Here’s What to Do if You See Foie Gras on the Menu

It’s hard to imagine anything more unethical than the foie gras industry, in which workers shove long metal tubes down ducks’ and geese’s throats in order to pump large quantities of grain into their stomachs several times a day.

The birds are often left to languish inside tiny cages or pens, coated in dirt or vomit and covered with sores. Once their livers have eventually swollen to up to 10 times their normal size, the animals are slaughtered, and the fatty, diseased organ is sold as foie gras.

And that’s not the end of this heartbreaking cruelty. Foie gras is made from the livers of only male ducks, and therefore female ducklings are considered useless by the industry. These unwanted birds may be tossed into grinders – while they’re still alive – so that their bodies can be minced into fertiliser or cat food.

The production of foie gras is so cruel that it’s banned in the UK, yet the fatty and diseased livers of tormented ducks and geese can still be found on sale in some restaurants and shops.

How to Speak Out Against Foie Gras

A letter from a member of the public can be very effective in urging restaurants and other establishments to act. If you see foie gras on a menu or sitting on a store’s shelves, write to the management and politely ask it to remove the vile pâté.

Here’s a sample letter that you can use when contacting companies:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you because on a recent visit to [Name of Restaurant], I was appalled to see foie gras featured on your menu.

Foie gras production is so cruel that it’s actually illegal in the UK. To make this fatty liver pâté, tubes are forced down the throats of ducks and geese several times a day so that enormous quantities of grain can be funnelled into their stomachs, until their livers become diseased and swell to an unnatural size. As you can imagine, this process causes these birds immense suffering. Please watch this video to learn more.

Many high-profile catering establishments – including the Houses of Parliament, Lord’s Cricket Ground, and Compass Group – refuse to serve this unethical product.

Please, will [Name of Restaurant] put in place a policy against foie gras, too? Until you do, I will be staying away and encouraging my family and friends to do the same.

Sincerely, [Your name and address]

Please remember to add in the relevant details before you send your letter. If you receive a positive response, let us know by e-mailing us at [email protected].