This video, narrated by Kate Winslet, sheds light on the horrific lives of ducks and geese raised for foie gras.
A delicacy in many places, foie gras is basically duck or goose liver, and I hear it’s quite tasty, though I’ve never tried it. What makes it so delicious is that ducks are artificially fattened, causing their livers to become fatty as well.
Ducks raised for foie gras live in severe confinement, suffer force feedings and have only limited access to water.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAzrSl0ztsQ
I don’t always 100% agree with PETA, but in this case I think they’re spot on. People need to know where their food comes from and the impact of their food choices. If folks knew the horrors that these geese and ducks endured, I bet that many of them would say no to foie gras.
So, what do you guys think? Will you be able to enjoy this luxury food, knowing the conditions that these animals have to suffer?
Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by Maggiejumps
kelro
I love Kate, but she’s off base here. That may (MAY) be true in Europe, although I doubt it, as mistreating the ducks produces bad foie gras, but it’s definitely not true in the U.S. You want to believe this bogus PETA propaganda, be my guest. You want to educate and possibly enlighten your opinion on this, read this: http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/12/the-physiology-of-foie-why-foie-gras-is-not-u.html
Becky Striepe
Thanks for the comment and for the link. That was very informative.
I really enjoyed the activist section of the post. While I don’t eat any animal products, I really dislike the idea that animal rights activist are threatening the lives of chefs!
Like I mentioned above, I’m not normally crazy about PETA, despite my hippie vegan leanings, and I’d put activists who threaten harm in the name of compassion on that list, too. Groups like these give vegans a bad rep, when most of us are just trying to live according to our beliefs.
kelro
Thanks for being open minded, considerate, informed and letting your own path dictate your beliefs. Happy holidays!
Becky Striepe
No problem! I’m always happy to have a discussion. It was refreshing to have a comment that disagreed without attacking! You have a great holiday, too. :)