EDM 1247 'Sale of Foie Gras'
The text of EDM 1247 is self-explanatory:
"That this House notes that in order to
produce the food delicacy foie gras, 12 week old ducks and geese
are restrained and grain is forced down the throat through a
gavage pipe, a process that often results in physical injury;
observes that a massive quantity of food is forced into the birds
causing their livers to swell to six to 10 times normal size,
making movement and breathing difficult, and leading to severe
liver damage, great pain, and high mortality rates; further notes
that existing UK animal welfare laws prohibit such cruel farming
methods; considers that a prohibition on the sale of foie gras
in the UK would be compatible with the EC Treaty and the rules
of the World Trade Organisation both of which permit restrictions
on grounds of public morality; applauds the efforts of the website
www.banfoiegras.org.uk to educate and encourage members of the
public to press for foie gras to be banned; and calls upon the
Government to prohibit the sale of foie gras in the UK."
The following scientific opinions are highly significant:
"Force feeding quickly results in birds
that are obese and in a pathological state, called hepatic lipidosis,
or fatty liver disease. There is no doubt that in this pathological
state the birds will feel very ill."
Dr. Ian Duncan, Professor of Applied Ethology, University of Guelph,
Canada.
"The RSPCA is strongly opposed to the
production of foie gras whereby the birds are kept in cages and
force-fed to produce a very large and fatty liver. This is a
cruel practice and undoubtedly results in unnecessary suffering.
We would encourage any food retailers and restaurants that are
currently selling foie gras to seriously reconsider their support
for this cruel practice."
Dr Marc Cooper, RSPCA senior scientific officer
The torture of animals - or harming anyone for that matter - should
not be a matter of personal dietary choice. Lots of other products
are banned from sale because of the way they're made - the gratuitous
suffering involved means that foie gras should be added to that
list. Further information is available here.
Click here to lobby your MP on EDM 1247 now!
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