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Support Foie Gras Ban in Philadelphia!

In the past few years, Philadelphia animal protection advocates have made tremendous strides in the battle against foie gras, successfully convincing at least 40 restaurants to stop serving foie gras-the grossly fattened liver of a duck or goose that has been forcibly fed up to a third of his body weight in corn-mash daily.

The suffering of foie gras birds is immense. By the end of the force feeding period, their livers are so enlarged-up to ten times their normal size-that walking, standing and even breathing are painful. The livers develop a diseased state of hepatic lipidosis, and toxins build up in the birds' bodies, making them extremely ill. In no other form of animal agriculture is a disease deliberately induced in order to obtain the product.

Foie gras production is so cruel that it has been banned in more than a dozen countries, including Israel which was once one of the largest foie gras producers in the world. Recently, California and the City of Chicago banned the sale of foie gras as well. Philadelphia has a chance to join the growing movement against foie gras and in favor of the humane treatment of animals.

Take Action

In order to advance Philadelphia's foie gras ordinance Philadelphia's Council members need to hear from you!

1. Please call, write and visit Councilmember Jack Kelly and thank him for his leadership on the foie gras issue in the past, and urge him to reintroduce his ordinance to ban foie gras as soon as possible.

   Councilmember Jack Kelly
   City Hall, Room 594
   Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290
   Phone: 215-686-3452, 215-686-3453
   FAX: 215-686-1925
   or send him an email

2. Look up your own Councilmember and ask him or her to support a ban on foie gras. You can also send a free fax to your Councilmember and the mayor here.

Background and talking points you may wish to include in your communications:

• Foie gras production is the only form of animal agriculture in which a deadly disease is deliberately induced in order to obtain the product.
• A recent Zogby International poll revealed that 85% of Philadelphians consider foie gras production cruel and would like to see it banned.
• In Philadelphia alone, more than 40 restaurants, once educated about the cruelty of foie gras, have decided to stop selling it.
• Foie gras production has been banned in sixteen countries.
• Both California and Chicago have passed bans on foie gras sales.
• Pope Benedict XVI and Prince Charles of England have denounced foie gras-the latter banning it from all royal menus.
• Celebrity chefs like Charlie Trotter and Wolfgang Puck have publicly spoken out against the cruelty of foie gras and have removed it from their menus.