Hot’s Kitchen has drawn a lawsuit from animal protection advocates after the eatery stepped into a boiling debate over the production of foie gras – the fattened livers of ducks and geese – which will be banned in California effective July 1.
Neither opponents nor supporters of foie gras are ducking the issue. Opponents contend that the force feeding of the birds leads to organ rupture and death, and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck has publicly urged restaurants to back the ban. Supporters, including celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, say the birds are not harmed by force feeding, through tubes inserted down their throats, in part because they have no gag reflex.
Hot’s last week announced that for each of its foie gras burgers sold, the Hermosa Avenue eatery would donate $1 to the Coalition for Humane and Ethical Farming Standards, or CHEFS, which contends that ducks and geese can be humanely fattened up for the buttery tasting French delicacy.
“Hot’s Kitchen feels it to be their responsibility to their customers to solely use animal products that come from humane, ethical and sustainable farm practices,” the restaurant said in a prepared statement.
“Later this year, a ban will take effect on the sale and production of foie gras. CHEFS and Hot’s Kitchen believe in the right to choose. Therefore, along with many other culinary professionals throughout the state, Hot’s Kitchen is taking up this cause,” the statement read.
“We believe in the rights of animals and the humane production of foie gras. At Hot’s Kitchen we hope to raise awareness for this cause and against the unethical treatment of ducks and geese by supporting CHEFS through the sale of our foie gras burger,” owner and chef Sean Chaney said.
Hot’s said the effort raised $693 in March.
“The ban has the potential of creating a foie gras blackmarket leading to even more cruelty of ducks and geese,” the statement read.
A publicist said Hot’s would likely not discuss the matter further while it is in court.
The Animal Protection and Rescue League, or APRL, announced that it filed a class action lawsuit against Hot’s and Cheney, claiming the eatery is “deliberately misleading consumers into purchasing a cruel product,” said attorney Bryan Pease, APRL president who is running for City Council in San Diego, where APRL is based.
The suit alleges that force feeding ducks and geese for foie gras results in “extreme, unmitigated pain and suffering as well as crippling injuries to the ducks,” and seeks an injunction barring Hot’s from publicizing “humane” foie gras.
