California Assembly Passes Bill to Ban Force Feeding of Ducks and Geese

August 26, 2004

Contact: Teri Barnato, AVAR, 530-759-8106 or 530-219-7192 (cell)

Sacramento, CA...The California Assembly today voted to approve Senate

Bill 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 (D-San Francisco), passed

out of the Assembly with a 44-28 vote.

In asking his colleagues to support the bill, Burton said it's time that

California 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. Also

speaking in support of the bill on the Assembly floor was Assemblymember

Joe Nation, a Democrat from San Rafael, who said the restriction is needed

to stop an inhumane practice.

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 to three weeks until

the birds are slaughtered to produce foie gras.

SB 1520 will now be sent back to the Senate for concurrence on final

amendments to the bill before the end of the month. California Governor

Arnold Schwarzenegger then will have until the end of September to sign

the bill into law. SB 1520 has already been described as one of the top 10

bills which will test Governor Schwarzenegger on his policy positions and

help define his administration.

Currently, there is only one California farm, near Stockton, which uses

force feeding to produce foie gras. However, other businesses have

indicated an interest in opening foie gras farms in California. The only

other foie gras farm in the United States is located in New York, and

legislation is also pending in that state to ban the practice. Several

other countries, including Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom and

Switzerland, have already banned forced feeding to produce foie gras.

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. More than 15 other animal protection

organizations, representing one million Californians, have also announced

their support for the bill as have several celebrities including Sir Paul

McCartney, Martin Sheen, Bea Arthur, Valerie Harper and Melissa Rivers.

August 26, 2004

Thanks for the article, Fraggle. I'm glad to see NY has legislation pending as well. Conspicuously absent among the European countries banning the practice is France, where I suspect (foie gras being a French term, I believe) the whole idea of goose liver as a delicacy began. Any "listeners" among you live in France? Time to take action!fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

Contact: Teri Barnato, AVAR, 530-759-8106 or 530-219-7192 (cell)California Assembly Passes Bill to Ban Force Feeding of Ducks and GeeseSacramento, CA...The California Assembly today voted to approve SenateBill 1520, a bill that would ban the force feeding of ducks and geese andsales of foie gras from force-fed animals in California. The bill,authored by Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), passedout of the Assembly with a 44-28 vote.In asking his colleagues to support the bill, Burton said it's time thatCalifornia take a stand against the cruel practice of force feeding."Cramming food down a duck's throat to make a gourmet item known as foiegras is not only unnecessary, it's inhumane," said Senator Burton. Alsospeaking in support of the bill on the Assembly floor was AssemblymemberJoe Nation, a Democrat

from San Rafael, who said the restriction is neededto stop an inhumane practice.Foie gras is produced by force feeding ducks or geese large amounts offood so that their livers swell to up to 10 times normal size. A pipe isshoved down the bird's esophagus and food is forced into the stomach. Theprocess is repeated two or three times daily for two to three weeks untilthe birds are slaughtered to produce foie gras.SB 1520 will now be sent back to the Senate for concurrence on finalamendments to the bill before the end of the month. California GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger then will have until the end of September to signthe bill into law. SB 1520 has already been described as one of the top 10bills which will test Governor Schwarzenegger on his policy positions andhelp define his administration.Currently, there is only one California farm, near Stockton, which usesforce feeding to produce foie gras. However, other

businesses haveindicated an interest in opening foie gras farms in California. The onlyother foie gras farm in the United States is located in New York, andlegislation is also pending in that state to ban the practice. Severalother countries, including Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom andSwitzerland, have already banned forced feeding to produce foie gras.Four animal protection groups are sponsoring SB 1520. They include: theAssociation of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, Farm Sanctuary, Viva!USA,and Los Angeles Lawyers for Animals. More than 15 other animal protectionorganizations, representing one million Californians, have also announcedtheir support for the bill as have several celebrities including Sir PaulMcCartney, Martin Sheen, Bea Arthur, Valerie Harper and Melissa Rivers.To send an email to -