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Fortnum & Mason defends its right to sell foie gras

Fortnum & Mason has defended its right to sell foie gras, saying it has been eaten for
hundreds of years without complaint, and vowing not to yield to animal-rights
campaigners.

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Foie gras sales at Fortnum & Mason account for 2 per cent of the UK total. Photo: ALAMY
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After a high-profile campaign by Sir Roger Moore and animal-welfare Penelope Cruz in the 2013 Campari calendar
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group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), the London Food news: Mariage Frères tea and wartime
department store said that it wouldn’t “be bullied” into removing foie gras Twitter 104 posters
from its shelves. A World of Food
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Store managers said sales of foie gras had increased by 60 per cent at Food news: WI Merchandise and HotCan
the shop since Sir Roger and Peta accused the retailer of selling “torture LinkedIn 2 lunches
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However, Ewan Venters, the chief executive of the Piccadilly shop, said it More From The Telegraph
would not yield to a group that represented less than 1 per cent of the Food and Drink
British population. News » UK News »
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Foie gras is created by force-feeding grain and fat into the stomachs of
geese, which can cause internal damage to the birds and makes the
livers grow quickly. The technique produces liver fat, which is then sold
for eating. Its production is banned in the UK but not its sale.
But Mr Venters said that demand for it was “very strong”. He said that
Fortnum & Mason had “many thousands of customers” who wanted to
buy “what is essentially a very traditional product”. Up to 70% off dining
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Mr Venters accused Sir Roger of “double standards” by calling for a Latest Job Vacancies
boycott of Fortnum & Mason while — weeks later — holding a book- A piece of cake
signing event in Harrods, which also sells the controversial pâté.
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Mr Venters said: “Bless Sir Roger. He wasn’t a double agent in James Barr-Nunn Transportation Inc - Team...
Bond but I think he has double standards.” Barr-Nunn Transportation Inc - Scranton, PA

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He said that the geese reared for Fortnum & Mason foie gras comply with In Food And Drink
the shop’s “gold standard” code of conduct.
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The geese used for Fortnum & Mason foie gras have access to fresh
drinking water with “good, natural air” circulating through the farms, Mr Find Jobs
Venters said. jobs by

“I am not disputing that there are definitely poor standards of foie gras
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production out there and some pretty horrible images. I am not saying it’s Win a month of
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welfare standards in the production of foie gras,” he told The Daily out for the family
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In 2009 Selfridges stopped selling foie gras after a Peta campaign. Mr
kills rat as horrified inspectors watch
Venters was on the company board at the time. “A collective board
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This weekend Peta stood by its video. A spokesman said: “In the interest 4. Classic shortbread recipe
of maintaining the truth, Peta will be issuing Fortnum & Mason with a
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acknowledge that it sells a product which inflicts tremendous suffering or
pull foie gras from its shelves.”
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Badger Badger Recommend

11/06/2012 02:55 AM
Report
I've looked at the posts here and many of you are just deluding yourselves the
harsh fact is the birds are kept in small cages and force fed with a metal tube until
they are sick.Their livers are 10 times their normal weight and its PAINFUL FOR
THEM TO MOVE!look at the video.Fortnum and Mason are lying to you!The farms
they use are disgraceful and have been reported.
Where are your Christian values??

Ken Lea Recommended by 1

11/06/2012 02:40 AM person
Recommend
Yes we have heard all about F&M's findings but they have yet to tell everybody just
how they came by this figure of 1%. The 1% of Kensington & Chelsea for example Report
is not indicative of the population of the UK for example. I have a sneaking
suspicion that the figure was based on a survey carried out on their customers or
figure dreamed up by Mr Venters from his fertile imagination. Furthermore he has Latest Travel Deals »
not yet grasped the mettle of the cruelty involved, to say that his ducks have access
to "clean drinking water with good natural air" is a nonsense statement, the slaves
of the U.S. had these in days gone by but that hardly made it right! But then again I
would not be surprised if Mr Venters rues the day that slavery was abolished. No
Fortnum's have missed the chance on a piece of fine PR by removing this
disgusting product from their shelves. Had they done so they would have earned
the respect of the people and thus increased their annual turnover. But all Mr
Venters thinks about is today's filthy lucre and is obviously mentally challenged
when it comes to long term forecasts.

Badger Badger Recommend

11/05/2012 04:51 PM
Report
Its like Mr Venters is living in some strange universe.'One 1% of the population
dont want foie gras?'i think its quite a few more than that!!! 'bow down to animal
activists'.I'm a 46 year old school teacher who desnt think foie gras should be
sold!! I care about animals.'The shop has always sold it',probably before pictures Click for More Offers
and mounting evidence of animal cruelty became available! When Mr Venters
wakes up let me know!He is doing his shop more harm than good!

savvysearch Recommend
10/21/2012 09:00 PM
Report
I support Fortnum and Mason. This type of bullying needs to stop.
This is a moral issue, not an ethical one. It should be left to each individual to
decide for themselves what what they are comfortable with eating, and not to be
dictated by a group that would love to ban all meat products.
I'm comfortable with eating it, and I think the accusations of torture is just over-the-
top.

Badger Badger Recommend

11/06/2012 02:50 AM
Report
Its not bullying to try and stop cruelty to animals,they dont have a voice!
Surely you can see that shoving a metal tube down a throat and being
kept in small cages is wrong.the torture bit is not over the top,thats the
reality!!have you taken time to watch the videos/pictures.Where are your
christian values ??

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 David Falconer Recommend
10/23/2012 03:42 PM
Report
"and I think the accusations of torture is just over-the-top. "
Well Im convinced ....... I don't want to hear about research or or studies
..... nope, some random bloke on the internet says its over the top so
thats good enough for me.
I like you, you don't let things like basic research or facts get in the way of
your argument.

Catrina Recommend
10/21/2012 09:11 PM
Report
savvysearch
"I think the accusations of torture is just over-the-top. "
I have no doubt at all that if you or your loved-ones were treated in the
same way you would say it was torture.

Catrina Recommended by 1
10/21/2012 09:08 PM person
Recommend
savvysearch
Report
"It should be left to each individual to decide for themselves what what
they are comfortable with eating"
Not when they are 'comfortable' with causing immense suffering to
sentient individuals, when they are 'comfortable' with extreme and lethal
armed violence against the voiceless, innocent and defenceless.

Logika Recommended by 4
10/15/2012 09:35 PM people
Recommend
I'm no vegetarian, but agree that some animal farming methods are pretty cruel.
Fois Gras produced by force feeding would leave a sour taste in my mouth. Report

I suppose plenty of people would be persuaded not to shop there if faced with
animal rights protesters at the door, highlighting the cruelty involved.
There comes a point when the profits produced by selling it, are outweighed by the
amount of lost trade, and the cost to the stores reputation.

Hector_Ing Recommended by 2
10/15/2012 10:33 AM people
Recommend

I have no time for bloody activists of any kind; interfering busybodies. Report

I wouldn't dream of banning them from wearing sandals and hugging trees and I
see no reason why they should tell me what I can and cannot do.

Badger Badger Recommend

11/06/2012 03:18 AM
Report
Because wearing sandles and hugging trees doesnt hurt any one.These
birds suffer,dont fool yourself.While they suffer thousands will fight you!!

Catrina Recommended by 2
10/21/2012 09:04 PM people
Recommend
Hector_Ing
Report
"I see no reason why they should tell me what I can and cannot do."
Really? You are unaware that there is a third party involved, a voiceless
third party who, like you, can feel pain and suffer, would seek to preserve
their own life?
Practices which cause others pain and suffering, which deny others their
freedom and their lives should not, must not, be left to individual choice.

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 Hector_Ing Recommend
10/22/2012 07:43 AM
Report

You live by your standards, Catrina, and I'll live by mine.

And that way we'll both get on just fine.

Catrina Recommended by 1
10/22/2012 07:52 PM person
Recommend
Hector_Ing
Report
I am certain you would not think your standards were acceptable
or tolerable in anyone else if you were on the receiving end of
them.

skibag Recommend
10/15/2012 07:29 AM
Report
Tonights menu
Foie Gras with sweet white wine and a dollop of champagne jelly,
Duck breast with pepper sauce.
Roquefort Cheese
Isles flottante
Heaven before a heart attack.

beeswaxnoneofyour Recommended by 5
10/15/2012 06:59 AM people
Recommend
If you don't like it, don't buy it. Simple as. I stopped eating it because I didn't like
how it was made (and because I figure it can't be great for the arteries), but in no Report
way would I ever protest the right to sell it, and if someone wants to eat it in my
presence, I won't make snide comments about murder or privilege (because I'm
not thinking them). There needs to be free choice in the market, like free speech. If
you really want to protest it, why not go to somewhere like France and see how
well you get on protesting some of the actual producers (and have a look at how
stinking cheap it is in the supermarkets)? People only protest against Fortnum's
because it's high profile. I laughed when they rioted against them the other year - it
was so pointless. On any given day Fortnum's is only filled with tourists buying
lower luxury price point items like tea or biscuits or going for high tea and ice
cream as a treat (I do, and I'm not rich or public school educated). If they really
wanted to make a statement and riot against the rich they would have gone a few
paces down the street to the Wolseley which is generally packed out with the really
wealthy. That said, PETAare nothing but grown-up playground bullies.
(Edited by author 1 month ago)

David Falconer Recommended by 1

10/23/2012 03:30 PM person
Recommend
So if you saw me kicking a puppy in the street, and you told me to stop,
would it be OK if I said 'Well Im not making you kick puppies.' .... Report

And if you dont get the point Im making, have a think about it ..... because
there is one there.

Guy Meurice Recommended by

10/15/2012 04:40 AM 10 people
Recommend
Oh Peta is involved?
Report
Well I'm on whatever they're not!

seanoll Recommended by 9
10/15/2012 04:18 AM people
Recommend
Good. I love foie gras but cannot often afford it. I support Fortnum completely.
Report

Catrina Recommend
10/21/2012 09:15 PM
Report

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 seanoll
Are you Sure that supremacist ideology accords with your principles?

right_writes Recommended by 6
10/15/2012 04:16 AM people
Recommend
Yes they should definitely ban this stuff... It's only for upper-class twits anyway...
Report
Perhaps these people should be encouraged to eat a real delicacy, like a "bender"
from Wimpey...
Or a "Big Mac" from McDonalds...
That is real luxury... mmm....
Do you know that sometimes these epicurean delights have meat from cows and
pigs in them...?
...and that doesn't come by peeling a cow, or picking a pig... The animal has to be
killed, and it often has a less than satisfactory life up to that point...
This long running campaign has more to do with the nouveau riche attacking the
old money, than any animal welfare concerns.

Palfreman Recommended by
10/15/2012 04:12 AM 20 people
Recommend
There is nothing special about foie gras. It is just a tasty liver paste. It is no
crueller to the animal than any other animal husbandry technique. Report

People need to be very careful about giving any ground on this. The people
opposing this are radical vegetarians. Their overall intention is to ban the raising
of meat for slaughter. They are only going after this particular technique because it
is perceived to be a luxury product, so they think there will be less public
resistance by appealing to people's baser motivations of jealously.
Don't give an inch. Once they have established the legal power to control how a
farmer feeds his birds they will use it to impose extreme costs and regulations on
farmers remaining, which will greatly reduce the availability of meat to the
consumer. This will affect everyone. It will not only affect people who eat foie gras.
(Edited by author 1 month ago)

Snorter Recommended by 2
10/15/2012 09:33 AM people
Recommend
'It is no crueller to the animal than any other animal husbandry technique.'
Report
Gee Palfreman, that's reassuring.
(Edited by author 1 month ago)

Palfreman Recommended by 1
10/15/2012 09:40 AM person
Recommend
And? We keep them locked up, fatten them up then kill and eat
them. That's the way it works ever since the Neolithic age Report
began. It's why there are millions of us in England and not just a
few thousand hunters - who indecently also kill animals.
Humans are apex predators.

Snorter Recommended by 6
10/15/2012 10:15 AM people
Recommend
Just because something has gone on for ages, it doesn't mean
it's right, and just because something is legal, it doesn't make it Report
right either.
Foie gras is - what, 50, 60, 70, even 80% sometimes - fat.
Putting the ethical question aside for a moment, this product
should be banned on health grounds alone.
(Edited by author 1 month ago)
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