There was a crowd of journalists this Tuesday evening at the National Assembly in Paris for the presentation of a report from the University of Cambridge revealing the effects of force-feeding on ducks for the production of foie gras. The results of this report also speak clearly against force-feeding for the animals’ welfare. This event, initiated by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Laurence Abeille of the French Green party, and actress and animal rights activist, Pamela Anderson, was organized with close collaboration with GAIA. With this gathering, the members of the National Assembly are urged to back a proposal to ban force-feeding in France.
Introduced at the press conference by Michel Vandenbosch, President of GAIA, the report, made at our request, was carried out by the prestigious University of Cambridge in the UK last year. The report was co-authored by Doctor in biology, Irene Rochlitz, and led by Dr. Donald Broom, Professor in animal welfare and renowned scientific authority in the subject.
Their analysis sums up the latest scientific knowledge necessary to evaluate the impact of force-feeding on the welfare of waterfowl raised for foie gras. The last scientific report examining force-feeding, published by the Scientific Committee of the European Commission for the health and welfare of animals, dates back to 1998 - almost 20 years ago! Suffice it to say it was high time for a new study on the subject.
For almost 25 years, GAIA has campaigned against the suffering inflicted on ducks and geese for foie gras production and was notably the first organization to denounce force-feeding in Belgium. Our campaigns have certainly contributed to a growing awareness among Belgians of the misery endured by ducks and geese raised for foie gras. At the end of 2010, individual cages were banned in Belgium, in compliance with an EU recommendation. However, even collective cages do little to ease the animals’ suffering.
The crux of the problem is the pneumatic force-feeding inflicted on the animals. GAIA believes that if foie gras must still be produced, the very least is that it be done without force-feeding and reiterates its demand that force-feeding for foie gras must be prohibited.
According to a recent opinion poll by IFOP for the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, 70% of French citizens are in favour of banning force-feeding for foie gras production, given the fact that alternatives exist. In Wallonia, 68% of citizens are against force feeding, according to an Ipsos poll conducted last year for GAIA.
GAIA would also like to remind consumers of GAIA Faux Gras®, our animal-friendly alternative to foie gras, which has been widely available in Belgian supermarkets during the festive season since 2008.
- To read the report, click here
- For more information on GAIA Faux Gras, please go to www.fauxgras.be
And a special thank you to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Deputy Laurence Abeille and Pamela Anderson for this great event!
Pictured from left to right: Donald Broom (University of Cambridge), Laurence Abeille (Deputy Val de Marne), Christophe Marie (Brigitte Bardot Foundation), Pamela Anderson, Michel Vandenbosch (GAIA), Delphine Wespiser (Miss France 2012)