Sonoma City Council Asked to Take Stand Against Foie Gras
Citizens to Present Case to Ban Sale of "Gourmet Cruelty"

SONOMA, Calif. – On the heels of negative publicity resulting from the investigations at Sonoma Foie Gras that revealed tremendous animal suffering, Sonoma residents are asking the Sonoma City Council to ban the sale of foie gras.

Sonoma Foie Gras, one of only two foie gras facilities in the United States, was the subject of a number of recent investigations regarding animal welfare, as reported on ABC7, The LA Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, Time Magazine, and other stations and publications across the country. Video footage revealed ducks covered in vomit and blood, ducks experiencing anal hemorrhaging, ducks too weak to even lift their heads, piles of dead ducks, and ducks so weak they couldn't escape from the rats eating them alive. As a result, Sonoma Foie Gras is being sued in the Superior Court of California for violations of the state's animal cruelty laws.

Foie gras is a French term that means "fatty liver" and is, by definition, the abnormally enlarged, diseased liver of a duck or goose. It is made by confining ducks or geese for several weeks, thrusting a pipe down their throats two to three times per day, and pumping massive amounts of food into them. This massive overfeeding induces a disease known as hepatic lipidosis.

"Due to national media coverage of the inherent suffering involved in foie gras production, and to the unfortunate use of the town's name, Sonoma has become synonymous with animal cruelty," Susan Corso, the citizen presenting before the Council, said. "Sonoma has a unique opportunity to take a stand against cruelty not only in our community but also in our country. Banning the sale of foie gras would restore Sonoma's image as well as promote humane treatment of animals in our society."

At least twelve countries have outlawed the force-feeding of birds for foie gras because of its inherent cruelty. Most recently, this past August, the Israeli Supreme Court banned foie gras despite Israel being the fourth-largest foie gras producer in the world. In addition, a bill is pending in the state of New York that would specifically prohibit the force-feeding of ducks and geese to make foie gras. If passed, this bill would result in the closure of Hudson Valley Foie Gras in Upstate New York, the only other foie gras facility in the United States.

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