Royal Order: Prince Charles Bans Foie Gras! February 27, 2008

Posted by Marta at February 27, 2008 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 6 ) | TrackBack

Today's blog features guest blogger, peta2 UK's Violet.

I couldn't quite believe my ears when I heard this news but against all odds, Prince Charles has banned foie gras from royal menus! The Prince of Wales has instructed chefs at all of his royal residences to stop serving the dish after learning how the product—often referred to as "cruelty in a tin"—is produced. One of Charles's favourite shops in Gloucestershire may also see the removal of The Prince's "Royal Warrant" as they also sell foie gras. Royal Warrants of Appointment are warrants that have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods to a royal court or certain royal persons. Good show old boy!

Splendour/Creative Commons
So what's all the fuss about foie gras?? Foie gras production is a savage process. The birds are kept in tiny wire cages or packed into sheds. Pipes are repeatedly rammed down the birds' throats, and up to 4 pounds of grain and fat are pumped into their stomachs two or three times every day. The pipes puncture many birds' throats, sometimes causing the animals to bleed to death. This cruel procedure causes the birds' livers to become diseased and swell to up to 10 times their normal size. The birds who survive the force-feeding are killed, and their livers are sold for foie gras.


No supermarkets in the UK sell foie gras and it is considered so cruel that its production is actually prohibited in the UK. Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges, who both also have a Royal Warrant, still sell foie gras. Please contact them online and ask them to take a leaf out of the Prince's book and cease the sale of all foie gras from their stores!

Contact Selfridges at: connect@selfridges.co.uk
Contact Fortnum & Mason at: cathy.oneill@fortnumandmason.co.uk

Prince Charles, peta2 salutes you!

*Violet
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Posted by Marta