Thoughts on foie gras?

Wow - I think most people who know what foie gras is have a general idea of how it's produced, but the details conveniently allude us. After reading most of these articles, I think it's going off my list of things I want to try. As much as I love veal, I won't eat it because of the production techniques involved. I'm not trying to sound sanctimonious, but if preparing food is an act of love (which I sincerely think it is), I don't think that this is a good way to start. I'm too much of a carnivore to ever consider becoming a vegetarian, but I think this is a dish I'll pass on.

Thanks so much Cchiu for passing this along; I'm learning more here than I thought I would.

[Pete]

As usual, the animal right activists have tried to anthropomorphisiz (give animals human characteristics)yet another animal in an attempt to make us see the errors of our meat eating ways. I feel that foie gras production is not any worse than any other type of animal product production. First of all, a duck or goose's throat is not like a human's. It is a very rough thick-walled throat that is used (in the wild) for swallowing rough grasses and grains and even stones (all fowl swallow stones to aid in the digestion of their food). All migratory birds, do overeat naturally in preparation for migrations. True not to the extent that we cause them to. Studies have shown that when ducks first start on their forcefeeding diet, they produce chemicals associated with stress (so do all animals when their routine is suddenly changed) but in a few days those chemicals disappear as they adjust to their new routine and thier stress levels drop. This is not the case in animals that live in constant fear and stress from their environment. I am sure that thier are some farms or individuals who maltreat their animals. Unfortunately, this will happen in all aspects of food production. It is not in the best interest of the farmer to lose ducks due to mishandling. To feed these animals is quite expensive and to lose one at the last minute means money out of the farmers pocket, so do roughly handled ducks with bruised livers as those fetch a lower price.

[Isa]

I am always sadden when I read such articles. Not because I didn't know. I do know how foie gras is made, how veal are treated, how chickens grow up, etc. I guess it's a case of not wanting to remember that the meat we eat everyday once belong to a living animal.

I have a strange food "morale" I will not eat a animal I've known. I won't touch horse meat because I've known too many horses personally. I don't want to have my chickens or rabbits come to me with the head still attached like in France. I don't want to think that the Chinese eats the brain of a living monkey, or dogs and cats.

Sometimes I'll feel guilty for eating meat or fish. Some days I even think I'll become a vegetarian. I'll try to imagine my life without poulet chasseur or paprika chicken. A life without bolognese sauce. No more duck or goose at Christmas. No lobsters. Then I'll realise that I like meat and fish. I enjoyed having foie gras the few times I had it.

Forgive me for I am a meat eater…

I don't think you should have to apologize for being a meat eater and as far foie gras goes, I love it. Call it "sticking my head in the sand" but I don't plan on reading any of the articles posted. There is a saying that is appropriate here (and I wish I could remember who said it so I could give proper credit...sorry). "The less people know about the making of sausage and laws, the better they'll sleep at night." Another of my favorites is "Never underestimate the power of denial." It is this attitude that has allowed me to enjoy foods such as lamb, rabbit, venison and foie gras. A former chef/employer of mine used to say "the cuter they are, the better they taste." It took years before I was able to believe him.

It's such a cultural thing. For a large part of the world's population, things like bugs, grubs and other creepie-crawlies form a large part of the protein in their diets, and we shudder when we think about how many bug parts are allowed into our processed foods. We really are enculturated to view certain things as food and others not.

Years ago I lived near a hog-packing plant (very pleasant it was, too), and I remember one night I heard this horrendous shrieking. It was truly blood-curdling, and I was trying to pinpoint the sound - I thought some poor woman was being beaten to death, and I wanted to call the cops. The next day one of my neighbors told me that when the wind came from a certain direction you could hear the hogs being slaughtered. On another occasion, I accompanied a friend to a beef slaughter-house . . . it was like a nightmare disassembly plant. For a time after each of those events, I stopped eating meat for awhile but always gravitated back. I think some of us are carnivores and others aren't. Who's to say that kale doesn't hurt when you cut it from the ground or that it doesn't cause beets pain when you dig them up? You could drive yourself crazy. All you can do is eat what you're comfortable with.

[cape chef]

No philosify here! If you like it then eat it. Foie Gras is a fine piece of culinary arts.I have eaten,prepared and bought to much Foie gras in my life not to be a fan. It is another one of those wonderful products brought to us through hard work ,tradition and dedication (ok and money too).

[mudbug]

Describing it as cultural may be true, but there is a difference in cultural and humane. Eating insects is cultural, so is female castration, but that doesn't make it right.

Don't get me worng. I love eating meat, and having not ever had foie gras, I can't say I wouldn't try it. It's the ethics of being inhumane that I have a problem with. It is certainly what we are "comfortable with" as MaryeO said as much as it is what we are desensitized to and ignorant of. Sigh... to be at the top of the food chain....

[cape chef]

cchiu, I respect your view.

[mudbug]

While finding a recipe, I found more information that I was not aware of. Does anyone have any thoughts?
http://www.advocatesforanimals.org/c...feed_index.htm

http://www.worldtable.com/foiegras.html

http://www.veggie.org/veggie/peta-ar...ief-peta.shtml

http://www.virunga.org/jbin/story/1630

http://www.vivavegie.org/vvi/vva/vvi29/#cruel

http://www.ontherail.com/site/behind/foiegras.asp

[Nick.Shu]

i understand that foie gras to most seems a little grim (to understate fact).

However, you must remember that geese have a natural tendency to overeat - so that forcefeeding such a creature can be in fact can be indulging its natural habits. Dont get me wrong, im not defending such behaviour, but given that, if you kept throwing cuts of meat to great white sharks in the water, it would be quite a while until they would go away.

It is that food-chain thing, isn't it? I probably will try foie gras when I have the chance, and I'll probably feel a twinge of guilt when I do. Now that I think about it, it won't feel substantially worse than the guilt I feel when I sneak a smidge of Callebaut bittersweet down my gullet.

[Katherine]

I've never eaten foie gras. It's not available around here, and I'm not willing to buy an entire piece to try it, although I'm sure I'd like it, as I like liver products.

My daughter is appalled by the idea of foie gras production. Anybody who's at all squeamish, though, will find most details of animal production, slaughtering, and processing to be disgusting.

How much of a a noble sacrifice is it to give up something you've never tried and may never have the opportunity to try?

[Pete]

Why is it that people have a problem eating "cute" animals? Have you ever heard of anyone coming to the defense of oysters or insects or worms that we use for bait to catch fish? No, because these animals are ugly, and thus, not worth consideration. The cuter the animal the more loudly animal right's activists scream.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Pete! I think that a lamb is adorable, especially with garlic and rosemary!

[cape chef]

Pete you are right on with that assesment, and Maryeo, you crack me up...I love to come home and log on and get a couple laughs..Maryeo I like mine Mid rare please