To produce “foie gras” (the French term means “fatty liver”), workers ram pipes down the throats of male ducks twice each day, pumping up to 2.2 pounds of grain and fat into their stomachs, or geese three times a day, up to 4 pounds daily, in a process known as “gavage.”

There are no federal laws or regulations protecting ducks, geese, and other birds from cruelty at slaughter. People around the world have spoken out against the cruelty of foie gras. You can take a stand, too, by choosing never to eat foie gras or any kind of meat.

More than 31 million ducks are killed each year for their flesh. Animals who are meant to swim, play, and forage are deprived of all these natural behaviors when they are crammed by the thousands into dark sheds with only wire, dirt, and feces to stand on.

The ducks used in foie gras production, however, are a hybrid of Pekin (a type of Mallard) and Muscovy ducks, both of which are dabbling ducks and as such, subsist mainly on a diet of underwater vegetation, larvae, and various insects.

For 13 months, between November 2021 and November 2022, PETA Asia investigators visited duck farms and slaughterhouses in Vietnam connected to companies that sell “responsible” down, including GAP Inc. and Guess, exposing unspeakable cruelty to ducks. What they uncovered shows why even purportedly “responsible” down is never ethical or ...

For 13 months, between November 2021 and November 2022, PETA Asia investigators visited duck farms and slaughterhouses in Vietnam connected to dozens of companies that sell “responsible” down, including GAP Inc., Guess, and Target, …

The disturbing cruelty that they uncovered shows why even “responsible” down is never ethical or humane. See the shocking footage for yourself and take action for ducks by urging companies to end their use of down.

Although most down is removed from ducks and geese during slaughter, birds in breeding flocks and those raised for meat and foie gras may endure the trauma of plucking every six weeks before they are eventually killed. But no matter where it comes from, down is a product of cruelty to animals. What You Can Do

PETA's video exposé reveals the suffering and agonizing deaths of ducks at a leading U.S. duck meat producer that also supplies the down industry—help them now!

The use of duck and goose down in fashion and bedding has long symbolized comfort and luxury, but behind this softness lies a grim reality of cruelty and exploitation. This article delves into the ethical concerns surrounding down production, spotlighting the inhumane practices on farms where these birds are raised and plucked.