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Historic Animal Cruelty Bill Unanimously Passes Illinois Senate

Led by Senator Kathleen L. Wojcik, Illinois Takes Big Step Toward Banning Foie Gras Cruelty

Springfield, Illinois - April 15, 2005 - Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal shelter and advocacy organization, today commended the Illinois State Senate for passing Senate Bill 413 (S.B. 413) with a resounding unanimous vote (53 to 0). The "Force Fed Birds Act," S.B. 413, introduced by Sen. Kathleen L. Wojcik (R-28), will ban the force-feeding of birds to produce "foie gras." The measure now goes to the Illinois House where it will be addressed in committee.

Senator Wojcik's introduction of S.B. 413 came on the heels of the passage of a similar bill in California, which made California the first state in the U.S. to ban foie gras cruelty. Recently adding fuel to this worldwide debate was renowned Chicago Chef, Charlie Trotter, who does not serve foie gras because of ethical concerns. Based on an eye opening duck farm visit and in response to consideration of SB 413, Trotter stated, "Enough is enough here … what I've seen is inappropriate. There are just too many great things to eat out there that I don't believe any animal would have to go through that for our benefit." This declaration has resulted in a rivalrous row with other Chicago chefs.

"We commend Senator Wojcik for her compassionate commitment to keeping foie gras production out of Illinois," said Farm Sanctuary President, Gene Baur (formerly Bauston). "Compassionate citizens across the U.S., and indeed the world, are thankful to Illinois senators for the passing of this landmark legislation and we urge state representatives to do the same."

Outside of the U.S., foie gras production is banned in at least a dozen European countries, as well as Israel, once the world's third-largest producer of the product. Other states with similar pending legislation include Oregon, Massachusetts and New York, which has the largest foie gras production facilities in the U.S. A recent Zogby poll found that nearly 80% of Americans support a ban on the force-feeding of birds to make this expensive food item. Foie gras, a French term meaning "fatty liver," is the enlarged, diseased liver of ducks or geese that are force fed as a pipe is shoved down their throats several times daily. These birds are forced to ingest amounts of food far in excess of what they would eat in the wild. In a matter of weeks, their livers expand up to ten times their normal size until they reach the diseased state of "hepatic lipidosis," in which they no longer function properly. It is this diseased, fatty mass that is sold as foie gras.

For more information about foie gras production and legislation banning foie gras production in both the U.S. and worldwide, please see http://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.