News

Get the latest news and updates from Animal Equality

Celebrities call for UK-wide foie gras ban

In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Paul O’Grady MBE, Miriam Margolyes OBE, Dame Twiggy Lawson DBE, Mark Rylance, Alesha Dixon and others call for an end to foie gras imports across the UK.

13/02/2023 Updated: 16/04/2024

Notable and award-winning actors, veterinarians, comedians and sportspeople have sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling for an end to the UK’s importation of foie gras.

This follows the recent news that the Government’s Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey, suggested that a foie gras ban is not a priority for legislation.

In response, the celebrity collective is urging Rishi Sunak to bring forward legislation prohibiting the importation of this foie gras.

The letter is signed by actors Miriam Margolyes OBE, Sir Mark Rylance, Peter Egan, Sian Clifford and Diane Morgan; model Dame Twiggy Lawson DBE, comedians Paul O’Grady MBE, Jon Richardson, Jo Brand and Josh Widdicombe; singer and television personality Alesha Dixon; sailor Tracy Edwards MBE; and medical experts Dr Marc Abraham OBE and Dr Amir Khan.

Animal Equality’s Executive Director, Abigail Penny, gave an interview on BBC 5 Live to discuss the letter and the Government’s stalling on the ban. Listen to Abigail’s conversation with 5 Live presenter Colin Murray and PETA’s Kate Werner below.

What Is Foie Gras And Why Is It Cruel?

Foie gras farmers produce foie gras by taking a duck or goose by the neck, forcing a metal pipe down their throat and pumping unnatural amounts of grain and fat directly into their stomach.

Animal Equality has investigated a number of foie gras farms in France and Spain over the years and the suffering is clear to see.

The harrowing images show ducks and geese suffering in barren cages, terrified and struggling while they are brutally force-fed using metal tubes.

Actor and activist, Peter Egan, joined us during one of the investigations and commented on how afraid the geese were.

He said, “As soon as the worker emerged through the door, the geese started panicking, turning frantically to the back of their cages and trying desperately to escape. There was no way they could get out but still they tried. They clearly knew what was about to happen to them.”

Force-feeding is so brutal that the production of foie gras is already banned in the UK and in 22 countries in the EU. But while British farmers are banned from making the product, it’s not yet illegal to sell it here.

This loophole allows the foie gras industry to import around 200 tonnes of foie gras into the UK each year. Hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese are force-fed and killed to make it.

How Can You Help Ducks And Geese?

In 2017, Animal Equality launched a campaign to ban foie gras imports in the UK and we have made significant progress, with cross-party political backing, widespread public support, impactful protests, and more.

In 2021, we handed in over 225,000 petition signatures to 10 Downing Street, where we were joined by Peter Egan, along with Michelin-starred French chef Alexis Gauthier.

Despite suggestions from Government officials, we are yet to see concrete steps being taken to ban foie gras imports. We are continuing to lobby the Government until this crucial ban, which would impact around 250,000 birds a year, is put into UK law.

Over 275,000 people have now signed Animal Equality’s petition for a foie gras ban, and a YouGov poll last year, commissioned by Animal Equality, found 81% of UK citizens who expressed an opinion in the survey were in support of a ban.

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

Demand the Government bans imports of foie gras made by force-feeding – SIGN NOW!

View the full petition here

END THE CRUELTY

Foie gras is immensely cruel. Its production causes ducks and geese severe physical and psychological pain. You can protect ducks and geese by opting for plant-based alternatives.

Try Plant-Based Today