Animal Equality demands that Government Minister, Steve Reed MP, honours his electoral promise and bans foie gras imports

A broken promise?

Before Labour’s 2024 General Election victory, Steve Reed condemned the Conservative Government for being “on the side of animal cruelty”. After watching footage captured by Animal Equality’s investigative footage from foie gras farms, he expressed disgust at the force-feeding of ducks and geese for foie gras and pledged to introduce an import ban. “A vote for Labour is a vote for animals”, he declared.

But over six months into Labour’s leadership, foie gras imports continue, and the promised ban is nowhere in sight.

What’s worse is the Government is now even considering putting in place a Common Veterinary Agreement, aimed at reducing post-Brexit red tape on animal products crossing the EU-UK border. This means, without specific exemptions, the agreement risks even more cruel products – including foie gras – to easily flood the UK market and at a rapid rate.

For ducks and geese trapped in this industry, every day continues to be a nightmare. They are force-fed multiple times a day through a metal tube, leaving many panting, trembling, and suffering from raw, bleeding wounds in their throats.

The UK public has made it clear they do not want this cruelty. A YouGov poll commissioned by Animal Equality in June 2024 found that 85% of respondents (excluding ‘don’t know’ answers) support a ban on importing foie gras made by force-feeding. However, despite overwhelming public support and the backing of powerful voices like Ricky Gervais, Dame Joanna Lumley, and Mark Rylance, the UK Government continues to drag its feet and may be about to cause even more harm.

Steve Reed MP made an electoral promise to ban this cruelty from entering our shores, yet the ban seems to be stuck in extra time, with no real progress being made. We saw the previous Government U-turn on a foie gras import ban and we will not allow for history to repeat itself – animals need the Labour Party to follow through on this pledge. Failing to deliver swiftly on a foie gras import ban would be a serious own goal.

Abigail Penny, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK

Taking the fight to Steve Reed’s turf

To ensure Reed heard our message loud and clear, Animal Equality’s team and volunteers staged a demonstration in Streatham, directly in Reed’s constituency. We also took our action to Crystal Palace stadium – home to Reed’s beloved football team.

The demonstration used a football covered in fake blood – roughly the size of a force-fed bird’s diseased liver – along with red cards and placards to highlight the cruelty behind foie gras. The goal? To demand that Reed listens – not just to the animals suffering, but to his own community.

From the outset, it was clear that frustration was running high. Local constituents voiced their anger and disappointment:

One local said: “I would like him to ban this because this is awful… I think that he’s [Steve Reed] lying then. Nobody should have voted for him then. If he promised to do it, then I think he should. And animals are something that, you know, they can’t speak for themselves, you know. So, for people to force feed them and then to, to get whatever they want to get from them. It’s awful.”

Another added: “To be honest, if something is animal cruelty, we are against it. They’re forcing some animals to feed something for us, and that’s not good for their health. So, the animal cruelty, I’m not supportive of that. As a human, it’s not a nice thing to do to force any animal to feed.”

A third local commented: “I don’t like force-feeding. Where do they get these ideas?”.

And, when one constituent was asked what she would like Steve Reed to do, she said: “To keep his word, and do what he said he was going to do. Simple as that. How can you trust somebody who’s in that position? When people promise you all these things to get their vote, once they get the vote, they’re supposed to, you know, do what they say. Simple as that. Steve, do what you’re supposed to do. And what you promised. That’s it.”

Dale Vince joins the call for action

After witnessing Animal Equality’s demonstration, Dale Vince, environmentalist and founder of Britain’s first all-vegan football club, joined the call for action, condemning the Government and urging Steve Reed to make good on his promise.

Force-feeding ducks and geese until their livers swell to the size of a small football has to be the very worst animal abuse imaginable. You have to wonder how such a thing is legal in this day and age. That’s a good question for Steve Reed and for Labour, who promised to make this barbaric practice illegal – during the election campaign. It’s time to make good on that promise and end this particularly nasty form of animal cruelty in the name of food.

Dale Vince, Founder of Ecotricity and Forest Green Rovers

Take action for ducks and geese

Through more than ten investigations into foie gras farms, Animal Equality has exposed the unimaginable suffering of thousands of ducks and geese. From struggling to breathe and enduring eye infections to suffering broken wings or beaks, many are left wounded, dying, or already dead. This cruelty cannot be allowed to persist.

Despite overwhelming evidence of animal abuse and widespread public support for a ban, the Government refuses to take action, choosing to turn a blind eye instead. But you don’t have to accept this. You have the power to make a difference.

The most impactful action you can take right now is to refuse to eat foie gras and encourage others to follow your lead. With so many delicious cruelty-free alternatives, like chef Alexis Gauthier’s recipe, there’s no excuse to support this heartless industry.

But we can’t stop there. We need to ramp up the pressure. Our goal is to gather 350,000 signatures on our petition. The more of us who speak out, the harder it will be for the Government to deprioritise this life-saving ban.

Together, we can kick this cruelty off our shores for good.

Petition Letter

We, the undersigned, join Animal Equality in calling for a ban on the importation of foie gras produced by force-feeding into the UK.

Foie gras produced by force-feeding is immensely cruel and causes unimaginable suffering to millions of birds each year around the world. The force-feeding process – also known as gavage – involves forcing a tube down the throats of terrified ducks and geese, to shoot inside of them larger amounts of food than they would ever willingly ingest.

There is an abundance of scientific evidence showing that foie gras production by force-feeding generates severe physical and psychological pain for the animals involved, not only exclusively when the tube is inserted in their throats, but also during other times throughout their short lives. The production process causes their livers to swell to ten times their natural size, at which point the animal’s diseased liver is sold and marketed as foie gras.

In a letter dated 15th April 2020, we were pleased to see that Lord Goldsmith acknowledged the grave concerns raised by the practice of force-feeding. You stated: ‘The production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding (known as gavage) raises serious animal welfare concerns’ and noted that the Government recognises ‘the strength of feeling on this issue’.

And there is indeed strength of feeling. With cross-party political support and 200,000+ signatories joining Animal Equality’s call for a ban, the British public has taken a clear stance on this issue. Strong legislative action is necessary in order to protect animal health and welfare, and public morality in British society.

As you will no doubt be aware, the process of gavage is considered incompatible with the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (2006), as well as The Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales). Domestic legislation states that:

‘Animals shall be fed a wholesome diet which is appropriate to their age and species and which is fed to them in sufficient quantity to maintain them in good health, to satisfy their nutritional needs and to promote a positive state of well-being.’

And that:
‘No animals shall be provided with food or liquid in a manner, nor shall such food or liquid contain any substance, which may cause them unnecessary suffering or injury.’

Despite this, according to FranceAgriMer – a French Government agricultural body – the UK imports around 200 tonnes of this product each year, with many retailers and delis profiting from this cruelty.

Despite your aforementioned reassuring message of 15th April, we were surprised to read that your Defra colleague – Minister Victoria Prentis – stated on 21st April 2020 that ‘any necessary changes required to domestic legislation will be made in a rigorous and comprehensive way after the [Brexit] transition period and will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows’.

We cannot see any viable justification to delay decisions for which both you and the Secretary of State have already expressed support, that are widely embraced by the British public, and that would encounter the favour of other political parties. Now that the UK has left the European Single Market, it is more urgent than ever that you act on this important matter and craft legislation now, not later.

The British public is expecting you to take action.

Your fellow political colleagues support a ban.

You yourself have acknowledged the animal welfare concerns relating to this cruel product.

We call on you to take this opportunity to speak up for ducks and geese and begin drafting legislation for a ban without delay.

We, the undersigned, look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,

Abigail Penny

Executive Director, Animal Equality UK

THANK YOU FOR DEFENDING FARMED ANIMALS!

Please help spread the word. Share the petition with your friends and family.

THANK YOU!

Your actions are changing the world for animals everywhere. Thank you again for your support and we’ll keep you informed on any progress we make.

For the animals,

Abigail Penny

Executive Director, Animal Equality UK

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