From Deseret News archives:
Activists target restaurants' foie gras
Members of SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness) stood on the sidewalk outside the restaurant Saturday night handing out anti-foie gras literature. One protester wore a "body screen" that displayed an 11-minute DVD called "Delicacy of Despair: Behind the Closed Doors of the Foie Gras Industry."
Foie gras, which translates as "fatty liver," is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese by shoving hollow metal tubes down their throats, according to animal rights activists such as Colleen Hatfield of Taylorsville.
In early July, Hatfield sent letters to eight area restaurants she says include foie gras on their menus. One of the restaurants, La Caille in Sandy, has agreed to stop serving its $17.50 appetizer. Another has taken foie gras off its online menu, but Hatfield says she's not sure whether the dish is still being served. A third sent what appeared to be a form letter; the other five didn't respond.
The Metropolitan, which serves a $20 foie gras with chocolate frangipane and peaches, considers the appetizer a legally produced foodstuff and feels it is entitled to serve it to its clientele, according to the restaurant's spokesperson, Lesley Christoph. "It's part of the French culinary tradition from which The Metropolitan draws its inspiration," she said.
The restaurant's view is that "no one is forced to buy it," Christoph added. "They take pride in preparing it in a creative, innovative way." Saturday night's protest comes during the restaurant's busiest week of the year, because of the Outdoor Retailer Tradeshow, she said.
Earlier in the week, animal rights supporter Hatfield held a press conference that was attended by only one reporter, a fact that Hatfield said "almost breaks my heart." What's disappointing, she said, is that the media is happy to cover violent animal rights protests, but when activists try a peaceful approach there's not much interest.
Hatfield showed the "Delicacy of Despair" DVD, the footage of which was shot at one of the country's two foie gras factory farms by an undercover investigator, according to the video's producer.
It shows 3-month-old ducks and geese being force-fed, as well as fowl whose livers have become so enlarged and diseased that they are too fat and sick to move. In one section of footage, a rat bites at the back end of a sedentary goose. There are also close-ups of ducks and geese with sores, mangy feathers and infections.
Activists plan to protest Park City restaurants Grappa and Chenez next weekend.
E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com
Recent comments
Animal rights activists have spread numerous lies about foie gras and...
Robert B. | Aug. 25, 2007 at 2:15 a.m.
Mmm....delicious, delicious misery.
Rob M | Aug. 20, 2007 at 3:08 p.m.
Government intrusion in our lives? When you eat foie gras you are...
Melissa M | Aug. 14, 2007 at 6:05 p.m.
- Two American pilots die in Iraq 12:47 a.m.
- Murder suspect is vetran, avid skier 12:47 a.m.
- MLB: Zambrano's mom kidnapped 12:32 a.m.
- Lambert surprisingly tops news 12:25 a.m.
- Philadelphia transit strike ends 12:25 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd 12:24 a.m.
- 12 high schools ready for 'The Turf' 12:17 a.m.
- RSL unfazed by conference final 12:17 a.m.
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated 12:17 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:13 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
216 - House passes health care bill
201 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
151 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
129 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
101 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
88
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
STOP blaming the Democrats, BLAME THE REPUBLICANS FOR 8 YEARS DOING NOTHING...
The best way to break the law is to become someone who enforces the law.
It's a real shame so many folks have never gotten out and gotten to know the...
It's all talk... you do not have any evidence for your claims. You assume...
Maybe if you could bat .408 in the major leagues, you too would be paid a...
I prefer the “Wizard of Earthsea” quartet by Ursula Le Guin, an...
The bottom line question that no one can possibly answer is; what will be the...
It looks to me like special treatment.
Jazz will have a tough week, with what should be a easy win against the...
I am very excited for this game. As much as I want the Utes to win, it won't...

