Current Press Releases

Maui Animal Rights Activists Protest Wolfgang Puck's Menus

MAUI - December 9, 2004 - Wolfgang Puck, the chef notorious for endorsing animal cruelty, is coming to Maui as part of his book signing tour. Activists will gather at 4:30 p.m. outside of Spago restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea where they will distribute educational literature and display large signs depicting animal cruelty in the production of foie gras and veal.

Mr. Puck has ignored requests from concerned citizens and humane organizations urging him to remove foie gras and white, crated veal from his menus. Despite documented evidence of the inhumane treatment of birds raised for foie gras and calves raised for white veal, Wolfgang Puck continues to promote these items of egregious cruelty.

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 develop fatty liver disease. The birds are then slaughtered to produce foie gras. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed SB 1520 into law to prohibit the force feeding of ducks and geese in the production of foie gras (http://www.nofoiegras.org). Concerned citizens are now pressing for similar legislation in the State of Hawaii.

Production of white veal is also particularly cruel. Calves are chained by the neck in crates so small that they cannot walk, turn around, or even lie down comfortably. Veal calves are fed a diet deficient in iron and fiber, designed to produce borderline anemia and the pale meat known as "white" veal.

Hundreds of restaurants and establishments around the country have pledged not to serve foie gras or crated veal. For a list of Hawaii restaurants, please see http://nofoiegras.org/FSrestaurant.htm and http://noveal.org/restaurants.htm

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.