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"Hamburger" made from whale meat is among the many products animal rights groups say Amazon.com unethically sells on its Japanese site. (Image courtesy Amazon.jp)

Animal rights groups protest Amazon sales of whale bacon, endangered species meat

BY Josh Kerns  on February 21, 2012 @ 4:31 pm (Updated: 6:25 pm - 2/21/12 )

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Animal rights activists have launched a new campaign after discovering the Seattle-based Amazon.com sells a variety of products made from whale meat on its Japanese website including bacon and jerky.

More than 145 food products derived from whales, dolphins and porpoises are for sale on Amazon Japan, according to a new report by the non-profit British-based Environmental Investigation Agency.

"Amazon.com has a clear policy of banning trade in endangered and threatened species but is turning a blind eye to commercial trade in whale products from endangered and threatened whales on its Japanese website," said Allan Thornton, president of the Environmental Investigation Agency in a statement.

The group said that in 2011 its investigators purchased a number of whale products from Amazon Japan, including canned whale meat, whale jerky, whale bacon and whale stew, some from endangered species. Many of the products were found to be contaminated with toxic mercury at levels, far higher than Japan's allowable limit, according to the report published in partnership with the Humane Society International.

The group is calling on Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos to personally intercede and stop selling the products. But Thornton said the company has not responded to numerous requests for action or comment.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (14)


  • Add A Comment

  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    But what if
    February 21, 2012 10:51 pm
    If it was "Farm Raised, Organic Whale Meat" would it be OK?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    @Rangerhawk
    February 22, 2012 4:06 am
    It's free range whale.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    This is
    February 21, 2012 11:06 pm
    NOT Japan. The "animal rights activists" can mind their own freakin business.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rjoshi wrote...
    What to Do About Whales?
    February 22, 2012 1:19 am
    This article reminds me of a documentary "What to Do About Whales?" talks about the selling of whale meat in open market. Documentary skillfully enters the international debate over the future of the world’s whales. To watch the documentary please visit - http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/7084
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    Just Watched the Documentary
    February 22, 2012 5:05 am
    It's very good.

    Having been to Iceland, eaten whale meat, and talked to the locals about it, many do consider it much like eating beef (it sure tastes a lot like it).

    One thing I cannot come to grips with is the kill. It is so far from what hunters would call a humane kill in America. The whale when harpooned is not killed immediately, but is just crippled with a mortal wound as an attempt to weaken it. It is not dispatched until it it hauled up next to the hunting vessel....a tediously slow process It is something like harpooning a deer and hauling it to a bus to be killed with the coup de gras.

    Those that use the thin veil of "science" to justify their commercial whaling activities should grow a pair and state what they are doing....commercial whaling.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Burn_Notice wrote...
    Yummy!!!
    February 22, 2012 4:49 am
    Whale Bacon and Baby Seal Sausage with a side of Snow Owl egg scramble.. I call it the PETA Grand Slam breakfast. Mmmmmmmmm.... drool.. drool...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Thumbs up.
    February 22, 2012 12:04 pm
    Like!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    @Burn_Notice
    February 23, 2012 12:28 am
    Yummm... I like it! I'll order one...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    whale
    February 22, 2012 5:45 am
    it's what's for dinner
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    I don't get it
    February 22, 2012 6:10 am
    Is it because whales are fairly intelligent that you can't eat them?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jpetro wrote...
    If you don't
    February 22, 2012 9:12 am
    like it don't order it...quit blubbering
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    jpetro
    February 22, 2012 12:24 pm
    Good one! Way to stick it to these blowholes!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    PETA Grand Slam
    February 22, 2012 1:05 pm
    I love it and I love the way the Japanese Whalers operate, in spite of the Sea Shepherd animal rights wackos. SO answer me this, PETA, if meat is murder and inhumane, then what's so humane about a wolf pack pulling down a calf elk in the snow, ripping out it's innards while it's still alive and feasting on it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    And I quote:
    February 22, 2012 8:28 pm
    "...Many of the products were found to be contaminated with toxic mercury at levels, far higher than Japan's allowable limit, according to the report published in partnership with the Humane Society International."

    I guess if you can't win the debate........ just lie......

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }