Criterion Ethical Down Policy - No to Live Plucking and Foie Gras
In recent years a number of questions have been raised in relation to the collection of ethical down. Primarily concerning live plucking and force feeding for the production of foie gras.
Criterion does not use down from geese which have been force fed or live-plucked. We source down from Poland where both practices are illegal. We only use Polish goose down which we believe is to be amongst the best quality available due to the long history of breeding geese, the climate and academic research.
Our down is sourced from one of the largest meat suppliers in Poland. All of down and feathers from this company are a by-product of the food industry. The farms linked to our supplier only sell to them which ensures a fully traceable and auditable chain of production. Typically geese tend to come from smaller family farms with flocks which range in size between 3000 and 6000 geese. The geese are bred in natural conditions with access to pasture, water and natural nutrition. This ensures living standards which are protected by the “Five Freedoms” within European law (European Union Directive – 95/58/EC). These freedoms being that farmed animals should have;
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
- Freedom from fear and distress
Our supplier is audited, accredited and registered with DOWNPASS, an industry organisation (much like RDS) which ethically audits all stages of the down process from the bird’s hatching to its eventual humane slaughter. DOWNPASS auditing allows us to be certain that no down in our products comes from birds which have been live-plucked, force-fed or have down gathered during natural moulting. As well as DOWNPASS accreditation our supplier is registered with the International Down and Feather Bureau and Polish Federation of Down & Feather Exporters.
