York becomes first city in Britain to ban 'cruel' foie gras

After a meeting in York, councillors voted in favour of a motion put forward by local Labour councillor Paul Blanchard, who suggested earlier this year that the members should oppose, in principle, the sale of the food anywhere in the city.

Prior to the meeting, protesters from York Action For Animals (YAFA) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Europe (PETA) staged a demonstration urging councillors to support the ban which they insist causes unnecessary suffering to animals.

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Model Adele Tyrala is force-fed bird seed as she takes part in a protest against foie gras

Activists enlisted the help of stunning model Adele Tyrala, 26, who had won a competition to find the "Cutest Vegetarian Alive".

She was pictured being force-fed bird feed through a tube in the city centre to highlight the cruelty suffered by ducks and geese in the production of foie gras.

Speaking at the meeting on Thursday evening, Councillor Blanchard said: "The process which leads to the production of foie gras is cruel and should be banned. It is so cruel it is banned in 15 countries.

"I believe York can play its part tonight to get foie gras banned in the UK.

"This motion will be a start and it will raise awareness of this intolerable cruelty. This could genuinely be the end for foie gras in this country.

"The production is already banned in Britain on cruelty grounds, but because the sale is still allowed, we are still one of the biggest importers of foie gras from France.

"We should not turn a blind eye to animal cruelty, and let's send the message out tonight that York does not tolerate it."

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Foie gras: Protesters claim the process of making it is cruel

After the council's decision, Anita Singh from PETA said: "We're delighted the council has taken this progressive measure. They have made a proud statement that York will not tolerate this severe cruelty to animals.

"We believe that if York votes against selling foie gras, it will open the floodgates for other cities to follow suit.

"The government will then be forced to act and we hope it will ultimately lead to the complete banning of foie gras in the UK."

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Controversial: The French delicacy

Foie gras - French for "fatty liver" is produced by placing metal pipes down the throats of ducks and geese and force-feeding them until their livers become enlarged.

By the time they are slaughtered their livers will have swelled to about ten times their normal size.

The new motion means City of York Council will now ban the sale of foie gras by the council on its premises. I

It will also lobby Lord Rooker, the Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health, outlining the council's concern regarding the sale of foie gras in the UK and requesting a review of central government policies on animal welfare issues.

Councillor Blanchard's campaign against the sale of foie gras has included a petition on the Downing Street website, which has attracted nearly nine thousand signatures.