their normal size. The swollen livers become diseased and dysfunctional, a condition known at hepatic lipidosis. As a result of this liver enlargement, the birds have difficulty standing, walking, and even breathing. Many birds die as a result of the force feeding process, and necropsies performed on foie gras ducks have shown extreme obesity, impaction of undigested food in the esophagus, lacerations in the throat, and a proliferation of bacterial and fungal growth in their upper digestive tracts.

Citizens across the country have been urging Fleming's Prime Steakhouse officials to reconsider serving foie gras at their May 19th event. In reaction to these calls, Jennifer Capler in Fleming's Newport Beach, California corporate office told Farm Sanctuary that Fleming's had made a decision internally to not serve the controversial liver pate. However, it now appears that Fleming's officials have recanted their decision, and will be serving foie gras.

The controversy over foie gras is drawing national attention. Over 200 restaurants have signed pledges not to serve foie gras, and on May 18, 2004 the California Senate voted to ban the cruel production of foie gras. Similar legislation is pending in New York.

Gene Baur (formerly Bauston), President of Farm Sanctuary, stated, "Foie gras production is not only inhumane, it is entirely unnecessary. This cruelty has been outlawed in over a dozen countries, and it should be illegal in the United States as well." Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. For more information, please visit www.FarmSanctuary.org or www.NoFoieGras.org.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.