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1.
WOLFGANG PUCK ANNOUNCES REFORMS
"I want to be a leader on the
issue of how we treat the animals we eat," declared
celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, “If consumers
could see how abused these animals can be, they would
demand change." Working with The Humane Society
of the U.S. and Farm Sanctuary, he has developed a
9-point plan for his $300-million-a-year company.
Puck announced that he has stopped serving foie gras
and, by the end of 2007, will eliminate animal products
obtained through the use of gestation or veal crates
or battery cages. Additionally, he will contact suppliers
of chicken and turkey meat to express his interest
in slaughter by Controlled Atmosphere Killing (see:
http://tinyurl.com/2qq5lk
& http://tinyurl.com/3d4yrk
), and “will only serve chicken and turkey meat
from farms that are third-party-audited for compliance
with progressive animal welfare standards.”
While the lobsters Puck uses are to avoid spending
time crowded in holding tanks, his chefs will continue
cutting the live animals in half. [Vegan] and organic
selections are also to be featured.
Puck dismissed Farm Sanctuary’s
efforts toward him over the last 5 years (see, for
example: http://tinyurl.com/ysaybh
& http://tinyurl.com/2f6z4n ) as having influenced
his decision, acknowledging instead that he wanted
to draw attention to the 25th anniversary of his flagship
restaurant by opposing intensive confinement. “Generally,
this is for better-quality ingredients,” he
said of his quest for products from non-caged animals.
Menu prices are anticipated to rise $1 to $2, a negligible
amount considering his current steep prices.
Noting “the horror of factory
farming,” a New York Times editorial states:
“Mr. Puck’s new standard will help correct
a misimpression. Many diners assume that most of the
cruelty in factory farming lies in producing foie
gras and veal. But Americans consume vastly more chicken,
turkey, pork and beef than foie gras and veal, and
most of the creatures those meats come from are raised
in ways that are ethically and environmentally unsound.”
PUCK SAYS IT'S TIME TO HOLD THE FOIE
GRAS
The Los Angeles Times, Corie Brown, March 22, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/25qaxp
ANIMAL WELFARE HAS A PLACE AT WOLFGANG PUCK’S
TABLE
The Humane Society of the United States, March 22,
2007
http://tinyurl.com/384rwq
CELEBRITY CHEF ANNOUNCES STRICT ANIMAL-WELFARE POLICY
The New York Times, Kim Severson, March 22, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/22/dining/22puck.html
MR. PUCK'S GOOD IDEA
The New York Times, Editorial, March 26, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/26/opinion/26mon4.html
2.
AQUACULTURE; DEEP-SEA TRAWLING; CATFISH FARMING
In a bid for a share of the $70 billion
aquaculture industry, the Bush administration has
sent legislation to Congress seeking to initiate ocean
farming for shellfish, salmon and saltwater species
in federal waters. More than 200 fish farms already
operate on inland and coastal waters up to 3 miles
into the ocean, which fall under state jurisdiction.
(Just 3 years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency
began regulating them for wastewater poured directly
into U.S. waterways.) The proposed plan would let
companies operate fish farms 3-200 miles offshore
without some of the commercial fishing rules intended
to restrict size, season and harvest methods. The
bill, similar to one that Congress didn’t pass
in 2005, also calls for increased research into all
forms of aquaculture. The U.S. has an $8 billion annual
seafood trade deficit with more than 80% of the seafood
consumed here being imported, of which at least 40%
percent is farmed. The proposal would help the $1
billion U.S. aquaculture industry roughly double over
the next few decades. Critics say fish farming exacerbates
overfishing due to the use of fish as fish food. They
also point to pollution from the farms and genetic
problems they can cause wild fish.
With fish populations in shallow areas
declining, fishing fleets are increasingly dredging
deep waters. As a result, long-living species that
reproduce infrequently are being killed, and ancient,
slow-growing sponge beds and coral are being destroyed.
A recent report shows that much of this fishing is
only profitable due to fuel subsidies the ships receive.
Biologists, ecologists and economists at the American
Association for the Advancement of Science have called
for an end to the subsidies. In December the United
Nations general assembly reached an agreement to regulate
trawl fishing in international waters.
Catfish are the most farmed fish species
in the U.S. The $480 million industry loses up to
30% of its total annual production to infectious diseases.
In an attempt to counter them, “excessive”
amounts of antibiotics are used, annually amounting
to $42.5 million worth, resulting in bacterial resistance.
Researchers are attempting to develop ways to boost
the fishs’ immune systems.
ADMINISTRATION SENDS AQUACULTURE LEGISLATION
TO CONGRESS
Ellsworth American, Stephen Rappaport, March 15, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/yqe5zo
U.S. SEEKS TO ALLOW FISH FARMS IN DEEP OCEAN WATERS
Associated Press, John Heilprin, March 12, 2007
http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/03-07/03-12-07/03state-region.htm
SCIENTISTS CALL FOR FUEL SUBSIDIES BAN TO PROTECT
FISH
Telegraph, Nic Fleming, Feb. 21, 2007
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/19/wfishing119.xml
PREVENTING THE CATFISH BLUES
TechJournal South, Allan Maurer, March 15, 2007
http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=2767
3.
SURPLUS HORSE CLAIM DISPUTED
Kentucky “is being overrun with
thousands of horses no one wants,” including
lame and blind horses turned loose in rural areas
and others left chained for days without food or water,
according to an Associated Press report. The surplus
is attributed to growing opposition to horse slaughter
and the closure of horse slaughterplants (see: http://tinyurl.com/yuavm6
). It can cost up to $150 to have a veterinarian euthanize
a horse, plus disposal costs. The Humane Society of
the U.S. disputes the claims as being unfounded, calling
them a desperate fear-mongering campaign by the foreign-owned
slaughter industry. A recent survey of the Kentucky
Animal Care and Control Association’s membership
found no increase in abandoned horse reports or sightings.
The claim that horses are now being shipped instead
to Mexico for slaughter is countered by the point
that the single horse slaughterplant still operating
in the U.S. (in Illinois) is importing horses from
Canada to slaughter, indicating the absence of any
surplus.
After California banned horse slaughter in 1989,
there was no significant change in the number of abused
or neglected horses reported, and horse theft dropped
34%. Similar bans are under consideration elsewhere,
including Kentucky, Maryland, New York and Illinois.
Connecticut has made it illegal to sell horsemeat
in public places, and many states have tightened up
the labeling and transportation requirements governing
horses bound for slaughter. “Any horse owner
who does not choose to receive a value for (unwanted)
horses don’t have to,” said industry lobbyist
Charles Stenholm, “But it’s a property
rights issue similar to water rights.” He cautioned
that anyone who considers their horse(s) to be companion
animals stands to forfeit the tax deductions they
could receive for having farmed animals.
KENTUCKY OVERRUN WITH UNWANTED HORSES
The Houston Chronicle/The Associated Press, Jeffrey
McMurray, March 14, 2007
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4632414.html
HSUS RESPONDS TO RUMOR OF HORSE ABANDONMENT IN KY.
The Humane Society of the United States, March 17,
2007
http://www.pr-inside.com/the-humane-society-of-the-united-r68370.htm
HORSE PROCESSING IS HIGHLY EMOTIONAL PROPERTY ISSUE
Farm Press, Ron Smith, March 19, 2007
http://southwestfarmpress.com/news/031907-horse-processing/
4.
EUROPEAN CONSUMERS INTERESTED IN FARMED ANIMAL WELFARE
The first European Union (EU) survey
on animal welfare to cover all 27 Member States plus
Turkey and Croatia, found the issue ranks high, receiving
an 8 out of 10 in terms of importance. While a majority
of consumers believe conditions for farmed animals
have improved over the last ten years, concern remains
particularly for poultry and pigs. Consumers expressed
a willing to pay more for products produced in adherence
with animal welfare standards, with some 70% supporting
financial rewards for producers applying high standards.
Of the 10,500 consumers polled by the European Commission
(EC), 62% of the respondents said they would change
their shopping habits in order to obtain more animal-welfare
friendly products. However, many felt they lack the
necessary information to compare products on animal-welfare
grounds.
A large majority of respondents support
labeling to indicate welfare standards. The Community
Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals
2006-2010 foresees standardized welfare indicators
being established. An “EU animal welfare label”
is part of a 5-year EU plan. (A conference on labeling
is being held March 28th.) The Eurobarometer also
showed 89% support requiring that imports meet the
welfare conditions in the EU. Over half of the respondents
believe that food produced with high welfare standards
is more healthful, while 48% consider it to be of
better quality. The Eurobarometer can be accessed
at: http://tinyurl.com/253bc3.
Earlier this year, new EU animal welfare
rules came into effect, including stricter requirements
for dealing with animals in transport and higher standards
for vehicles and equipment. Newborn animals and those
within a week of giving birth may not be transported.
Better enforcement of EU rules are also part of the
new regulation, including requiring that transporters
use satellite navigation systems to help regulators
track animals in transit. The regulation is part of
a series of measures by the EC to improve animal welfare.
ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS HIGHLIGHTED BY
SURVEY
Food Production Daily, Ahmed ElAmin, March 23, 2007
http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=75223&m=1FPD323&c=nclrxgigqalxdms
CONSUMER' CONCERNS ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE WHEN SHOPPING
VARY WIDELY BETWEEN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Welfare Quality project press release, March 20, 2007
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=193445
EU CONSUMERS WILLING TO PAY FOR BETTER ANIMAL WELFARE
Europa press release, March 22, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/2bp3yq
5.
GREECE CHARGED WITH ANIMAL WELFARE FAILURES
In the Eurobarometer (see item #4 above),
Greeks (96%) Cypriots (91%) and Portuguese (90%) rated
the highest in wanting more attention to be given
to the well-being of animals in their country. The
European Commission (EC) has referred the country
of Greece to the European Court of Justice for failure
to properly implement and enforce European Union (EU)
legislation on animal welfare transport and at slaughter.
Greek authorities had been warned of legal action
in 1998, and again in 2006 following a series of inspections
between 2003 and 2006. Inspectors found that Greece
failed to identify and control vehicles which transport
animals as required by EU law, it did not provide
adequate facilities for animals at ferry ports, and
that controls were insufficient to ensure adequate
stunning of animals at slaughter. Despite Greece’s
presentation of an animal welfare plan in 2005, the
EC reported little or no improvement in Greek animal
welfare. More details at: http://tinyurl.com/32wdms
GREECE GOES TO COURT FOR ANIMAL WELFARE
NON-COMPLIANCE
World Poultry, March 23, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/33wx5p
6.
VEGETARIAN ADVOCACY REPORT
The Humane Research Council (HRC) has
produced a report that examines “the current
state of meat consumption in the U.S. and describes
the motivations and barriers that [vegetarian] advocates
need to understand” in order to employ effective
strategies. Among its findings is that most adults
in the U.S. are three times more likely to have reduced
rather than increased how much meat they eat. It also
found that dietary choices are influenced primarily
by taste preferences and personal health concerns
rather than by ethical or environmental concerns.
While taste preferences presented the greatest barrier
to meat reduction, health concerns registered as the
greatest impetus for meat reduction. Women and older
consumers were found to be the most likely to be “semi-vegetarian.”
They were also the most likely to intend to reduce
their meat consumption in the future. The HRC report
discusses “incrementalism, which suggests that
pursuing a meat reduction strategy may lower demand
for meat AND generate more vegetarians than advocating
vegetarianism directly.” Two forms of the study
are available for purchase, the full 52-page report
(with appendices) or a 13-page base report with an
appendix. The tables of contents can be viewed at:
http://tinyurl.com/2nx7y3
ADVOCATING MEAT REDUCTION AND VEGETARIANISM
TO ADULTS IN THE U.S.
Humane Research Council, March 2007
http://www.humaneresearch.org/2007vegreport_details.shtml
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