Call for duck delicacy sale ban

The Green Party is calling for a ban on the sale of foie gras in NI

The Green Party is calling for the sale of foie gras to be banned in Northern Ireland.

The French delicacy is made by force-feeding ducks and geese until their livers have expanded many times their normal size.

Steven Agnew, Green Party animal rights spokesperson, said he is aware of numerous restaurants in Northern Ireland currently serving foie gras.

"While it continues to be sold I am calling on consumers to boycott the product if they see it for sale or on a menu anywhere. Surely we have enough food to eat at this time of year without indulging in a food product that causes so much pain.

"I'm also calling on the agriculture minister, Michelle Gildernew, to ban its sale as soon as possible."

Belfast restaurateur Michael Deane, who uses foie gras on a daily basis, says he would be against any ban.

Popular

"We would always have foie gras on the menu in some form or another. It's certainly popular, especially with French people who come in," he said.

A pipe is inserted into the birds' throats in the making of foie gras

"I don't think it's any crueller than caging chickens or similar practices. My take on things like this is if we were to think about everything this way, I'd be running a vegetarian restaurant and even that could have its own difficulties."

Earlier this year, York became the first city in the UK to ban the sale of foie gras.

UK law currently permits the delicacy's sale but forbids its production.

The practice of force-feeding ducks and geese has a long history - it is said to date back to Egyptian times.

The purpose is to swell their liver so that it turns white, becomes more fatty and loses its bitter taste. A pipe inserted into their throats is used to administer the grain.