A foie pas
Mick Dumke’s cover story about PETA (“Ruffling feathers,” May 27) unfortunately succumbs to one of PETA’s tricks–giving out patent falsehoods about laws in other places. He says “Chicago and other cities have banned foie gras” but there is no such other city. The story did not mention it, but the Chicago City Council was told England had banned foie gras–not true. Chicago’s ordinance even recites that California banned it, but the prospective ban is far in the future and may never come into effect. Chicago stands alone.
RICHARD SHEPRO / Chicago
MICK DUMKE REPLIES: Mr. Shepro is justified in taking issue with the wording “Chicago and other cities have banned foie gras.” To date, Chicago is the only American city to prohibit the sale of the delicacy. However, California has passed legislation that, starting in 2012, prohibits force-feeding birds to enlarge their livers and selling products made from this process. While foie gras is still sold in Britain, force-feeding is illegal there, as it is in many other countries.
THANK YOU FOR your cover story on PETA and others who are working against cruelty to animals.
The more people refuse to buy the products of the meatpacking industry, the sooner the industry will have to change their ways.
LINDA ROBERTS / Lombard
MOST ANIMAL SUFFERING at the hands of humans is needless, and it calls for a shift in our cultural values through educational outreach to the public, media coverage and, when neccesary, legal reinforcement, as in the case of the foie gras ban.
As a teacher at Lane Tech High School, and sponsor of the Lane Tech Animal Rights Club, I can tell you the next generation is definitely ready to learn ways to live a lifestyle consistent with anti-cruelty-to-animals values.
LAUREN OSADA / Chicago
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