15,000 Suffering Ducks Incinerated to Death at Hudson Valley Foie Gras

A recent press release by Gene Baur, the President of Farm Sanctuary, the largest farm animal protection agency, reports of the recent death of 15,000 breeding ducks who were suffering as a part of inhuman treatment - all for the palates of wealthy humans who enjoy Foie Gras. On October 30, a large fire incinerated 15,000 breeding ducks at the Hudson Valley Foie Gras establishment. This breeding farm for Foie Gras is the largest Foie Gras facility in the United States.

Gene Baur states: "Farm Sanctuary mourns the loss of the thousands of ducks who burned to death inside the walls of Hudson Valley Foie Gras' massive factory farm. As this tragedy illustrates, the confinement of so many animals within such a small space is literally a disaster waiting to happen. Unfortunately, as horrible as the suffering of the ducks who burned must have been, the suffering that awaits the survivors is equally horrific."

"Being force-fed to the brink of death in order to produce foie gras is an agonizing fate and one of the most extreme forms of cruelty imaginable. We hope this tragedy serves to reinforce the need for New York and other states and localities to abolish foie gras production and sale completely."

For those who don't know what Foie Gras is, Foie Gras is the liver of a duck, goose, or other bird that been fattened up by being force fed corn mash into the esophagus by a tube weeks before slaughter. The ducks, geese, or other birds are kept within dark sheds as their livers expand ten times their normal size. The liver becomes diseased during this time and the birds can barely walk. France is the largest producer of Foie Gras.

Many people consider Foie Gras to be a delicacy and the price of Foie Gras is quite high at approximately $30.00 for two ounces.

Consumers of Foie Gras state that it has a rich almost beefy taste while others say it tastes like creamy, rich, smooth butter. Supposedly, it is quite soft and melts on the tongue. Preparation of Foie Gras include searing it very quickly in a hot skillet. If cooked for too long, Foie Gras will literally melt in the pan because of its very high fat content.

In 2006, Chicago outlawed the serving of Foie Gras at restaurants.

California is the only state to ban the force feeding of ducks, geese and other birds.