# Animal Outlook Footage Circulates as DC and Denver Voters Weigh Foie Gras Bans

> Animal Outlook footage of force-feeding circulates as Washington, DC and Denver voters weigh ballot measures banning the sale of force-fed foie gras.

- Published: 2026-10-24T00:57:47+00:00
- Section: Regulation & Approvals
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-24/animal-outlook-foie-gras-ballot-measures
- Source: [EIN Presswire](https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/950807301/dc-and-denver-voters-weigh-foie-gras-measures-as-animal-outlook-footage-circulates)

## Key takeaways

- Initiative 86 in Washington, DC and Initiated Ordinance 311 in Denver would each prohibit the sale of foie gras produced by force-feeding, effective July 1, 2027.
- DC's Board of Elections certified Initiative 86 on August 5 after verifying 31,726 signatures, above the 28,728 required.
- Animal Outlook has worked on undercover investigations, legal advocacy and corporate reform since 1995.

Washington, DC and Denver voters are weighing ballot measures that would prohibit the sale of foie gras produced by force-feeding, with early voting in DC opening October 26 and Election Day in both cities on November 3. [EIN Presswire](https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/950807301/dc-and-denver-voters-weigh-foie-gras-measures-as-animal-outlook-footage-circulates) reported the measures and the Animal Outlook footage.

## Animal Outlook Footage From a Minnesota Farm

Animal Outlook said its footage from a small Minnesota farm shows ducks housed in a barn with wire flooring for the final two weeks of their lives and fed twice a day through a metal tube inserted into the esophagus, a process known as gavage. During feeding, each duck is held by the wing or head while feed is delivered through the tube, and ducks move to the far end of the pen as the farmer approaches, according to Animal Outlook. The organization said some ducks are panting, one is unable to stand, and one is dead, and that when asked, the farmer said he did not know the cause of death.

"Small producers have said for years that force-feeding can be done humanely. We filmed a small farm doing it, and what we saw is the same procedure used everywhere else: a metal tube down the throat of every bird, twice a day, to enlarge the liver. In our view there is no humane version of this practice," said Ben Williamson, Executive Director of Animal Outlook.

Initiative 86, the Prohibiting the Force-Feeding of Birds Act of 2026, and Denver's Initiated Ordinance 311 would each prohibit the sale of foie gras produced by force-feeding, effective July 1, 2027. In Washington, DC, 198 volunteer circulators collected 46,020 signatures, and the DC Board of Elections certified the measure for the ballot on August 5 after verifying 31,726 of them, above the 28,728 required. In Denver, 84 volunteers collected more than 16,000 signatures, and the Denver Elections Division verified more than 11,000.

"Voters in both cities now have the measures and the footage in front of them. Our role is to make sure they know what force-feeding involves before they fill in their ballots. Hundreds of volunteers placed these measures on the ballot, and local restaurants, veterinarians and officials have endorsed them," said Eva Hamer, Executive Director of [Pro-Animal Future](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00umcux/pro-animal-future).

## Animal Outlook's Investigation Record

[Animal Outlook](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/003vlqa/animal-outlook) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal advocacy organization founded in 1995 that runs undercover investigations, legal advocacy and farm transition programs, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records list Ben Williamson as Executive Director and Scott David as Director of Investigations, with a headcount range of 11-50 and a revenue estimate of $1 million-$5 million.

The records also describe a multi-year Manning Beef campaign that culminated in the permanent closure of the slaughterhouse after the Pico Rivera Planning Commission unanimously revoked planning permission, and an undercover investigation that exposed systematic cruelty across 99 Ranch Market locations in six states. 99 Ranch Market operates 54 stores across 10 states, the same records state.

## Voting Dates in DC and Denver

In DC, early voting runs October 26 to November 1, and same-day registration is available during early voting and on Election Day. In Denver, 24-hour drop boxes are open through 7 p.m. on Election Day, and voter service and polling centers are open in phases through November 3. Election Day in both cities is November 3.

## Companies in this story

- [Animal Outlook company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/003vlqa/animal-outlook) · website: https://animaloutlook.org
- [Pro-Animal Future company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/00umcux/pro-animal-future) · website: https://proanimal.org

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