First of all, who knew Target sold foie gras *anywhere*?

Target has always seemed like a cool company, so I'm not surprised they acted so quickly.

I believe they were also one of the first, if not the first to pull those horrible little one-fish fish tanks from the end cap at the checkout lanes.

Posted by: Tamara | January 2, 2008 04:38 PM

Exciting! I'm glad you're pointing out the 'behind the scenes' work that PETA does.

Posted by: dw | January 2, 2008 04:58 PM

Good for Target! I buy all my Method products at Target. Tamara is right, Target is a cool company!

Posted by: Jaclyn | January 2, 2008 05:20 PM

Good for Target! I'm glad to see that they continue to lead the way when it comes to being the best they can be.

Posted by: Susannah S | January 2, 2008 06:05 PM

wow thats pretty good most companies (walmart)only care about money!

Posted by: rose | January 2, 2008 08:03 PM

"Excellent! First it was Chicago, and now it's Target. I suppose every Target store in the world covers an area bigger than Chicago, so it makes an even bigger difference!"

Posted by: Mystique Makepeace | January 2, 2008 09:52 PM

That's cool. I knew I liked Target for a reason.

Posted by: Elaine Vigneault | January 2, 2008 10:09 PM

I went to Target in Myrtle Beach when I was on my honeymoon (yah, that was not the romantic part!) just so I could buy a ton of Method products!!! They do sell some of it here in Ontario, Canada, but the stores here do not have all of the products I like, and it was WAY cheaper in the US. The laundry detergent is the best ever, and their almond-scented wood polish smells great!

I already loved Target just for the Method products, and now that I heard about their positive response to learning about the cruelty involved in the production of foie gras, I feel even more positive about the company!

Posted by: Michele | January 2, 2008 10:54 PM

This is great news...glad the moved so quickly in the right direction:) I would hate to have to boycott Target for we already boycott Walmart....Michelle what are these method product’s? I am not familiar with the name are they cruelty free products...the reason I ask is we are using the seventh generation products at the moment, and would love an alternative.

Posted by: Dana | January 3, 2008 09:00 AM

Good news! Now if we can only get the fancy restaurants to do the same thing! A french restaurant here in Ojai California is still serving this even though this area is considered to be socially and environmentally conscious.

Posted by: Mary Wargo | January 3, 2008 10:19 AM

Well for one thing how can someone with even half a brain not see that the liver they're selling and or eating is that of a diseased liver. If you had a picture of a duck just compare the two! The diseased liver is soo swollen it almost takes up the whole duck!! I can't imagine the thought process of eating such a thing and along with the pain and suffering that goes with it!! Anyway congats to Target!

Posted by: Carla | January 3, 2008 10:45 AM

This is good news, but, PETA, Target needs to do more. How about the instruments of torture and murder that they sell? They sell weapons and instruments meant specifically for people to go out and commit horrible attacks on weaker beings, and the way these items are presented encourages that this horror is to be considered an enjoyment. How much foie gras did Target actually sell? I don't think it was so much that dropping it took more than a second's thought. But what about the other seriously vile abominations Target is promoting, like going to torture and kill for enjoyment?

Posted by: stoptorture | January 3, 2008 12:00 PM

This is great news, here in Ireland there really isnt very much being done on the Foie Gras issue as much as id like it.

Thankfully in the UK there is alot of campaigns work going on, so we are hoping with enough support we can campaign to stop foie gras going on sale in restaurants, hotels and supermarkets!

Posted by: John Carmody | January 3, 2008 12:11 PM

Dana, Method sells cleaning products, as well as hand and body soaps (liquid and bar). They have a website that can tell you everything they sell, and can show you where they sell them nearest to you. You can also order online. Where I am in Canada the store here (Shopper's Drug Mart) has actually stopped selling the laundry detergent, which has totally unimpressed me, because it is just a great product (and it works for regular or "H.E." machines)! They are still selling the dryer sheets which I love - they smell nice but don't make me keel over like "Bounce" sheets did before I learned all about the companies that do animal testing and stopped buying products from those companies. They have an "O Mop" which is equivalent to a "Swiffer" but the dry cloths are compostable, and you can interchangeably use the wet mopping cloth which I just rinse by hand (and the floor cleaner is the kind you just squirt on the floor and wipe with the mop - no buckets and no rinsing - yay! Method is cruelty free, and the company co-founders actually won PETA's "Persons of the Year" award last year. I find that the cleaning products do a better job than Seventh Generation in general (though I buy SG's dishwasher powder because it is better than any alternatives in the stores near me), but still require some "elbow grease" as compared to chemical-based products like Mr. Clean. Anyway, check out their site, because it shows you all of the ingredients and will explain their philosophy. This probably sounds like an ad for their company - I promise that I don't actually work for them! LOL

Posted by: Michele | January 3, 2008 12:21 PM

Whoa, that's amazing! Good job, PETA!

Posted by: K | January 3, 2008 01:14 PM

What great news!

Posted by: V. Soto | January 3, 2008 02:18 PM

Thank you Michelle:) It never hurts to promote products that you like that are cruelty free...this company may want to look into giving you a job though lol

I have the same trouble I will not buy half of the products I use to that I loved so much, because of their testing on animals maybe one day they will figure out that you do not kill people dead if your product is not tested on animals. Its like Avon I buy all my make up from them, and never have heard of anyone dropping over or their face falling off, because the make up was not tested on animals....I am very big smell person I love stuff that smells great right before I switched everything over to cruelty free products Tide, and Downey had just come out with a laundry detergent, and dryer sheets that I absolutely loved....but now I will not buy them. I will have to try these products guess I just never paid much attention to them before seems I am a creature of habit which is not always good...once I found a product that was not tested on animals I just started buying it not looking around at other things. Thank you very much for giving me all this info...

Posted by: Dana | January 3, 2008 02:44 PM

IT'S GOOD THAT TARGET QUIT SELLLING THOSE HORRIBLE ITEMS, BUT IT IS STILL SELLING A LOT OF LEATHER, I WAS LOOKING FOR A WALLET FOR MY SON AND WE ONLY FOUND GENUINE LEATHER WALLETS

Posted by: liliana | January 3, 2008 03:00 PM

How dare you Ingrid.
You were someone I use to have more respect for than any other Animal Activist I had ever met, or read about.
You truly did break my heart along with many animals.
You talk about Target, well I will never shop there again, period.
But let's talk about AMAZON.com.
As many here know I stopped shopping at Amazon when PETA sent out an alert a few years ago that they were selling animal fighting magazines, which they still are.
They also sell more "FOIE GRAS" than any site I have researched, and you knew this.
But as many people know, that is where you are selling your DVD "I am an Animal".
I raved about your DVD that I watched on HBO.
How much money did Amazon wave under your nose for your silence?
Must have been a pretty penny.
You are the worst kind of hypocrite, one with no ethics or integrity.
You disgust me as you have many other people that once had so much respect for you.
But you have sold your soul for the almighty dollar.
Shame on you.

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 3, 2008 03:19 PM

Target sells Glue Traps. I have been after my local store for months to get them to pull the glue traps from their shelves... but they down right refuse! Pretty much, it all boils down to, "we don't give a *%^-T!" Target is just Walmart with a fancier paint job!

Posted by: Jim | January 3, 2008 04:33 PM

"Genuine" Leather is a glamour-fide word meaning "fake"! When the inside or backing is sewn with fabric and it's not suede it's vinyle!

Posted by: Carla | January 3, 2008 04:55 PM

Whoa, Judith, I think that attack on Ingrid went a little far. Could it be that Ingrid decided to sell on Amazon.com for a greater good? So that more people will hear about PETA and its work? In the discussion about Senator Byrd yesterday (who I was having a hissy fit over, but finally decided that I still respect him for all the good he's done for animals - even if he needs to change on the subject of mountain-top removal) Jack said: "no one is 100%" and that's true. But I would guess Ingrid's motives are better than just surrendering to the almighty buck. I often agree with your posts, but not on this one. Ingrid is no sell-out, and I feel sure that she had good reason to sell on Amazon.com. If nothing else, she represents the ALTERNATIVE to fois gras!

Posted by: Susannah S | January 3, 2008 05:54 PM

Susannah,
We can agree to disagree.
But I stand by my post.
No one is going to tell me to do one thing and have them turn around and do something entirely different, for they are not above me.
It is such a lack of truth and integrity and
I so very much dislike untruths.
We have enough of that in this world as it is.
Ingrid is suppose to stand for something called the greater good.
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 3, 2008 07:31 PM

Susannah,
By the way, Much of the Foie Gras on Amazon.com, comes from none other than "HUDSON VALLEY" from New York.
What a surprise.....
Peace!!!!!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 3, 2008 08:46 PM

Judith I can see where you would get upset for yes most of us boycott Amazon for the very reason they are supporting dog fighting indirectly by allowing these magazines to be purchased through their site...but after many letters they still continue to do so...and I don’t think they will be as easily moved as Target on the Foie Gras. I do however think that sometimes when no results are being made you have to display good where there is evil...You can not let Amazon be a place where only animal abuse tools can be purchased, but no animal rights things can be found. You will also find many books written by animal rights advocates on that site as well and to me this is needed. If they are going to continue to sale dog fighting magazines which are a limited amount then more people need to make animal rights tools available so that hopefully they will over shadow some of the wrong doing. Maybe just maybe someone considering purchasing a magazine for dog fighting will run across this video........just for kicks, and giggles order it...then after watching it change their views completely...you never know miracles happen every day!

I realize your mind is pretty much made up on this issue...but it never hurts to see both sides before completely turning against a group that you obviously in the past had great respect for..

Posted by: Dana | January 4, 2008 11:14 AM

Jim,
I agree with you glue traps are one of the most awful creations ever made, but I took Michelle’s advice last night I went to the target found a wide variety of these method products that I had seen several times just looked over...and I think they are great. The earth friendly, animal free method products could be found in almost every section of the store so therefore they out number the glue traps. Even though each of us would love for the whole world to be on board with our way of thinking it just is not the reality...Stores find themselves doing things that they may not like or agree with, but do for it is the popular demand. This movement is slowly, but surely inching its way in, but one can not expect it to take over in a day. It is the same with Whole foods I love this place, and the founder John Mackey is a vegetarian, but the reality of the situation is vegetarians/vegans only make up a small percentage of his customer base so in order to stay afloat he offers meat products in the store of course he works really hard to make sure his meat products are as cruelty free as possible, but we all know there really is no way to make death humane. As of now the list of ARA’s, vegetarians, vegans is growing, and this is great news, but still the vast majority of America is still eating meat most are becoming more aware of the animal abuse contributed to the meat they eat so they are requesting “free range” dairy, and meat this is at least a step in the right direction even though most are not aware that Free range means nothing, and just as much abuse is given to this label as any other. But their consciences are starting to become aware.....and that is a start. Americans are not going to just wake up one day, and drop their meat habits it takes time...just like stores are going to continue to sale glue traps, and meat up until the time only a few people are requesting these products. There will always be something in a store that is sold that goes against our convictions for right now we are not the majority! Target I do feel is trying to take steps in the right directions...the same certainly can not be said of Wal-Mart.......It is all about baby steps I am just glad these companies are now starting to cater to our way of life!

Posted by: Dana | January 4, 2008 12:35 PM

Judith:
I am well aware that much of the fois gras consumed in this country comes from the Hudson Valley. I guess that was supposed to be a dig at me? Well, I DON'T come from the Hudson Valley, originally, but I have been fighting that cause for quite a while, thank you. You can choose to feel holier-than-thou if you want to, but I was just disagreeing with you, not challenging you to a whose-the-better-vegan duel. You claim to be Buddhist. I'm not,but I've practiced Buddhist forms of meditation for the past 40 years and I know that one Buddhist injunction is to judge no one. Also, you sign yourself "freedom fighter", but, apparently, no one has the freedom to disagree with you. Ingrid has done more for animals than most people even think of in one lifetime, and I have nothing but respect for her, even if I do, occasionally, disagree with her. If she sells on Amazon.com, there's a reason for it, and I stand by MY post, too! And just for the record, I have been a "freedom fighter" since I've been 15 years old. I'm now 65 and I could tell you tales that would make your head spin, so don't go there with me. You're often right in the things you have to say, but in this instance, you're acting like a baby whose role models have to be perfect. Good luck on that one!

Posted by: Susannah S | January 4, 2008 12:38 PM

Hi Michele

I went yesterday to my local Key Food ( grocery store)and stocked up on Method products. I did as you suggested and went online to see their site and was pleased with their philosophy and with the ingredients of their products. How convenient for me to be able to buy their products just 3 blocks away from me!!! Thanks for the tip/info!

Posted by: Ana | January 4, 2008 12:38 PM

Judith: by the way, if this IS a who's-the-better-vegan thing, I'm sure YOU are. I've only been vegan since April and I'm a relative newcomer to animal rights. I'm just no stranger to "freedom fighting" and hope I can live my life in that effort for all beings. I just hope you'll reconsider your position about Ingrid and PETA.

Posted by: Susannah S | January 4, 2008 01:27 PM

Target actually isn't that great latley.
They're holding a rodeo in the target center, and I did write a letter to them, I doubt it's going to get read.

Posted by: Anna | January 4, 2008 03:55 PM

Susannah,
You need to re-read my posts,
you are confused.
The better Vegan?????
Hudson Valley, like you live there???????
Better freedom fighter???????
Please re-read.
Another thing I said is that
we can agree to disagree.....
I am 56 and far from being a kid and worked with many animal welfare groups but that is not what this is about.
But I also stand for truth and integrity.
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 4, 2008 05:04 PM

BTW, speaking of products and testing...does anyone know anything about Tresemme hair care products? The bottles say they don't test on animals, but I can't find them or their parent company, Alberto-Culver, on either "Caring Consumer" list. I've emailed them and await a response.

Posted by: BullyDawg | January 4, 2008 05:05 PM

Hey, I should be getting a commission or something, with all of the people who are now buying method products because of my comments! LOL

I am glad that you gals/guys are able to find these products so easily. If I'm still having trouble finding the laundry detergent, I might just have to do some more cross-border shopping, just to get myself a case - and I live an hour away from the border!

I am also glad that companies are listening to their customers, and are realizing that they have to change their way of thinking - obviously Target is not perfect, but they are obviously going in the right direction.

With things like foie gras, I think it is really important to talk to people and educate them. I had a letter published in my local paper about foie gras, at the time that Chicago had just voted to ban its sale, and when my mother was showing it off to her friends (yes, I would do the same if my son got a letter in the paper :)) they couldn't believe that foie gras was produced that way. They just had no idea, and were horrified when they realized what really goes on.

Judith and Susannah, both of you have made valuable contributions to the PETAfiles over the past several months, and I hope you can find a way to make peace.

I understand what you are saying Judith about the Amazon.com issue, but I think Dana makes a lot of sense when she talks about ensuring that books about animal rights get seen by a large audience. The more people there are that are exposed to these materials, the more opportunities there are to educate people about the plight of the animals. And at the same time, the animal rights folks can continue to write to Amazon.com about their concerns with them selling foie gras.

I guess I see it this way: my local grocery store has a section called "Natural Value" that is for organic foods/products in general. This is where I find almost all of my shampoos, moisturizers, etc, because they are the ones that are not tested on animals and have no animal ingredients (now if THIS store would only start selling Method, then I would be over the moon!). They sell a lot of food products under a brand called "Organics", like cookies, tea, chickpeas, popcorn, etc. Many of these products are now on the "regular" shelves as well - they are all vegetarian items, but many are also vegan. Also, I used to find Tofutti's "Better Than Cream Cheese" and "Sour Supreme" in the Natural Value section, but now it's in the main refrigerated section of the store, along with the cream cheese and sour cream. And the variety of products available in the Natural Value section has grown significantly over the past couple of years. Obviously the grocery store is changing to meet the demand for these products, but just like Whole Foods, they are still selling meat for the customers who want that. I continue to buy my groceries there anyway, but I am "voting" with my money by spending it on the vegan products, and not on those products that involve animal suffering in any form.

Anyway, I am sure most of us animal rights people on this blog would never agree 100% on all animal rights issues, but let's keep working together for our fellow earthlings.

Posted by: Michele | January 4, 2008 05:39 PM

Judith: Yes, I do live in the Hudson Valley region, so perhaps I did misunderstand your reference there. If so, I apologize. Peace to you, too.

Posted by: Susannah S | January 4, 2008 10:42 PM

Judith, what kind of 'truth' is it you stand for exactly? You aren't very true to your so-called Buddhism, in my opinion. Ingrid Newkirk has done more for animals than just about anybody, and if she's chosen to continue to use amazon.com she's doing it for a good reason, so get off her case and GO AWAY if you don't like peta anymore. I've always thought you and your nasty remarks made you the biggest hypocrite of all. If you're going to preach about kindness and respect, you might want to show a little.

Posted by: elphaba | January 4, 2008 10:50 PM

FRESHDIRECT.COM is next! They sell foie gras and I've written them numerous times asking them to remove it, but they continue. PETA, please encourage FRESHDIRECT.COM to stop selling nasty foie gras.

Posted by: stacy0829 | January 5, 2008 04:44 AM

Great post Michelle:) The great thing about this is no we will not 100% agree all the time, but by not always thinking the same way we sometimes create new solutions to problems.

I am lucky our local Publix sales so much of the stuff we need the tofurkey, toffutti, and they even have their own brands of soy milk...(they are not as good as silk though) now if they would only start selling vegan cheese....we also have stores such as whole foods, and earth fare within a 10 minute drive. Target here does sale the method laundry detergent, and fabric softner which by the way I LOVE:)

I still cannot thank you enough for bringing up this product...and yes the are going to have to give you a commission for it looks at if you generated many extra sales for them. It is a very good sign that stores outside of specialty stores are starting to sale these products for it means the demand is rising...people are becoming more aware of senseless animal testing..I think the soy products, and meatless brands such a Boca a popping up in grocery stores for the reasons of people becoming more aware of health issues contributed with meat or dairy therefore more demand more access to products...less animal suffering it is a win win situation!!!

Posted by: Dana | January 5, 2008 08:36 AM

Michele,
Once again, thank you for bringing me back to earth again.

Dana, thank you, your post was right on and so much food for thought.

Susannah,
I would never attack you, not a chance, you are fighting the good fight.
This is not the first time I have vented at Ingrid.
I enjoy your posts so much.

Elphaba,
I do not believe you have read too many of my posts, if you had you would have read that I shall always consider Ingrid, as one of the 8th wonders in my world.
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 5, 2008 12:29 PM

Judith,
Sadly, I've followed the PETA Files for quite some time, read many of your posts, and stand my my comment: you are the type of angry hater that wastes energy being negative. In the process, you also make other animal rights activists look bad. Thanks a lot.
p.s. Think of what you could accomplish if you took the time you spent raging on this blog and actually used it to help animals!

Posted by: elphaba | January 5, 2008 01:41 PM

Any and all victories against
the Foie Gras industry, are a
cause for celebration. This
gruesome practice is slowly
but surely being phased out,
and people are opening their
eyes, and realizing the horrors that the geese and ducks go through. Here's to
a kinder, gentler, and more
compassionate future in every
aspect of the animals' pain and suffering. To this end,
we are all in this together,
although we all have our differences of opinion and
viewpoint on the issues.

Posted by: Pamela L. | January 5, 2008 01:43 PM

Bravo to PETA and Target! Guess we all should go online to see what companies are selling and act accordingly! We're proud of you, PETA, and support you and your efforts 100%!!

Posted by: Dave and Rita Cross | January 5, 2008 06:51 PM

If Carla is correct, I just learned something new - if something says "genuine leather" does that really mean it's fake? I never knew that. Also, if I'm buying shoes, purses etc. I can never really tell if it's leather or not so unless I see something saying it's all man-made or a description of the material in question, I don't buy it for fear it's leather. There's often patches on the back of jeans and no description of whether it's leather or not and I've contacted companies about this and sometimes they don't even know for sure. Any other tips for telling if something isn't real leather? Maybe I need to look at a different place on the website, but thought I'd ask since this issue was brought up. Thanks!

Posted by: marie | January 6, 2008 01:03 PM

Judith may get angry sometimes but that is because she is so passionate about animal liberation. First one feels anger and then that anger turns into positive action for animals. The violence and cruelty animals endure at the hands of humans makes anyone with a compassionate heart become both angry and sad.

ARA's may disagree occasionally, but we all agree that we are fighting the good fight and that we are learning from one another.
Cheers to all of us!

Posted by: Ana | January 6, 2008 04:50 PM

What is wrong with you people?!?! foie gras is one of the most refined products ever made!!

Posted by: audrey | January 7, 2008 09:54 AM

Thank You Ana.
We shall continue to fight the good fight.
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 7, 2008 12:27 PM

I heard back from Alberto-Culver, parent company for Tresemme, re: animal testing. Here's what they said:

"Thank you for your enquiry regarding animal testing. We appreciate your concern and are glad of the opportunity to express our views on this matter.

We assure you that none of our current products are tested on animals. Neither have we contracted with third parties to conduct such tests on our behalf, nor have we instigated such testing on raw materials used in our products.

It is our policy to support alternative methods of testing, indeed such is our belief in this that we contribute significantly to the Johns Hopkins University in the United States of America who are leaders in this field. If confirmation of product safety is required, then we would consider, and in fact have used on occasion, testing on human volunteers.

We hope you find this helpful in showing that not only are we dedicated to providing all our consumers with the quality products for which we are renowned, but this is accomplished without the animal tests that are of concern to you and us.

Sincerely,

Karen Stewart
Consumer Relations Representative"

Okay, so y'all are more up to date on who's who and what's what, so I HOPE this is a good thing!

Posted by: BullyDawg | January 7, 2008 02:44 PM

audrey: what would you say if i would make a refined product out of you - brainstroken gown!

Posted by: Old Spiderwoman | January 7, 2008 05:30 PM

That IS good news that Target stopped selling foie gras. And, beyond the involved discussion above which began with a mention of Amazon.com, are people boycotting Amazon.com because of its sale of foie gras? I tried several times to phone and email Amazon about this, and got inane answers like "we try to offer the widest possible selection of products for our customers, sorry for any inconvenience, and thank you for calling." No acknowledgement that foie gras is blatant cruelty to animals and that the issue is an ethical one, not a matter of "convenience"! Please email Amazon or call them 1-866-216-1072.

Posted by: claire holzner | January 7, 2008 08:12 PM

Audrey, let's see how you feel after you have had a tube shoved down your throat several times per day, to be force fed, to the point that your liver becomes swollen and diseased... Oh, and then you're killed for someone to eat you.

Yum, sounds REALLY delicious (sarcasm). If that's your definition of a "refined" food, then I would rather be considered unrefined. It is just not cool.

Posted by: Michele | January 7, 2008 08:28 PM

To Judith: Many thanks for your post above. I agree with Ana that you get so upset because you're so passionate about animal rights, and I am proud to stand with you, and the other ARA's here. I think passion is sorely missing in the world today, and yours is always in the right place, and deeply felt. I enjoy your posts, too, and look forward to reading them. We are all in this together,and I hope and pray that we will succeed in achieving a good, peaceful life and freedom for all beings. For the animals!

Posted by: Susannah S | January 8, 2008 09:43 AM

Audrey,

Somebody could serve you a diseased organ and say it's a delicacy, and you would believe them? Please don't be so gullible.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | January 9, 2008 01:06 PM

Susannah,
Thank you so much.
Your post means everything.
As Ana says, we shall continue fighting the good fight, for the greater good.
Peace!

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 9, 2008 03:28 PM

I missed you OLD SPIDERWOMAN.

Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter for Animals | January 15, 2008 01:10 AM