McCartney calls for foie gras ban

BBC ^ | 24 Sept, 2004 | BBC Unattributed

[RetroSexual]

Sir Paul McCartney has urged California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to ban the French delicacy foie gras.

The former Beatle appealed to Mr Schwarzenegger in a letter to make California the first state to ban the pate made from geese and duck livers.

Other stars, including Martin Sheen, Kim Basinger and Chrissie Hynde, also urged him to approve a bill to outlaw the sale and production of foie gras

Foie Gras is made by force-feeding the birds to expand their livers.

Sir Paul was asked to write the letter by animal rights group Viva!-USA.

He said: "As you probably know, the public has clearly demonstrated that it supports a ban on this inhumane practice.

"There is clearly nothing humane about mechanically inducing disease in a bird by forcing a pipe down its throat and making it consume such an abnormal quantity of food that its liver expands many times its normal size."

Last month, California's state legislature approved a bill that would outlaw the sale and production of foie gras.

'Cruelty'

The bill is now sitting on Mr Schwarzenegger's desk awaiting his assent.

Sir Paul added: "I feel sure that your natural feelings of compassion will encourage you to sign this basic humane bill into law."

In a separate letter, celebrities including Casey Affleck, Ally Sheedy and Christina Applegate, also urged him to enact the bill.

"It is wrong to subject animals to this kind of cruelty to produce a luxury food item," they said.

[Bella_Bru]

But then, I put mustard on my fries ...

I do mustard and ketchup mixed in a goopy mess. Or mayo and kethcup.

[Grim]

I've never even tried this stuff. Has anybody here ever eaten it? Is it any good?

Yes and it's incredibly delicious. I'm sure the animal abuse angle is largely exaggerated. I believe most producers have given up on the practice of force-feeding the geese. The best pate and fois gras is made from a combination of duck and pork liver. Goose-liver pate is a traditional french delicacy served mostly at Christmas. Bon appetite.

[huskers2004]

James Bond likes foie gras...this will never fly. Jeez, what next?? Vodka martinis?!

[Caipirabob]

I make my own "Pate de foie gras" from scratch, particularly around the holidays for my "Beef Wellington".

Paul can go suck truffles.

[Finny]

I also think animal cruelty should be halted whenever possible. This is a good case in point. I'm not talking about going to extremes (I enjoy my hamburgers, thank you!), but I'm also pretty much against the idea of veal because I think it's cruel. Perspective in all things.

1. Claims of cruelty to the birds should be taken with large grains of salt, considering the source. Just because PETA et all say that this is what happens to the birds, it by no means follows that it's true. ALSO, livestock poultry critters are really dim -- they're not smart, they're NOT PETS. In perspective, what would be cruel to an animal of higher intelligence, may be to a domestic duck or chicken akin to "torturing" an ant.

2. " ... not talking about going to extremes ..." As far as I know, livestock cattle are starved for water before they are slaughtered; in their last days, they're bawling for water, they're so thirsty. Isn't that going to an extreme? You're right, we must keep perspective in all things. A veal calf and your mature steer are WAY dim, not smart, not like a pig or a dog or a cat ... they're NOT PETS. They're livestock to be harvested, and are bred not for smarts, but for meat. Animal cruelty is neglect and deliberate malicious torture; this is livestock food produciton, and the people involved in it probably have a much higher knowledge of, and respect and compassion for, the animals than any of us here. That has been my experience anyway, with the many, many men I've known in the fishing and ranching professions.

[Uncle Miltie]

Goose season starts tomorrow! I'm gonna bang as many as I can, and thanks to this article, I'll try pate foie gras in the field!

Thanks for the reminder, McCartney!

[beezdotcom]

I found an interesting link about the bum rap foie gras is getting.

Quoted from one of the books: Mr. Ginor, whose operation produces duck foie gras, presents the process of force feeding as neither painful nor distressing to the ducks. As proof, he adds that "when a person comes to feed them, they come to the feeders."

In short, it doesn't sound like these birds are suffering any more than I am when I'm on a binge.

[beezdotcom]

not smart, not like a pig or a dog or a cat ...

That's how I like my bacon...smart and crispy....

[Grampa Dave]

foie gras is an excellent appetizer before the Veal entree is served.

When I used to Goose hunt or our sons shot wild geese, my wife would make a great foie gras from the wild goose liver. They stuffed themselves on the rice fields in N California.

In fact my wife informed our older son that she expects a few geese breast and livers from him this coming goose season.

[Betis70]

The more goop, the better! Actually that thread from yesterday prompted me to go home and make some home-style fries.

And wouldn't you know it? I ran out of mustard. :( So I took a cue from our English allies and just used a bit of the ole Salt-n-Vinegar. And Tabasco. And black pepper.

Thankfully, this thread will not prompt me to run out and get foie gras.

[I Blame the Parents]

I agree with the ban. This is truly abusive and inhumane. I have read reports of some birds bursting apart. Foie Gras farms have been banned in some European countries on grounds of cruelty. A civilized society kills its food animals quickly and without causing undue suffering.

[beezdotcom]

Have you ever eaten duck liver pate?

Heck, I lead such a sheltered life, I've only rarely eaten duck, much less its liver. Now I suppose I'm going to have to go find some of that just to stop embarrassing myself...

[Bella_Bru]

Malt Vinegar on fries is awesome too.

Thankfully, this thread will not prompt me to run out and get foie gras.

LOL!

[AzSteven]

As far as I know, livestock cattle are starved for water before they are slaughtered;

Why is that done? Is that needed to reduce the amount of blood, or does it have some sort of impact on meat quality?

Not particularly bothered by the concept, but it seemed counter-productive at first read. I was thinking that meat is bought/sold based on weight, but this tactic would seem like it would reduce the weight, so there must be some fairly important alternate reason for it.

[lyingisbetter]

Eastern or western foie gras?

[Happygal]

Hey! Paté isn't everyones cup of tea. But I love it.

I'm trying to think to find the right way to describe out it tastes.
It's got a gritty pureed texture. Um, damn. This is hard to describe.

Get some duck liver paté though (with garlic!), and have it on toast, or crackers. It's lovely.

[Sam Cree]

So you don't have to force feed them to get the foie gras?

I guess then, that McCartney would be OK with the stuff, it'd be more expensive if it wasn't swollen beyond recognition, but I don't think you eat it anyway unless you've got either money to burn or you get your own geese.

I love the taste of wild Canada geese, though I am fine with ordinary liverworst and mayo with onion most of the time.

[Atlas Sneezed]

I'd be willing to bet that the biggest consumers of foie gras, are limousine liberals, it sounds like metrosexual food if you ask me.

---

Foodies probably tend to be more likely liberal than conservative, but there are plenty of conservative foodies.

I adore foie gras, properly prepared. It's like "meat-flavored butter."

[television is just wrong]

I believe you would be right on that statement.

[Betis70]

>>Malt Vinegar on fries is awesome too.

yes! I haven't had any since I went to an 'authentic' British pub (how authentic can it be? it's in San Jose CA for cryingout loud). I might have to source some at my grocery store. I had to go with the red wine vinegar which was pretty good still.