Farewell to foie gras
 

Well, at least maybe in Oregon. I read in this morning's "Dead Fish Wrapper" (name given by local talk show host) that there's a bill in the Oregon legislature which, if passed, would ban the selling of foie gras in the state. Restaurateurs, especially of french restaurants, are very vocal in their opposition as the proposed $1000 fine for violation would make some menu items a little steep for the average dinner guest.

If you're thinking of moving here Scarlett, this might be a reason to reconsider!

I think foie gras is overrated anyways!

I think a person is either vegetarian or not, a dish should not be singled out.

Beachbum--Totally off topic here...but last week you said you have dealt with similar circumstances as me. Can I talk to you about it more?

Actually, Faina, many people believe foie gras to be an unusually cruel food. Ducks or geese are overfed to enlarge their livers, and live in pain until they die from liver failure. So singling out certain foods does at times make sense--it's drawing the line between inflicting death and inflicting pain.

mms,
To clarify, our circumstances are/were a little different; yours with concerns about a son, mine with concerns about my wife. But emotionally, I suspect you are in a place similar to where I was. I sincerely pray that your asking about it is not an indication of bad news. Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] if you'd like.

>>Actually, Faina, many people believe foie gras to be an unusually cruel food. Ducks or geese are overfed to enlarge their livers<<<

That's true - the Romans started doing that 2,000 years ago when they noticed that the ducks overfed themselves just before a long migration - and the liver & breast became enlarged and quite tasty.

>>and live in pain until they die from liver failure.<<

This is not true. They are slaughtered just like cows, chickens, and every other animal we breed for food. Why would someone over feed them, then let them die so the liver & breast would be "tainted" and probably not usable. There are most likely laws against using diseased animals for food.

Have you ever visited a foie gras farm? We've driven past several of them when vacationing in France. When the ducks & geese see a human, they charge the human (me in this case) thinking they are going to be fed. Whatever and however the farmers are feeding them, they sure want to have more of it.

>>So singling out certain foods does at times make sense--it's drawing the line between inflicting death and inflicting pain.<<<

Perhaps snails are next. I understand they are force fed cornmeal to clean out their innards from unwanted "other" stuff.

Stu Dudley

beachbum--you've got mail.

Thank you beachbum, I will have to ponder this for a second or two before I decide to move to Portland LOL

mms, you have mail too ,darlin!

I am overweight. Sure my liver and what not are affected. Do I feel pain? In my legs, yes, not easy to carry around all those pounds. Do I feel pain in any inner organs? Not till a hard attack! Aren't animals the same?

In E's defense, I have heard the same stories, stories of ducks and geese being "forced fed" in a horribly inhumane manner. I believe I read it in an article fairly recently regarding a group that were trying to get France to outlaw the use of fois gras. Now, rather these stories or true or not, I don't know, but the stories were horrible enough to keep me from eating any fois gras anytime soon.

Tracy

I'm still out on the foie gras issue, but I have heard that ducks and geese have no gag reflex, and therefore don't really feel pain from the forcefeeding. Just food for thought, pun intended.

In another case of "I wouldn't eat it so neither should you", the Congressman 1 county away is sponsoring legislation to prohibit slaughter of horses for human consumption in the US ... also importing, exporting, transporting across state lines .... yada yada

60,000+ horses a year produce meat exported primarily to France, Belgium, Japan and other places. But nowhere in the law does it prohibit "rendering"

I'd TRY horsemeat ... probably wouldn't like it but I'd try it.

I agree that the treatment of the animals seems completely heartless but somehow I've been able to suspend reality and love seared foie gras, sorry.

>>In E's defense, I have heard the same stories, stories of ducks and geese being "forced fed" in a horribly inhumane manner.<<

"I've heard, I've read" always seems to come up when talking about this. Sure they force feed these birds. Do the birds dislike it???? Is it horribly inhumane??? Do the birds perhaps even enjoy it??? Like I said, however they do it, the birds seem to love it - they race for more each time a human approaches them - and I have "seen" this.

Stu Dudley

Sadly I never met a foie gras I ever liked. Glad I had the chance to at least try to like it. I tend to support production, however, I am stunned by the progress this campaign is making.......if I recall NY duck production will be stopped by 2010??? Restaurants in Boston have recently been picketed by duckloving activists. For 2000 years ducks have been overfed...I think I side with Stu on this one...the ducks aren't complaining. I'm just glad I got a chance to not like it on numerous occassions, hoping to like the next preperation. Now if only I felt that way about Crystall....those poor mistreated grapes!!!!

Snort ~ gyppie ((D))

May open the floodgates, but why is it so unthinkably horrible to kill a goose bred to be food, but OK to send (and treasonous to question)young men and women raised to be productive members of society off to other lands to kill people and ostensibly enforce political beliefs that are not those of the natives?

Actually the geese are treated better than the chickens you buy that are cooped up in tight quarters, unless you can buy free range.

And now we have to worry about the Salmon we eat :(
Mimi, chin chin ((D))