
Fellow Chefs, Restaurateurs, and Industry Professionals,
I am writing you this letter to hopefully garner support for our fight against the ban on foie gras that goes into effect this July 1. When enacted, this law will make producing, selling, or serving any product that is the result of force-feeding an animal in order to increase the size of its liver illegal. This will be the first law worldwide banning the sale of foie gras. Along with foie gras, other products such as duck fat, legs, breasts, and even feathers used for pillows and comforters will be illegal in California. The price of these products that can be found elsewhere will be affected drastically, just based on supply and demand. Can you imagine how many bistros will be looking for duck fat for confit?
I made the trip to Sacramento this week to approach our lawmakers with the group C.H.E.F.S. (Coalition for Humane and Ethical Farming Standards). Instead of fighting to repeal the upcoming ban, we went with the agenda of proposing new legislation to hold our farms accountable for their practices, setting new standards for humane and ethical farming of foie gras. With this new legislation, we can effectively change the farming practices around the world; any farm that wanted to sell its product to consumers in California would have to abide by the standards set by our state government.
There is so much work to be done. The majority of our Republican representatives are on our side, with the exception of 2-3 members of the Senate and the State Assembly. The more difficult converts will come from the Democratic Party. Their former State colleague is now the Chair of the Democratic Party, and the author of Senate Bill 1520 – the exact bill that we are fighting so hard to overcome.
John Burton wrote the law in 2004, and with the influence of organizations such as PETA and APRL, animal rights activists have been given a voice. The rampant spread of misinformation has been difficult to deter; lies have been told so many times, even the activists believe the stories now.
They’ll tell you that ducks are being tortured and mistreated. They’ll tell you that they have evidence of wrongdoing. They’ll tell you that foie gras is diseased. They’ll tell you that we’ve had 7 years to fight this, and ask, “Why now?” As chefs, we’re busy. As chefs, we’ve assumed that such a nonsense law would never be enforced. As chefs, we just want to serve great food. Any good chef is looking for only the best products to put on the plate, and foie gras is no different. If these animals were treated poorly, their livers wouldn’t taste good, and we wouldn’t want to serve them.
I am urging you to stand beside us. We’re about 100 strong right now, but as we all know, the animal rights activists are a much larger group – a group that doesn’t have a problem threatening and bullying chefs, restaurateurs, and even Senators.
Next week, C.H.E.F.S. will continue lobbying for support, and I hope that some of you will be able to make the trip up there to help out.
Flights aren’t horribly expensive, and you’ll be welcomed into our state’s Capitol with open arms. You’ll have the unique opportunity to see our government at work; believe me, that was worth the trip alone.
I have attached information for you as to whom to contact before you go, links that show how foie gras is humanely raised, and what the agenda of C.H.E.F.S. clearly is.
If you can get away from your post for just one day, you can help make a difference. We need to show that this really does matter to us, and that we're willing to stand up for ourselves. The other side calls and sends faxes, sometimes to the point of breaking the fax machines in the offices of our Senators and State Assembly members. We need to show that we believe in our side as much as they do.
If you can't get away, it's understandable. All we ask is that you reach out to your local representative and urge them to support our efforts. You can help all of us reserve the right to serve foie gras, and establish California as a leader in humane and ethical farming standards.
IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY, AND YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE, please pass along all of this information.
Thank you for considering making the trip. Fight For Foie!
http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-02-18/news/is-foie-gras-torture/
http://www.news10.net/video/1617881031001/1/Foie-Gras-debate
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/us/california-chefs-fight-states-foie-gras-ban.html?_r=1
www.chefstandards.org (C.H.E.F.S.)
Contact:
Cathy Kennedy
C.H.E.F.S.
530-204-8270
mscathyk@gmail.com
Warmest regards,
Greg Daniels
Executive Chef/Partner
haven collective
greg@havencollective.com
Haven Gastropub
www.havengastropub.com
714.221.0680 orange
626-768-9555 pasadena
taco asylum
www.tacoasylum.com
714.922.6010 costa mesa