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The Seal Hunt - U.S. Consumer Freedom Group Fires Back at Humane Society's Accusations |
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Written by D.L. McCracken
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Wednesday, 29 March 2006 |
On Tuesday HalifaxLive reported on inconsistencies found in the United States Humane Society's (HSUS) list of food establishments who were contributing to the boycott of Canadian seafood, a campaign initiated by the HSUS in 2005 in an effort to end the Canadian annual seal hunt.
A prominent Washington DC-based food industry lobby group however has publically challenged the HSUS claim that over 400 restaurant and seafood businesses have joined the Humane Society's 'ProtectSeals' campaign. The Center for Consumer Freedon (CCF) issued a press release on March 24 with the startling news that their organization had personally contacted at least 87 establishments on the boycott list only to discover that 78 per cent of those contacted stated they were either still selling Canadian seafood or they had never served seafood in the first place.
As reported in yesterday's news article titled, 'U.S. Humane Society Calls Consumer Freedom Group "A Front for The Tobacco Industry"', HSUS spokesperson Kathleen Kessler accused the CCF of having a "history of launching error-ridden and rhetoric-laden attacks against [various] organizations" and called the CCF's method of contacting food establishments on the boycott list, "flawed in multiple ways." Kessler went on to reiterate that all facts reported by the HSUS are accurate and above suspicion which is more than she can say for the CCF.
Center for Consumer Freedom Director of Research David Martosko who was contacted by HalifaxLive late Tuesday, has issued a response addressing the accusations of the Humane Society in the following prepared statement:
"Our survey of HSUS's phony Canadian seafood boycott was thorough and our methodology was sound. HSUS doesn't like the result, but that's what happens when you try to mislead the public and someone catches you in the act. The group's attempt to change the subject is a transparent ploy, and Canadians shouldn't be fooled.
"Regardless of HSUS's constantly evolving claims about its "boycott," only 13 percent of the 87 restaurants and seafood businesses we contacted (from HSUS's published list) indicated that they were participating. HSUS has yet to explain how a restaurant that has never sold Canadian seafood can be said to "boycott" it, or how anything a vegetarian restaurant does can have an impact on seafood exports.
"HSUS's public speculation about the accuracy of our work and the sources of our financial support is irresponsible and designed to draw attention away from the egg on its own face. What's more, the group's claims are simply wrong."
A list of the food establishments who are reported to have joined the HSUS's Canadian seafood boycott can be found here .
The Center for Consumer Freedom's website can be found here .
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