Page 5 | to accept a present of foie gras

Toadinthehole · 2012-12-14T05:15:46+00:00

...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.

TeeElfOnTeeShelf · 14/12/2012 10:45

I wouldn't be so sure it isn't made up or exaggerated if it's from PETA.

Tell you what, when we stop making humans suffer, at all, whether by hooking them up to machines to keep them alive when they are in the condition that would lead to a dog being put down or by paying them pennies to fill our stores, I'll give a fuck about animals.

Toughasoldboots · 14/12/2012 10:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

slatternlymother · 14/12/2012 10:48

Well I just did a quick google and I have to say I didn't realise they used tubes to force feed them

I have to say it isn't something I'd go out of my way to buy, although if it was offered to me at a party I don't know if I'd turn it down.

Can't they just feed them fattier foods for longer instead? Or wouldn't that work?

bradywasmyfavouritewiseman · 14/12/2012 10:49

Duncan clarke

Don't believe everything peta write. Here is an article how Micheal Duncan Clarke overcame all his health issues by becoming a vegetarian. He was dead within months.

They made out it was some sort of Miracle cure. They are not always the most objective and are known for exaggerating.

slatternlymother · 14/12/2012 10:49

Tell you what, when we stop making humans suffer, at all, whether by hooking them up to machines to keep them alive when they are in the condition that would lead to a dog being put down or by paying them pennies to fill our stores, I'll give a fuck about animals.

I have to agree with you there, Tee

wigglewiggle32 · 14/12/2012 10:50

It actually worries me that people dont seem to understand where their meat etc comes from or how it is raised.
I have Geese, they are greedy little bastards. A pair got into the grain store once and ate themselves to death, same with all poultry. I have to be careful with the ducks too, esp when it comes to corn.
The person who made the comment about veal worries me too. Veal that is produced in this country tends to be high welfare. My best friends husband is one of the biggest suppliers of veal. He rears dairy crossed male calves that would have had their throats cut at birth. They have a wonderful life, out in the fields. Much better than most animals. Yes, if you buy veal from europe they have different practices and quite frankly they are cruel.
We buy/swop all our meat with friends as we know where it has come from and how it is treated. The sad reality is our cows are high welfare but make no or little money. We are lucky that we are in a position to let this happen as it is a hobby for us. Its gutting but at least we know those cows have had a good, healthy, happy couple of years.

Anyway, back to op. If I were you I would look at it and see where it had been produced. Look it up, you may be surprised. There are plenty of ethical suppliers of products like this.

bradywasmyfavouritewiseman · 14/12/2012 10:50

By the way not saying being vegetarian killed him. Just that peta made out being vege was some sort of magic cure.

ChristmasSpiritEndorphins · 14/12/2012 10:53

Brandy, I googled to see, as I wasn't sure either, and came up with this repulsive article.
www.stopforcefeeding.com/content/what-foie-gras

bradywasmyfavouritewiseman · 14/12/2012 10:53

Let me try the link again Michael Duncan clarke

bradywasmyfavouritewiseman · 14/12/2012 10:55

You see I am in the brilliant position of being able to give a fuck about both, they are not mutually exclusive.

About both what?

cuillereasoupe · 14/12/2012 10:59

There are bound to be things other people give a fuck about that you don't, though, tough.

LeBFG · 14/12/2012 11:01

The stuffing bit happens twice a day for a fortnight max (ducks). They are given corn that's been pre-cooked so easier to digest and assimilate. They take each duck one-by-one, place it between the legs (whilst sitting on a chair) and they open the beak and insert the feed tube. The food is washed in with a bit of water and is over in under a minute. Water is available all day and night. Ducks are prepared for this fortnight by gradually reducing feed times and increasing food available to gradually stretch the crop. As I said, great care is taken not to over-stuff so I don't believe there is any torture/cruelty to this aspect of production.

As the duck converts all the food to fat the liver is working overtime and is storing fat too - hence the vastly engorged liver. If this is continued the duck will die as the liver packs in. But no one wants the bird to go on this long of course. So a balance is reached. I figure that perhaps the last few days might be a bit nauseating for the creatures, but til that point they have had a better than average life for a bird in the food industry.

I'm very interested in animal welfare but will buy perhaps two livers a year to make pate. Just like I'll occasionally eat at a restaurant or eat a take-out. I don't think it's great, but there's worse and, to some extent, we're all hypocrites some just more so.

LeBFG · 14/12/2012 11:03

It had to be done quickly (and thus involve stuffing) or else the liver adapts (bit like the liver of a long-term alcoholic) and doesn't swell to epic proportions that qualify it as 'foie gras'.

Original poster

Toadinthehole · 14/12/2012 11:06

Toughasoldboots

No, this thread is not a wind-up. I have actually never eaten foie gras before, basically because I found out what was required to produce it before I had any.

I think I'm going to accept the present and eat it. It seems somehow rude to the goose.. crikey.. now I'm paranoid that everything I type sounds like a wind-up.

OP posts:

TeeElfOnTeeShelf · 14/12/2012 11:10

I wouldn't be so sure it isn't made up or exaggerated if it's from PETA.

Tell you what, when we stop making humans suffer, at all, whether by hooking them up to machines to keep them alive when they are in the condition that would lead to a dog being put down or by paying them pennies to fill our stores, I'll give a fuck about animals.

TeeElfOnTeeShelf · 14/12/2012 11:13

Sorry for the double post!

shemademedoit · 14/12/2012 12:00

Accept it and send it straight over to me. That way you won't have offended anyone (your daughter) and you'll have given to the less fortunate (me, who is fois gras-less). Two goods will cancel out the badness.

takataka · 14/12/2012 12:24

This thread has brought to my mind, Farmer Bunce from Fantastic Mr Fox, who lived on a diet of doughnuts filled with smashed goose livers. I will have the little ditty going round and round in my head all day. So, thanks for that

Viviennemary · 14/12/2012 12:30

I disagree with it as well. I wouldn't buy it. If somebody bought it for me as a present I wouldn't say anything to them. Would I eat it. Probably not as I don't think I could enjoy it after reading about the treatment of the geese.

worldgonecrazy · 14/12/2012 17:28

worldgonecrazy - that's great that the animals were happy and well cared for...right up until the point they were tortured to death, I'm guessing?

You guessed wrong. They were happy and well cared for right up until the point when they were killed as humanely as possible in such circumstances.

Along the scale of "terrible things humans do to animals" foie gras is really very low down on my list.