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France: foie gras vs. animal welfare

November 12, 2012

The French love their foie gras, and the fatty liver product is a must at up-market events. But the producers of the luxury food are coming under attack.

https://p.dw.com/p/16hSZ
The last remaining ducks of Artisan Sonoma Foie Gras group themselves inside of a stockade at the foie gras farm in Farmington,California on May 31, 2012. A looming foie gras ban in California is pitting animal rights protestors against high-end chefs. Squeezed in the middle is Guillermo Gonzalez, lamenting the end of his 'American dream.' Gonzalez, the only foie gras producer in the famously liberal US state, claims ignorant activists and 'special interests' are unfairly throttling the livelihood he has built since arriving from El Salvador in 1986.'I feel that a big injustice has been committed. I feel that emotion and intimidation have prevailed over reason and science. But this is bigger than us, so I just have to comply,' he told AFP. AFP Photo Kimihiro Hoshino (Photo credit should read KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP/GettyImages)
Image: AFP/Getty Images

The production of foie gras involves force feeding birds to enlarge their livers. Fatty goose livers are considered a special delicacy. Animal rights campaigners are demanding an end to the practice. Nearly 20 countries around the world have banned it, but France continues to be the leading producer and consumer of foie gras.

Martine Sanspiche holds pieces of foie gras in Toulouse market, southwestern France, in this Feb.25,2004 photo. French foie gras makers angrily objected to a California bill aimed at banning the sale of the creamy delicacy. The reaction came a day after California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill that will end the force feeding of ducks, geese and other birds to produce the gourmet liver product by 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Image: AP