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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to accept a present of foie gras

120 replies

Toadinthehole · 14/12/2012 05:15

...leastways I assume it's for me. I found it by accident, it is my birthday in a few days' time, and I like foody things.

I don't eat foie gras because I think force-feeding geese is cruel. I have mentioned this to my DW. I suspect she has forgotten about this, and accordingly forgotten that I don't eat foie gras.

AIBU to smile and accept the gift and "forget" to mention my reservations until perhaps a few months later? After all, the stuff has been bought now.

OP posts:
babythrashling · 14/12/2012 08:59

I'm not absolutely sure cuillerasoupe.

I am a vegan. I don't wear leather. I don't eat palm oil. I also have a large family, we live on a budget, and I live as ethically as I can afford to.

Anyone who puts tortured goose flesh in their mouth in the full knowledge of the suffering those animals went through is fucking greedy, stupid and cruel - I'm not resorting to insults, just stating a fact.

pictish · 14/12/2012 09:01

Shut up babythrashling.
If you get foie gras as a gift, you are as well to eat it. Chucking it in the bin is showing the animal even less respect, than if you just make use of it and eat it. The OP didn't buy it for ethical reasons, but he's be a muppet to bin it for ethical reasons.
Stop being such a headbanger about it.

cuillereasoupe · 14/12/2012 09:03

stating a fact

clearly not. Unless you're saying that 90% of French people are "fucking greedy, stupid and cruel". Isn't that a bit racist?

northcountrygirl · 14/12/2012 09:04

Exactly pictish!

Suckling pigs bloody gorgeous as well...

LeBFG · 14/12/2012 09:07

Small producers are like my neighbour are better than battery chicken producers (room and outside for part of life). Industrial producers are probably as bad as chicken farms. Modern, industrial production methods have high rates of deaths and animal suffering. Even your so-called farm fresh eggs/chickens - even I should add some bloody free-range outfits. I've seen some pig awful free-range chicken farms!

Why is foie gras worse than any other intensively farmed products?

If the word 'force-feed' shocks you then you should really see it being done. Before, I would have imagined a gagging, fighting creature repelled by the process. At my neighbours the ducks are positively queueing up a stuffing time.

Sorry but that just made me retch, right there. Please think about what you are actually saying. Just giving you a very real account of self-stuffed duck production.

bradywasmyfavouritewiseman · 14/12/2012 09:08

babythrashling you do realise that some people think having 'a large family' in an over populated world is unethical.

Some people would call it selfish and fucking stupid.

I personally don't, but you know, we could all sit her throwing insults at peoples choices.

ReshapeWhileDashingThroTheSnow · 14/12/2012 09:16

Getting back to the OP's original point Wink ...

I'd eat it with massive guilt and pleasure. It would be the only time I'm ever likely to taste it, as I'd never buy it myself (even if I could afford it). It's already been produced, and you're hardly going to stand in the marketplace gobbling it conspicuously and shouting 'look at me! I am eating Cruel Foie Gras!', are you? (thereby legitimising its production and consumption, etc)

Babythrashing, saying someone is 'fucking greedy, stupid, and cruel' is not stating a fact. Hmm It is a value-based judgement and could also be considered a personal comment.

XiCi · 14/12/2012 09:17

I think its very telling that the people who have actually seen the treatment of animals in relation to foie gras are the ones who are happy that the animals are well treated and happy to eat the product.
I'm glad there is a balanced argument here instead of the usual mumsnet hysteria that accompanies even buying barn eggs that aren't free range. A hangable offence even if you have starving childen to feed.
OP I would accept the gift graciously and enjoy it

GreenPetals · 14/12/2012 09:21

Well I have to say. If you are feeling Shock by the idea of eating fois gras, then you should eat any meat or any dairy product either.

For the same reason than you don't eat fois gras : animal welfare.
Have you ever looked at how animals are reared? And what is happening when they are slaughtered (I am thinking in particular about the awful way chicken are killed)?
have you ever looked at the difference between the way animals are reared in big farms and in little ones (And YES there is a really big difference).
Looked at how you can get your pint of milk everyday (The cows have to be made pregnant again and again, the veal taken away asap. It's so hard on their body that they don't last more than 2 or 3 years).

If you really want to be protecting animal welfare, then you shouldn't et any meat (apart from wild animals such as rabbits, pheasants perhaps?), any dairy at all and actually probably also no eggs either.
Welcome to a vegan diet.

So let's stop being so hypocritical and all become vegans. Anyone to follow me?

cuillereasoupe · 14/12/2012 09:25

Don't vegetables have rights then? Xmas Wink

babythrashling · 14/12/2012 09:27

We are a step family, Brady, but insult away if it makes you feel better, sorry you're so desperate that you're comparing eating tortured geese to having a large family. The first is downright cruel.....the second is a life choice. Does the goose have a choice?
Pictish, you would be hilarious if you weren't so damn stupid.
Racist, cuille? Are you so stuck for an argument you're resorting to that?
Anyone who knowingly eats the foulness that is foie gras is fucking stupid and cruel, French or not.
Hiding thread now...it's too depressing that there really are people out there that think torturing animals is ok.

LeBFG · 14/12/2012 09:31

People are very funny about the food they eat. When my family visit (not all members I hasten to add), they refuse to buy their meat at the abattoir because of the terrible, close reminder of where the meat comes from. They say I'm cruel because I kill the animals I've reared so wont eat ours. So they buy their meat at the local cheapy supermarket Shock.

These same people eat take-outs on a regular basis. Buy cheap jointed chicken...the list goes on. After a little protest and Hmm faces, I just laugh it off. People can be so hypocritical.

pictish · 14/12/2012 09:31

It's not for me greenpetals - I'm afraid I'm just far too selfish to be a vegan.

However, do you agree that the foie gras should be eaten rather than binned? It seems even more of an insult to just throw it away don't you think?

bradywasmyfavouritewiseman · 14/12/2012 09:31

We are a step family, Brady, but insult away if it makes you feel better, sorry you're so desperate that you're comparing eating tortured geese to having a large family.

You haven't even read my post, have you?

I clearly said that I don't feel that way. So therefore I am not desperate for anything.

I am pointing out that some people will think the sane about your choices that you do about people who eat four gras.

ChristmasSpiritEndorphins · 14/12/2012 09:31

Depends. Will you eat it? If not, can you just happen to read about it and just happen to mention it to someone, where you know she will overhear? Then she can decide whether to return it or give it to someone else?
I have never had this, only have had duck pate. I usually buy pate at Christmas but this has put me off doing it.

cuillereasoupe · 14/12/2012 09:31

So it's fine for you to insult others but not for them to dish it out? [hmmm]

You're clearly misunderstanding me. I'm not saying you're racist. I'm saying that you're making the sort of sweeping generalisation that would lay you open to accusations of racism if I were the sort of person who made snap moral judgements about other people's choices. Fortunately for you I'm not.

XiCi · 14/12/2012 09:31

I was actually told by a fruitarian that vegetables scream when you pull them from the ground and that you should only eat fruit that falls naturally from a tree. Nutter. He's probably dead now

northcountrygirl · 14/12/2012 09:32

That's very interesting LeBFG - looks like it might be back on the Christmas day menu...

pictish · 14/12/2012 09:32

That you due in to sixth form college now thrashling? It sure sounds like it.

XiCi · 14/12/2012 09:37

And greenpetals, no I haven't spent time looking into how chickens are slaughtered etc etc because I have a life and I'm busy living it. If I had unlimited time to sit and ponder then I would be worrying myself sick about the torture of humans in this world. Understandably to most people how a chicken dies isn't really at the top of their list of priorities

bradywasmyfavouritewiseman · 14/12/2012 09:38

Are you so stuck for an argument you're resorting to that?

words 'pot' 'kettle' and 'black' come to mind. Oh and hypocrite.

takataka · 14/12/2012 09:42

It doesn't even register as a food stuff in my brain. It would be akin to asking me to eat dog shit, I'm so repulsed by the idea Envy (not envy)

cuillereasoupe · 14/12/2012 09:43

It doesn't even register as a food stuff in my brain. It would be akin to asking me to eat dog shit, I'm so repulsed by the idea

I feel that way about pot noodles Xmas Grin

takataka · 14/12/2012 09:44

Xmas Grin cuille

NettoHoHoHoSuperstar · 14/12/2012 09:47

I wish someone would uy me foie gras for Christmas, I've only had it once ut loved it.