Asians for Humans, Animals & Nature
   
STARVATION OF LAYING HENS
 
The practice of withholding food and water (the former for up to two weeks) is a common U.S. practice used to shock laying hens into a new egg-laying cycle. Without even considering the inherent cruelty of housing seven or more fully grown hens in an 18 by 20 inch cage-also outlawed in Europe- USDA research shows that starvation undermines the hens’ immune systems leading to rampant level of Salmonella and E. Coli-posing a grave threat to the egg-consuming public.

CRATING OF PREGNANT SOWS
 
Sow stalls (also called gestation crates) are metal cages barely larger than the female pig herself that immobilize her for virtually her entire life. The perpetually pregnant sows are unable to turn or even lie down comfortably. They suffer painful crippling of the legs and feet from standing on bare concrete floors without any opportunity to move or exercise. Recognizing the enormous suffering caused by sow stalls-as opposed to traditional group housing where pigs are free to move and socialize-the European Union has outlawed their use and is currently phasing them out. Sow stalls were
recently banned by a voter initiative in Florida-putting public ethical standards and compassion far ahead of U.S.A.

VEAL CRATING

 
The veal crate is a wooden box so narrow that, from the age of about two weeks, the calves cannot even turn round. Indeed, as they get older, they cannot even stand up or lie down without difficulty. The crating of veal calves is also outlawed and being phased out in the European Union. By definition, pale veal is produced using an iron-deficient diet which causes anemia and physical weakness-completely at odds with ethical veterinary care.

Culinary Program Teaches Cruelty at Sur La Table in Los Angeles

 
Foie gras is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese three times a day by jamming open their bill, shoving a long, inflexible pipe down their throats, and driving several pounds of feed into each bird’s stomach. Some experience ripped-open necks and ruptured internal organs because of the intense pressure. Workers are often given monetary rewards for not “bursting” birds. The stress and pain frequently result in the birds’ being unable to walk and reduced to propelling themselves by pushing with their wings. The process causes
their livers to become diseased and swollen up to 10 times larger than their normal size, and the organs are then eaten as a “delicacy.”

Foie gras production is so cruel that it is illegal in many countries, including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., and the Czech Republic. In the U.S., many restaurants and institutions have already removed this atrocity from their menus and programs after learning about the intense cruelty involved in its production. Some recent examples include the following: Williams-Sonoma removed the item from its catalog; the Smithsonian Associates canceled a panel discussion on foie gras; the D.C. Dining Society banned any promotion of foie gras during a banquet held last December; Sur La Table restaurant in New York canceled a foie gras seminar last February, and A Dinner of Hope charity removed the item from its fundraiser in September.