Gordon Ramsay criticised for promotion of cruel foie gras - Liz Lynne MEP

7.30.15pm GMT Wed 18th Nov 2009

Liz Lynne is calling for an EU wide ban on foie gras. She supports campaigns for cruelty free food by groups such as Animal Defenders International

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has criticised celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay after his F word show yesterday promoted foie gras, which is made by force feeding ducks or geese.

The West Midlands Euro MP Liz Lynne also renewed her call for an EU-wide ban on foie gras.

The third episode of the Channel 4 series yesterday highlighting French food has been criticised by animal welfare groups after three out of the six recipes featured were based on foie gras, while little mention was made of the extremely cruel force feeding to artificially enlarge the birds' livers used to produce it.

Foie Gras also featured as a starter in this week's episode of Come Dine With Me, also on Channel 4.

Liz Lynne MEP said:

"I share the feelings of many campaigners. Television food programmes and celebrity chefs are very popular and have enormous effects on what people want to buy. They need to use their power responsibly.

"It is depressing to think that many people will now go out and buy more foie gras because of these programmes, perhaps without realizing how cruel the production process is.

"Celebrity chefs can use their reputations to improve food standards, as Jamie Oliver has done.

"Viewers of these programmes will not be aware that foie gras is made by force-feeding huge amounts of grain down a pipe into the bird while it is restrained, swelling the liver up to ten times the normal size.

"It is appallingly cruel and causes serious harm and health problems, quite apart from their distress. It is completely unlike other forms of meat production which can be very humane. You can produce fantastic gourmet quality food by cherishing animals, there is no need for this cruelty.

"Production is banned in the UK and was only allowed to continue in France, Hungary and three other countries as a concession to cultural traditions. The time has come for an outright ban of long term force feeding in agricultural production."

"I will continue to call for a ban on foie gras at an EU level until this barbaric practice is brought to an end."

ENDS

An investigation by animal charity Four Paws into Hungarian production of the traditional French 'delicacy', produced by artificially fattening of birds livers by force feeding, found that many birds were seriously ill. As a result of overfeeding, many needed antibiotics to survive and were being subjected to serious suffering.

78% of foie gras is produced in France. Hungary is the world's second largest producer, with small amounts made in Belgium, Spain and Bulgaria. Most other EU countries have banned its production. In the UK production of foie gras is banned but it is still legal to import it.

Liz Lynne has been a long time campaigner on animal welfare issues and has repeatedly called for foie gras to be banned.