Foie Gras Dishes Disappear from the British Royal Household

Letter Sent to Animal Protection Groups ... Ban from All Royal Residences
Foie Gras Production Banned in the UK ... Import and Sale Allowed

Foie gras, considered one of the world's three great delicacies.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Foie gras, a dish criticized for animal cruelty, will soon disappear from the British royal household.

On the 18th (local time), according to the BBC, the British royal family recently sent a letter to the animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), stating that foie gras will no longer be served in the royal palaces.

Originally a French dish, foie gras is a luxury food but has faced much criticism due to its cruel farming methods. Geese or ducks are confined in narrow cages where they cannot move, with only their necks protruding, and a tube is inserted into their mouths. They are then force-fed corn or legumes to induce fatty liver disease, after which the liver is harvested for consumption.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom has long opposed foie gras. He removed foie gras from menus on his private estates over ten years ago and now plans to extend this ban to all royal residences. According to the letter received by PETA, the foie gras ban applies to the entire royal household, including Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle, and Buckingham Palace.

Elisa Allen, vice president of an animal welfare organization, welcomed the move, saying, "Others should follow the King's directive and exclude foie gras from menus this Christmas and beyond." She added, "Anyone who watches videos of birds being force-fed in pain would have enough reason to skip the meal." The animal welfare group proposed faux gras (faux means 'fake' in French) as an alternative to foie gras. Faux gras is a 100% vegan dish invented by British chef Toby Hunt, active in Lyon, France, made entirely from plant-based ingredients such as coconut oil and cashew nuts.

While foie gras production is banned in the UK, its sale and import are not prohibited. PETA is campaigning to use faux fur instead of weasel fur in the coronation robes for the King's coronation in May next year. Currently, foie gras is produced in countries such as France, Hungary, and Bulgaria, with small-scale production also in the United States, Canada, and China. Meanwhile, in France, the spread of avian influenza since November last year has severely impacted foie gras production due to the culling of poultry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.