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Councilman Urges Albany to Ban Force Feeding to Produce Foie Gras
By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 11, 2008
Modified Jun 11, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jun 11, 2008
Modified Jun 11, 2008
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City councilman and mayoral hopeful Tony Avella held a press conference today at City Hall to spotlight a pending council resolution urging the New York State Senate to outlaw force-feeding ducks and geese to produce foie gras. A bill to ban the practice is languishing in Albany, and Avella hopes his largely symbolic gesture will push it forward.
Yesterday Avella told the Village Voice that though there are only two foie gras farms in New York State, he feels legislation is necessary to stop the force-feeding, which artificially enlarges the animals’ livers and causes other maladies. The proposed state law would not ban foie gras, just the force-feeding, which at least one foie gras farmer in Spain has proven unnecessary by feeding his animals naturally.
Michael Ginor of Hudson Valley Foie Gras, assured the Sun that “there is nothing harmful, painful, or inhumane about the production of foie gras.” For another perspective, here’s a link to some photos ducks and geese at a foie gras farm obtained by The Humane Society, who joined Avella with other animal rights activists at City Hall today.
Tagged
ban
bill
councilman
ducks
foie gras
geese
law
new york
outlaw
press conference
queens
rally
State
tony avella
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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