Posted on 06/16/2006 12:26:34 PM PDT by Fractal Trader
Customers craving fresh crustaceans will have to look beyond Whole Foods Market Inc. after the natural-foods grocery chain decided Thursday to stop selling live lobsters and crabs on the grounds that it's inhumane.
The Austin-based grocer, which has stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, spent seven months studying the sale of live lobsters from ship to supermarket aisle, trying to determine whether the creatures suffer along the way.
In some stores, they experimented with "lobster condos," filling tanks with stacks of large pipes the critters can crawl inside. And they moved the tanks behind seafood counters and away from children's tapping fingers.
Ultimately, Whole Foods management decided to immediately stop selling live lobsters and soft-shell crabs, saying they could not ensure the creatures are treated with respect and compassion.
"We place as much emphasis on the importance of humane treatment and quality of life for all animals as we do on the expectations for quality and flavor," John Mackey, Whole Foods' co-founder and chief executive, said in a statement.
Animal rights activities were thrilled with the decision, not just because of the way lobsters are harvested, shipped and stored but because of the fate that awaits many of them -- being dropped alive into a pot of boiling water.
"The ways that lobsters are treated would warrant felony cruelty to animals charges if they were dogs or cats," said Bruce Friedrich, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
In making its decision, Whole Foods pointed to a November report from the European Food Safety Authority Animal Health and Welfare panel that it said concluded all decapod crustaceans, including lobsters and crabs, appear to have some degree of awareness, feel pain and can learn.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
I promise to shroud it beautifully in my champagne/butter reduction, and give it a dignified burial, in my stomach.
LOL. So, what's next? We cannot sell tomato products, as they have been mercilessly ripped from the vine.
All of God's creatures ahve a place in this world. On a plate next to the fries and the corn on the cob.
lol, wonder if you boiled them in holy water it would qualify as compassion?
Whole Foods would probably charge $50 a pound for lobster anyway.
This is IDIOTIC.
OY. Do you know how much dead chopped up animal they are selling in that store, fresh, frozen, and otherwise? They'll just kill the lobsters sooner and sell them frozen or on ice.
"...stop selling live lobsters and crabs on the grounds that it's inhumane."
Oh Lord save us.
Yes.... so much more humane to just boil them before selling them.
sigh.
Whole Foods is so expensive that I banned them after walking through the store once.
Poop. Respect must be earned and their compassion is misplaced. Boobs.
Wow. I had no idea those dozens of crabs we caught last weekend were treated "inhumanely" due to the bumpy boat ride they had to endure to get back to our house and their appointment with the boiling water pot.
That's too funny.
I have been to the whole foods here in austin and it is all what they say it is: a bunch of animal loving activists who support PETA. you must remember that Austin, though how grand it is, is still a liberal town.
"Help me, HELP ME, I'm DRYING UP. WATER!!! W-A-T-E-R ! ! ! ! ! "
If someone's worried about putting them in a pot of boiling water take a little piece of paper towel, soak it in vodka (or whatever) and put it over it's face. It "falls out" in about 3 seconds.
"The ways that lobsters are treated would warrant felony cruelty to animals charges if they were dogs or cats," said Bruce Friedrich, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
If you find yourself getting out of your car to help turtles and ducks cross the street, get back in your car and start volunteering your time to some PEOPLE that need help like sick or parentless kids.
The kooks who are stopping lobsters from living in an aerated fish tank are the same ones who say they would swerve to kill a baby in order to avoid hitting a snake (PETA's president, I believe?)
Who me worry? I have to worries when I step on a cockroach and see the lobster as his cousin who lives down at the shore.
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