Ask Canadian Government to Investigate Canada's Foie Gras Industry

Farm Sanctuary, in cooperation with Canadian group Global Action Network (GAN), has released Round 2 of its investigation into the Canadian foie gras industry. The undercover footage shot at Aux Champs D'Elise and Palmex, the second and third-largest foie gras producers in Canada respectively, further confirms the immense cruelty inherent in the production of foie gras.

Video and photographic evidence from Palmex and Champs D'Elise show ducks suffering the gruesome after-effects of force feeding: ducks gasping for breath, choking on blood and regurgitated food, many barely able to hold up their heads. Others are shown dead in their cages, having succumbed to the debilitating effects of being force fed up to a third of their own body weight daily.

In addition to dead and dying ducks, undercover footage shot over a 5-day period by an investigator working at Aux Champs D'Elise depicts shocking acts of cruelty: employees bashing the heads of ducks against the concrete floor, hurling them through the air by their necks and even sawing off an animal's head, all while the ducks are fully conscious.

See for yourself. Watch Farm Sanctuary's video, "Culinary Cruelty: Undercover in Canada"

This latest investigation into the Canadian foie gras industry is a follow up to Farm Sanctuary and GAN's June 2007 release of an investigation into Elevages Perigord, Canada's largest foie gras producer. You can view the first video investigation here.

Combined, the three Canadian producers investigated—Elevages Perigord, Palmex and Aux Champs D'Elise—produce over 80% of Canada's foie gras. At least one-third of Canada's foie gras is exported to the U.S. and effectively comprises 72% of the foie gras imported by the U.S. (with the remainder coming from France).

Based on the incontrovertible evidence of rampant cruelty in Canada's foie gras industry, Farm Sanctuary and Global Action Network are calling upon Canada's Minster of Agriculture to investigate Canada's foie gras industry and to put an end to its unabashed cruelty.

What you can do:

We have just been informed that there is a NEW Minister of Agriculture in Canada. Please contact The Honourable Gerry Ritz, through letters, emails and phone calls and urge him to fully investigate Canada's foie gras industry and to take all steps necessary to stop its cruelty. Your action is of the utmost importance.

The Honourable Gerry Ritz
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
(note: a normal postal letter to Canada requires 69 cents postage)
613-759-1059
Email: Please go to http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/min/index_e.php?s1=help-aide&s2=contact