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Minister calls on diners to boycott foie gras
Last updated at 10:19am on 06.02.07
Boycott call: Ben Bradshaw
Government minister Ben Bradshaw today risked sparking a cross-Channel row by calling for a boycott of foie gras.
The environment and animal welfare minister is coming under pressure from animal welfare groups and some MPs to ban the import and sale of the delicacy in Britain.
Although stopping short of banning it, he risked angering French chefs by signalling his support for a boycott.
He told MPs: "We do believe that the production of foie gras using force-feeding gives rise to serious welfare concerns.
"The most effective action is for individuals not to buy foie gras if they dislike the way it is produced."
Foie gras, one of the greatest delicacies in French cuisine, remains controversial because of its production methods.
Geese or ducks are force-fed with grain for up to a month before they are slaughtered for their swollen livers.
Production has already been outlawed in the UK, Germany, the Czech Republic, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and Israel.
Mr Bradshaw said it would be illegal to ban its import under EU laws. Chicago last year became the first major city to ban foie gras and, in Britain, councillors in York considered outlawing it last month. They opted to refer the matter to officials to report on whether such a ban would be legal.
But Mr Bradshaw's call for a boycott was met with froideur by French restaurateurs in London.
Valerie O'Reilly, manager of London's oldest French restaurant Mon Plaisir, in Covent Garden, said: "I can understand why the government minister is calling for a boycott on foie gras but from our point of view it would be a travesty.
"It is one of the most famous French delicacies and it is simply delicious. We have nothing on the menu which exceeds the demand of the foie gras."
Silvano Giraldin from Le Gavroche said: "For the moment we carry on using it but it is a limited product which is exactly why it is so exclusive."
The minister also faced criticism from Tory MPs.
Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Derek Conway said: "He is perfectly entitled to his view as an individual and it's one many people will share.
"But I don't think it is right for the Government to take a view on this matter."
Reader views (24)
I've just been reading the comments back and although it's reassuring to see some people are really concerned, it's also really upsetting that quite a few really don't care what cruelty is inflicted on an animal just so long as their tastebuds are satisfied and their freedom remains in tact. Personally, I think this is the wrong forum to be talking about freedom when the subject matter is kept incarcerate for the whole of it's short miserable life.
- Amy, London
I love foie gras, I don't need my conscience decisions made for me.
- Emily, UK
Steve - I don't think that foie gras should be banned necessarily.
The best thing we can do is continue to boycott the product and embarass those who still decide to eat it. If you think it's ok, then that's your call. You're in the minority, and with any luck, that's how you'll stay.
- J.W., Vauxhall
JW states that... "From an ethical perspective, this argument is easy to win"... while conveniently shaping the argument to his convenience.
From my (different) perspective, I see the ethical argument being based on those who believe in freedom, and freedom of choice, against those who seemingly spend all their time supressing those freedoms.
- Steve R, London, UK
Well summarised JW. Cruelty to animals is unacceptable (even if you're planning on eating said animal) and should be illegal - I'm surprised the European courts haven't already banned this practice. The only way to really stop this cruel and revolting tradition is to vote with our wallets. Happily Foie Gras isn't a staple diet in either England or France and most people live life without it being an essential part of their diet. However, those that want to eat it and therefore condone the cruelty should go ahead whilst it is still a legal practice. Everyone has a freedom to choose, whether you or I agree with them. But I think what is irritating most people is the fact that the govt minister wants to take away this freedom of choice.
- Isabel, Woking, England
The comments here highlight two main arguments.
On one side, there are the foie gras antagonists, who feel that it is their right as a consumer in a free-market economy to purchase the product. They are higher in the 'food chain' than geese, and are therefore perfectly entitled to hold dominion over them, inflicting any pain or suffering necessary in the name of 'good food'.
On the other, we have the foie gras protagonists, who do not feel that we have the right to inflict such an ordeal on another creature.
The latter gets my vote. From an ethical perspective, this argument is easy to win. We simply need to consider the welfare of the geese in question. The process of placing a funnel down a goose's throat and shoveling vast amounts of seed into their stomach is, quite frankly, cruel - this cannot be denied. Would you be happy to see the same done to a cat or a dog in the name of haut cuisine? I think I can guess the answer to this. It's a sad reflection of society if we allow this barbaric and outdated practice to continue.
Yes, there are, arguably, 'bigger' issues (climate change or terrorism to name just two), but this is a poor reason to ignore it. We, as moral citizens, should vote with our wallets, and show foie gras producers that their product is no longer wanted.
- J. W., Vauxhall
Arguments against Mr Bradshaw's call for a boycott on foie gras often emphasise the fact that what we eat or don't eat should be our decision, not the government's - which might be OK if people gave more thought to what they eat. I do wonder how much (or in this case how little) many so-called gourmets know about foie gras production.
Some of us French people are actually ashamed of this tradition, and more specifically of the way it has become industrialised to excess. A slice of diseased liver? Not for me, thanks!
- Helene, London, UK
Why can't he mind his own business? Foie gras is one of the ever-decreasing legal pleasures that his Government's allowing us to enjoy, why shouldn't we? It's one of the most delicious foods imaginable.
- James, London UK
I am French but the best foie gras I've ever eaten was in a London top restaurant.
- Pascal, North Yorkshire
"Animals, my dear, were put on this planet to eat. Not play with." comments like that make me so proud to be part of the human race! Meatlover in London - don't polarise the argument by talking about 'playing' with animals, this article is about foie gras and therefore animal cruelty. I don't think anyone denies we're head of the food chain, but that does not give us the right to subject animals to a torturous life just so a few of the more uneducated among us can spread 'diseased goose liver' on our toast.
- Amy, London
Meatlover, I'm not convinced that stupidity has anything to do with it, but it's fun to reflect on your chances of surviving an encounter with some hungry lions. In any case, the fact that lions would probably not attach you to a tube and force feed you grain for weeks before eating you kind of undermines your point about this being the natural order of things.
- Peter Blapps, London
Meatlover, carry on eating meat by all means, please do. I am not telling you what to eat or not what to eat. But dont torture animals before. A lion who might get you one day will just kill you in an instant.
By the way do you know that meat needs about three days to be digested and hangs about in the colon all this time rotting away? Did you know that colon cancer is related to this? Bon Appetit, as the French say.
- Katrina, Berlin, Germany
There are many other foods, the production of which contains an element which some people might consider to be cruelty. Urging by goverment ministers to think in a particular way is neither welcome nor necessary. Some might consider it patronising and self serving. People will make up their own minds.
- Peter Haldane, London
I would imagine that those who want to ban foie gras are the same so called animal lovers that eat tuna and take their children down to MacDonalds for a mouthful of factory reared poultry.
- Dan, Manchester
Well Katrina, I think the words "food chain" spring to mind. I'm bigger than a goose so I guess you could say it's "goose is cooked". If I happen to be stupid enough to be caught by a pack of lions I deserve to be eaten.
Animals, my dear, were put on this planet to eat. Not to play with.
- Meatlover, London
You people are awful. It is not a case of being told what to eat or what not to eat it is a matter of the cruelty inflicted on the creature. Ever watched a goose being force fed? Maybe all you connoisseurs out there should be made to watch it once in a while. How can you enjoy food which causes such misery to animals and is just like torture to them? Why do you think the procedure is banned in all the countries listed above? Because it really is so cruel. How do you think the animals feel with a swollen liver? But obviously that is really none of your concern. I just cannot believe people like you. Horrible.
- Katrina, Berlin, Germany
Ban foie gras?! But it tastes so good! I agree with Jose - sound bites is the aim here with all the good political correctness stuff to boot. Mr Bradshaw should instead head around to mine for a warmed foie gras salad and a decent glass of sauterne.
- Felix, London
Surely there are wider and more important matters, such as his environmental responsibilities, which he should be working on. More sound bites and pictures I guess.
- Jose, Wales
The very example of what is wrong with government. I would not presume to tell Mr Bradshaw what he should, or should not, do in his personal life. I would appreciate the same courtesy from him.
- Roy Gilbert, Solihull, England.
I think it's ridiculous to ban certain foods. Everything is a delicacy, somewhere and should be treated as such. If people want to eat these foods, then let them, it doesn't harm those that choose not to.
It's rather pointless trying to say that we shouldn't eat animals (or parts of them) because they'll still get killed. A few thousand people not eating meats worldwide isn't going to change anything, relatively speaking. Get with the times, people!
For the record: I'm a vegetarian.
- Chopsticks, Alperton
Guess what, everyone will smuggle foie gras acros the Channel and the ban will be meaningless. How stupid!
- James, London
"Ban foie gras"!
Has more than a touch of student politics about it, Mr Bradshaw!
- Steve R, London, UK
My to-date long-standing affection for foie gras began when I lived in France in the early 1990's - now I will order it whenever I see it on a menu. To call for a boycott is just yet more evidence of this wet, weedy government telling us what we should and shouldn't do, while at the same time acting most of the time against the interests of the voters in other areas. And anyway, if I saw foie gras on a menu, and didn't order it then is it not the case that the goose would have died in vain, and then that really would be a waste...
- Jk, London
I can't quite believe we are hearing this. Why don't the government just ban everything - it would make things a lot easier. If I choose to eat foie gras that is my business and mine alone, I do not need someone else deciding these things for me.
- Jack, London
