Campaign History

The campaign has only just begun, but Viva! has already scored some major victories!

Viva!’s campaign will make a difference to millions of birds currently suffering the torture of forced feeding

In 2004, Viva!USA was instrumental in getting a bill passed that banned the force feeding of ducks and geese in the production of foie-gras in California. The bill also bans the sale of the product when made from force fed birds, both provisions taking effect in the State in the year 2012.

Just before Christmas 2006, Viva! persuaded supermarket chain Lidl to stop selling foie-gras in all its stores in the UK. In 2007, Viva! was alarmed to hear that the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation was planning to serve foie-gras at its annual gala dinner. The horrible irony (foie-gras is diseased liver) didn’t escape us, and it didn’t escape the charity once we pointed it out to them. The result, foie-gras was dropped from the menu! Campaigning by Viva! and other organisations has now seen wholesaler Makro, House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols all drop this cruel product this Summer. UK outlets are now falling like dominos.

Our targeted local campaigning has already seen many newspapers covering the issue, and has been instrumental in getting restaurants to end the sale of foie-gras – including making Petersfield a foie-gras free zone! This important campaign has attracted national, international and local media (which includes The People, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Telegraph and The Evening Standard) – which is important in educating the public to not buy it.

Targeted media campaigning aims to make foie-gras socially unacceptable in the UK

Christmas 2007 saw Viva! hold one of its national Day of Actions. Hundreds of people took part, with many thousands of postcards sent and there were peaceful protests outside of restaurants and establishments selling this delicacy of despair right across the country. Positive feedback showed that many bowed to consumer pressure and have taken foie-gras off the shelves – for good!  Those that haven’t are finding that ethical consumers are avoiding them like the plague – and thanks to Viva! supporters there’s more ethical consumers out there than ever before.

Our new giant duck mascot Jake (fighting for bird justice everywhere!) took to the streets and made flying protests to places selling foie-gras in Exeter (Michael Caines), Manchester (Selfridges), London (Fortnum & Mason - which dropped duck foie-gras soon after!), as well as petitioning the people of Bath to drop foie-gras. Jake was also present in Bristol when we launched our campaign to persuade the council to follow the leads of York and Bolton by going foie-gras free (find out how you can persuade your council here). The campaign also attracted the celebrity support of West End star Josef Brown (Dirty Dancing), Heather Mills and indie pop stars Jamie and Alan from The Rakes, Tahita from New Young Pony Club, Gareth from Los Campesinos! and Sarah from The Research.

In 2008, our campaign garnered even more support from unlikely bedfellows Prince Charles and London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who were united in their opposition to foie-gras and support for the foie-gras birds! Prince Charles' support made headlines around the world. Viva! patron Wendy-Turner Webster - and her actor husband Gary Webster - also hit the headlines as Wendy petitioned her home council to ban foie-gras. The result was that many places in Staffordshire couldn't get it off the menu quick enough!

We also produced a hard hitting new on-line film The Wonderful World of Gavage, which demolishes the lies and mistruths perpetuated by the industry.

The fight for a foie-gras free Britain goes on! We must continue to produce leaflets and cards for people to show their disgust to hand into local eateries and shops, and it is essential we reach every media outlet to expose this trade for exactly what it is – animal abuse disguised as culture.

To do this we need your help. Please donate to the campaign so that we can print materials and campaign effectively – and help the campaign locally by getting active.

Viva!’s ongoing Ducks Out of Water campaign has seen duck deaths dive by two million in the last few years, but without your continued support we cannot campaign for animals. We have already achieved so much together in the past, so please help in any way you can and ensure we can keep saving lives now and in the future.