This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

Foie gras, which is often referred to as the “delicacy of despair,” is the fatty liver of tortured geese and ducks. It's considered so inhumane that it's been banned in several countries, and in the state of California as well as New York City.

Now there's a chance to make Rhode Island the next state to ban this product of cruelty. Urge your legislators to support House Bill 5731 and its twin bill Senate Bill 471!

The production of foie gras involves the brutal process of force-feeding ducks and geese by shoving a tube down their throats and pumping food directly into their stomachs, a process referred to as gavaging.

The force-feeding is done about 2-3 times daily for weeks until they are slaughtered. The process causes their livers to grow way beyond their normal size, which leads to a painful liver disease that's formally known as hepatic lipidosis. At the end of this torturous process, birds' livers can end up more than 10 times their original size, causing them immense distress, discomfort, and fear. Due to these awful conditions, these birds suffer many injuries from force-feeding and rough handling, and other debilitating health conditions such as esophagus damage, being unable to walk because of their weight, or simply being able to breathe properly because of their enlarged livers.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.