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Foie gras could be banned in ground-breaking move
9:38am Tuesday 23rd January 2007
Comments (124) Have your say »
YORK could become one of the first cities in the world to ban the food delicacy foie gras, if councillors back a pioneering motion later this week.
City of York councillors will be asked to pass a motion calling on shops and restaurants to stop selling the dish on cruelty grounds.
The motion, tabled by Labour councillor Paul Blanchard, has received international backing from animal rights groups, and Chicago, where its sale is already banned.
Foie gras is the liver of a duck or goose that has been fattened by force-feeding. Protestors claim it is cruel to animals. Its production is already banned in Britain, but there is no law against its sale or consumption.
Coun Blanchard said: "It is a brutal practice, the production of which has rightly been outlawed in Britain. But we are still one of the biggest importers of foie gras from France, and until that stops, the torture of these birds is on all our consciences."
Last year, foie gras was banned in Chicago after a groundbreaking campaign.
Joe Moore, Alderman of the 49th Ward of Chicago, said: "If the City of York Council passes this motion, it will make a profound moral statement against cruelty, and send a powerful message that it upholds the values of a civilised and humane society."
According to Compassion In World Farming, the ducks and geese have a pipe forced down their necks, pumping food into them up to three times a day.
By the time they are slaughtered, their livers will have swollen to about ten times their normal size. They can suffer from internal bleeding and have problems walking and breathing, the charity says.
Marie-Claire Macintosh, of the charity, said: "We applaud the City of York Council in its pioneering efforts to get foie gras banned on cruelty grounds. The method to produce this delicacy' is brutal and inherently cruel and has no place in a civilised society."
Coun Blanchard's motion calls the council to declare "this intolerably cruel and painful practice is unnecessary and should end."
The motion has the backing of other Labour councillors, and York Green Party. It urges the city to "do as much as reasonably possible to discourage or prohibit the sale of foie gras within the authority area".
Coun Blanchard, who wants a free vote on the issue, said: "I have been asked why I am trying to address this issue when we are confronted with so many more pressing issues like crime and transport.
"I also readily accept there is much injustice afflicted upon humans that far outweigh cruelty to animals.
"However, that there are greater wrongs in the world should not require us to turn a blind eye to other cruelties when they are exposed."
Your Say YourYork Press
Money wasters, says...
10:04am Tue 23 Jan 07
Marvin, says...
10:22am Tue 23 Jan 07
Sarah, says...
10:27am Tue 23 Jan 07
Dave, says...
10:30am Tue 23 Jan 07
C, says...
10:31am Tue 23 Jan 07
Psi, says...
10:40am Tue 23 Jan 07
What may be important to remember is if you go down this route then you have to have a consistent approach. North Yorkshire has the highest cruelty rate on pets by owners than any other county, is something going to be done about that? Do we ban veal, perhaps. What about Grouse and Pheasant which are maimed and wounded in the shoot.
I would say yes to a proven systematic approach but don't pick and choose what you are going to legislate about to make a noame for yourself or put the City on the map. This will cause more discontent and prove a sham for those involved.
Rubbish, says...
10:48am Tue 23 Jan 07
I don't think they can.
Tom, says...
10:53am Tue 23 Jan 07
The local council has no right interfering like this - if people don't want to eat foie gras in a restaurant they don't have to - no-one is force-feeding it to them.
Marvin, says...
10:53am Tue 23 Jan 07
Jo, says...
10:57am Tue 23 Jan 07
Julie, says...
11:01am Tue 23 Jan 07
If he wants to ban restuarants and shops from selling it, then he might at least check whether any currently do. Not exactly the staple diet of most York residents - New Labour lovies excepted of course.
But the Council will it seems be discussing its record in providing public services, the threat to our local health services and the City's housing problems - so we must have at least some sensible Councillors .
hungry, says...
11:01am Tue 23 Jan 07
Mary T., says...
11:05am Tue 23 Jan 07
Bob, says...
11:09am Tue 23 Jan 07
bob, says...
11:16am Tue 23 Jan 07
Marvin, says...
11:24am Tue 23 Jan 07
J, says...
11:27am Tue 23 Jan 07
it upholds the values of a civilised and humane society."
Haha has he been in out on a Friday in York? Me thinks the council has more serious matters to be dealing with than Foie Gras.
md, says...
11:28am Tue 23 Jan 07
its the cruelty aspect. if you cannot see that force-feeding ducks and geese til their livers burst is unneccessary and cruel then you have no place in a civilised society
SO basically it is only cruel if they are fed to bursting point, but the act of killing cows, sheep etc. with a single bullet is ok, or slaughtering chickens with a snap? Foie gras is not something I'd eat, but if others wish to it is their choice. If you start banning one thing because it is cruel then you have to ban all meat as, at the end of the day, all animals die to create this. BTW I am a meat eater.
Cllr Paul Blanchard, says...
11:30am Tue 23 Jan 07
There is nothing wrong with taking a stand on the issues you care about. Like "C" says, they didn't even know about this cruel practice, and so the campaign is already doing some good in terms of raising awareness of this cruel practice.
"PSI" says why don't we try to ban veal et al. He has a point, but politics is the art of the possible, and if you try to campaign on too many issues at once you end up weakening your whole message and then nothing gets done. Everyone has to start somewhere, and this is a good start as far as I am concerned. As for making a name for myself well, as you can see, with an issue like this, it is likely to turn as many voters off me as it will make them like me. It's quite simple really - you campaign on issues like this because you feel passionate about it, and for no other reason. This is a democracy. My job is to highlight an issue and then the public then debates them. I am not imposing the ban on anyone, I am only suggesting one and asking what people think.
"Rubbish" questions whether you can actually stop supermarkets selling it. Of course you can. The law on this at the moment is stupid anyway - we can't make foie gras in the UK as it's too cruel, and yet by allowing it to be sold, we create demand for it, and thus animals still end up suffering, albeit in other countries. Its inconsistent. We should have a blanket ban on the sale of foie gras to put the law back on the right track. We are still one of the biggest importers of foie gras from France, and until that stops, the torture of these birds is on all our consciences. The demand creates the supply.
Tom says it will not help the York economy if he has to travel to Leeds to eat it. Well, that argument simply ignores the complete cruelty to the animals should they suffer intolerably, simply to provide an extra option on the menu of a few exclusive restaurants in York?
Julie says that foie gras is not exactly the staple diet of most York residents and she is right. In politics, you have to stick up for what you believe in and show leadership on the issues you care about. We need to bring this sickening practice to the attention of everyone. That's what I am doing here, and I see nothing wrong with that. The next stage of the campaign is to persuade the Government to ban the sale of foie gras throughout the UK. But until then, were sending out the message: York does not tolerate cruelty to animals.
I have been asked why I am trying to address this issue when we are confronted with so many more pressing issues like crime and transport. I also readily accept that there is much injustice afflicted upon humans that far outweigh cruelty to animals. However, that there are greater wrongs in the world should not require us to turn a blind eye to other cruelties when they are exposed. Justice is not a finite commodity, and nor is kindness. Where we find wrongs done to animals, its no excuse to say that more important wrongs are done to humans, so lets ignore it. As I said eralier, if something is wrong, its wrong.
Chris, says...
11:31am Tue 23 Jan 07
Battery Chickens are just as badly treated but a ban on cheap chicken would cause many problems to people who couldnt afford the free range stuff. I think if you are going to ban one thing on cruelty grounds you have to go the whole way.
To be honest there's more important things going on that concern me more than people eating fois gras.
And unfortunately it is delicious.
John, says...
11:52am Tue 23 Jan 07
I'ts certainly less cruel than large scale production and closer to our original 'hunter gatherer' roots.
Marvin if only everyone was lucky enough to be able to choose which industry to be in - some people due to economic reasons can't so don't question peoples sanity or call people idiots - you sound quite idiotic to me.
David, says...
12:05pm Tue 23 Jan 07
That said, it's not the council's job to tell us what we can or can't eat.
jay, says...
12:11pm Tue 23 Jan 07
The EU talks a good game about being civilised but why they haven't banned foie gras production/sales is beyond me. If we're going to pretend to be more moral than the rest of the world perhaps we should start holding ourselves to a higher standard.
Tm, says...
12:20pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Tom wrote:No but the restauant will still have the fois gras in stock incase someone wants to, which means the cruelty is still going on, i have only tried fois gras once, i did afterwards find out what it was and i did enjoy it it was lovely, but i would not go out of my way to find some to eat as i think it is horrific what happens to the birds, I am certainly not a veggie, most of my diet is meat but i do believe in killing an animal humaely!apparently the liver actually bursts while the bird is still alive...food for thought.
Absolutely ridiculous. Does this mean I'll have to go and eat in Leeds if I want foie gras? That'll help the York economy! The local council has no right interfering like this - if people don't want to eat foie gras in a restaurant they don't have to - no-one is force-feeding it to them.
Counter, says...
12:21pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Not all foie gras is produced in this way - there are 'humane' methods to make this product which do not involve force-feeding.
This is just an excuse for meat-eaters to feel a little less bad about themselves. It's denial of the fact that like it or not, a lot of our meat is produced in ways that we would feel are inhumane or cruel. Especially bacon, the most popular.
Marvin, says...
12:26pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Interesting to see that J and Chris think there are 'more important issues' than the torture of animals. How about one of you volunteer to have a pipe stuck down your throat and be force fed until your livers burst and then make your point? How about doing this in Parliament Square on a Saturday afternoon so all can see? Don't fancy it? Thought not.
Paul Blanchard you are a hero and good luck with this. You have my vote and my family's votes guaranteed in May.
J, says...
12:35pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Tm, says...
12:36pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Counter wrote:Exactly so this is why they are trying to make people aware of it and to get it in place, i am a meat eater but i do not eat things that i believe to have been made by treating animals inhumanely, it is up to people who like urself supposedly know how to bring it our attention, i would never stop eating meat because an animal is killed for it, e.g. a shot to the head, because its natural, its what people have done throughout history but if it is done cruelly then i disagree with it
More frickin ignorance. Not all foie gras is produced in this way - there are 'humane' methods to make this product which do not involve force-feeding. This is just an excuse for meat-eaters to feel a little less bad about themselves. It's denial of the fact that like it or not, a lot of our meat is produced in ways that we would feel are inhumane or cruel. Especially bacon, the most popular.
yorkie, says...
12:37pm Tue 23 Jan 07
OR
is this another long game have labour found a 3 or 4 year old xmas party menu for the liberals containing foie gras and will 'expose' them in due course.
Marvin, says...
12:40pm Tue 23 Jan 07
From an ethical, rather than a legal viewpoint, how can we sell something in this country that we have deemed is too cruel to produce ourselves? Typical case of letting someone do our dirty work for us.
steve h, says...
12:41pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Joe, says...
12:46pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Rubbish, says...
12:49pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Posted by: Rubbish on 10:48am today
Pie in the sky, how do they expect to be able to stop supermarkets selling it?
I don't think they can.
Posted by: J on 12:35pm today
Despite his long reply He still hasn't clarified under which laws he has the power to stop this and uses the very weak and childish arguement that the current law is stupid. Whilst he may well disagree with the law he appears to be making statements that are un-enforcable without a legislative change which is not the same as York saying it is going to ban the product.
Despite his long reply He still hasn't clarified under which laws he has the power to stop this and uses the very weak and childish arguement that the current law is stupid. Whilst he may well disagree with the law he appears to be making statements that are un-enforcable without a legislative change which is not the same as York saying it is going to ban the product.
Well Coun Blanchard, under what legislation are you going to ban it, please. Truth is, you can't and the whole story is attention seeking (diverting?) hot air.
me, says...
12:52pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Both of those two have been responsible for more animal cruelty and deforestation then some posh resteraunt who wants to serve some silly dish.
Corrupt local govenment, says...
12:54pm Tue 23 Jan 07
C wrote:You are an idiot if you dont know what you are eating.
I had no idea this process took place, its absolutely disgusting - i will never buy or eat it again !
sr, says...
1:00pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Rubbish, says...
1:00pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Posted by: Marvin on 12:40pm today
Unless you are some legal expert 'J' I would tend to think Cllr Blanchard has done a bit more research into this than you have?
Like to bet? Can somebody enlighten us as to under which leglislation fois gras can be banned, please?
Money wasters, says...
1:03pm Tue 23 Jan 07
steve h wrote:Nail on the head Steve, well said!
crap sports facilities,pathetic run down swimming baths,overpriced car parking, overbearing arrogant lib dem councillors who don t give a **** about the residents but we ve nipped the foie gras problem in the bud so i consider my council tax well spent.
Pte Frazer, says...
1:05pm Tue 23 Jan 07
The Scientist, says...
1:10pm Tue 23 Jan 07
PS - foie gras is lovely though.
DavidJ, says...
1:10pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Cllr Blanchard cannot ban the sale of fois gras or anything else for that matter. If this is the best we have to hope for as a replacement for our current brain dead council then god help us.
Big mistake for labour - with all the real problems the city has is this really the best headline Clown Blanchard and his team could come up with!!
Ettienne, says...
1:53pm Tue 23 Jan 07
DavidJ, says...
2:09pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Champagne Socialist, says...
2:14pm Tue 23 Jan 07
yorkie, says...
2:20pm Tue 23 Jan 07
lynne, says...
2:41pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Get off your hobby horse and work for a living .
Marvin, says...
3:06pm Tue 23 Jan 07
A typical selfish attitude, don't care about misery and pain, just as long as you get your grub. Some of you posting on here should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.
Beth, says...
3:29pm Tue 23 Jan 07
They treat their pigs a lot worse then veal calves and use farming practises banned in this country, which is why the bacon is so cheap.
The trouble is that applies to most imported and cheap meat, so where does it end?
T, says...
3:34pm Tue 23 Jan 07
richard, says...
4:03pm Tue 23 Jan 07
As already has been mentioned. Does the council of York have nothing better to spend money on in York. What about how dirty or city is? What about the poor road conditions? What about the lack of investment in bringing jobs to the city(other than call centre or tourism).
Surely York Council and any of its representatives should get their own house in order before attempting to tell law abiding tax payers what we should eat. I agree with one comment previously...ban Mcdonalds or Burgerking which are damaging humans health. Whats more important. Health of a duck or a human?
I think i may follow Lynn and move to France. York city council are being to irritate me no end and no doubt they'll be putting up the council tax again this year.
Vegetarian, says...
4:10pm Tue 23 Jan 07
meat lover, says...
4:16pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:do you want to share my nice bacon sarnie....lovely bit of pig.
Why do you all want to kill animals anyhow? You can obtain all the necessary nutrients by other more humane methods.
dry cured too lurvlyyyyy.
meat eater, says...
4:20pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:Because they taste nice and its called the food chain. Its a natural part of being alive. When I'm lower down the food chain than, cows, pigs, lambs, chickens, deer and panda i will stop eating them.
Why do you all want to kill animals anyhow? You can obtain all the necessary nutrients by other more humane methods.
richard, says...
4:26pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:Rubbish! We eat meat because we can. DO NOT tell others what they can and cannot eat. Do I suggest all vegetarians should give up lentils?? I think not. Accept our values! because we couldn't care less about yours
Why do you all want to kill animals anyhow? You can obtain all the necessary nutrients by other more humane methods.
richard, says...
4:29pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Joyce, says...
4:31pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Money wasters wrote:Blanchard is a member of the Labour opposition on the Council.
steve h wrote: crap sports facilities,pathetic run down swimming baths,overpriced car parking, overbearing arrogant lib dem councillors who don t give a **** about the residents but we ve nipped the foie gras problem in the bud so i consider my council tax well spent.Nail on the head Steve, well said!
Kick Labour off the Council altogether in May if you don't want them to waste your money.
Allan Ashworth, says...
4:33pm Tue 23 Jan 07
ALD, says...
4:36pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Donald Trump, says...
4:40pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Rambler, says...
4:53pm Tue 23 Jan 07
meat lover, says...
4:56pm Tue 23 Jan 07
badgers nice,b astards to find though...and i just love a bit of beaver...spit roasted is best
Vegetarian, says...
4:57pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Meat means suffering.
Meat means Murder.
Well done York Council!
Charlie Croaker, says...
5:03pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Since Little Mr Tony Bliar took away all our guns we have to thank Tescos for providing us with so much choice. BTW meat lover the rare animals are in the Tescos Finest isle. Very reasonable prices too. Split roast beaver mmmmm,
Vegetarian, says...
5:09pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Meat means the flesh of an animal that is considered edible, especially a mammal or bird
Well I never! We didn't know that did we kids?
meat lover, says...
5:11pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:so why do we have canine teeth then?not to chew on lentils thats for sure.
Few of you macho meat eaters would have the guts to kill the animals yourself. Thank your lucky stars for Tesco's and the little red meaningless packages that ease your consciences. Meat means suffering. Meat means Murder. Well done York Council!
black pudding.....lovely.....rare steak dripping in blood...yum....the smell of piggy sizzling in the pan...divine.
meat is murder....what you going to do about it??????
Money wasters, says...
5:12pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian, says...
5:20pm Tue 23 Jan 07
what you going to do about it??????
1)Not get wound up by imbeciles
2)Refuse to eat any type of meat
3)Not get mad cow disease like Yoooooooo!
Geoff, says...
5:23pm Tue 23 Jan 07
They are elected to operate the City of York on our behalf, not to go off on some fashionable tangent.
If Mr Blanchard wants to change the eating habits of people then he should use it as his ticket to Westminster.
This has absolutley bugg4r-all to do with York Council!
What a way to spend our rates?
edwina, says...
5:25pm Tue 23 Jan 07
puppy love, says...
5:25pm Tue 23 Jan 07
ive got a recipe book on rare foods.
id like to try doggy while spit roasting a beaver.
Geoff, says...
5:28pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:Typical of a veggie. You're really saying "I don't eat meat and because of that, you can't eat meat either!"
Few of you macho meat eaters would have the guts to kill the animals yourself. Thank your lucky stars for Tesco's and the little red meaningless packages that ease your consciences. Meat means suffering. Meat means Murder. Well done York Council!
It's no coincidence that when visiting veggies come we HAVE to provide them with veggie food, but when we visit veggies we HAVE to eat veggie food!
Don't preach, you haven't earned the right!
J, says...
5:33pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian, says...
5:46pm Tue 23 Jan 07
It's no coincidence that when visiting veggies come we HAVE to provide them with veggie food, but when we visit veggies we HAVE to eat veggie food!
Geoff, you should be grateful they visit - saves you killing another intelligent animal unnecessarily!
And what gave you the right to preach to me?
You are just like the rest of the ignorant carnivores who go on eating dead animals because their fathers did the same. Well it's about time you engaged your brain and worked it out for yourself. Read into in, look at the benefits and only then make the sarcastic comments.
Jacko, says...
5:54pm Tue 23 Jan 07
saves you killing another intelligent animal unnecessarily!
The only reason i eat Tuna is 'cos of all the Dolphin in it!
Geoff, says...
5:55pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Put another record on.
steve h, says...
6:19pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Louise, says...
6:31pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:Veggies have died of mad cow disease too you know!
what you going to do about it??????
1)Not get wound up by imbeciles
2)Refuse to eat any type of meat
3)Not get mad cow disease like Yoooooooo!
But on the subject of meat - I applaud the banning of this vile dish, it's time that the suffering of poultry was highlighted, all too often all we hear about is the inhumanity of the veal crate because calves are more visually appealing than hens, duck and geese. People who condemn the eating of veal are always happy to eat chicken and battery eggs.
I enjoy veal - calves are reared better, transported and slaughtered alot more humanely than any bird is.
Charlie Croaker, says...
6:39pm Tue 23 Jan 07
meat is nice, says...
6:41pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Jacko wrote:deep fried flipper,sounds yummy.
saves you killing another intelligent animal unnecessarily!The only reason i eat Tuna is 'cos of all the Dolphin in it!
Hannibal Lecter, says...
6:44pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Charlie Croaker wrote:nah i wouldnt touch a veggie,they are so full of s hit
I bet vegetarians taste like ****. Saying that I would try one. How are they cooked?
meat eater, says...
6:49pm Tue 23 Jan 07
I suggest we start eating war mongering politicians.
Chevalier, says...
7:11pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Ricky, says...
7:41pm Tue 23 Jan 07
In matters such as these when the plain facts point to incredible cruelty to animals, and people are unwilling to give up this practice because they take some form of dubious pleasure from suffering, then it should be stopped by other means.
divine comment, says...
9:12pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Anyway, has Sentamu got a view point.
Bet he has!!!
Big Jonny Sentamu, says...
9:22pm Tue 23 Jan 07
My sincere apologies for not giving my divine views sooner, alas I was having poached swan for my supper.
In answer to the above points, I can confirm that, mine and the Lord aboves view point, is one of total agreement with the belovered council.
The children should live on loaves and fishes, with the ocassional cheese straw. Amen.
Cllr Paul Blanchard, says...
9:27pm Tue 23 Jan 07
"resolves:
---> to instruct the Chief Executive to write to Ben Bradshaw MP, Minister of State responsible for Animal Welfare, informing him of this motion and asking for the production and sale of foie gras to be banned in the UK
---> to do as much as reasonably possible to discourage or prohibit the sale of foie gras within the authority area, whether in shops or restaurants
So as you can see I have left it up to the local government lawyers to decide on how to best implement the spirit of the motion. The main thing is to use our full council meeting to debate - and raise awareness of this terrible problem. Think global, but act local. It is, after all, the local democratic forum for councillors to raise issues of concern. I have the perfect right to do that whether you disagree with me or not.
As for (2) "costing the council money" - well, Full Council takes place every two months and is there to debate motions which are put forward. This is just one motion of many. Officers are salaried to advise on and implement any enacted motions, so this will not 'cost' the council any more money at all, whether agreed upon or not.
J, says...
10:39pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Martin, says...
11:58pm Tue 23 Jan 07
Thomas Westgard, says...
2:18am Wed 24 Jan 07
gene, says...
5:15am Wed 24 Jan 07
Franco-File, says...
8:51am Wed 24 Jan 07
Yet another example of letting people who have no 'knowledge' of the subject make descisions affecting the minority- remember fox hunting?
T, says...
9:31am Wed 24 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:Hands up who's had mad cow disease, i sure havent. eating meat is natural and when the supermarkets stop selling it i will go out and kill it myself yes! Because every veggie i know looks like they are aneamic and about to snap! You probably do too! Stop trying to make people eat what you want them to, no-body cares what your opinions on the matter are because we are big enough and old enough to make our own.
what you going to do about it??????1)Not get wound up by imbeciles 2)Refuse to eat any type of meat 3)Not get mad cow disease like Yoooooooo!
rob, says...
9:50am Wed 24 Jan 07
Vegetarian wrote:That's your choice, but who are you to tell us what we can and can't eat?
what you going to do about it??????1)Not get wound up by imbeciles 2)Refuse to eat any type of meat 3)Not get mad cow disease like Yoooooooo!
MuscleMan, says...
10:38am Wed 24 Jan 07
J, says...
10:53am Wed 24 Jan 07
MuscleMan wrote:Is it becuase they are pumped full of drugs from Balco and then during the 1988 Olympics the body governing drug testing hid the facts that over 100 atheletes should have been banned but got away with it? But thats ok as long as no animals died.
T - what do you mean that every veggie is anaemic and looks like they are about to snap? - How do you explain this then -that 50% of American Olympic Atheletes are vegetarian ? - it is in fact quite easy to explain, cos they know that is a MUCH healthier diet, which gives their bodies more energy, not less, and doesn't clog their arteries with fatty deposits. - think about it, why do meat eaters get so defensive? maybe because they know they are in the wrong perhaps?
They get defensive becuase like pretty much everyone they are sick to death of being lectured on how to live their lives by the nanny state, do gooders and tree huggers.
richard, says...
12:05pm Wed 24 Jan 07
MuscleMan wrote:So wrong on so many counts. Atheletes cannot sustain muscle development and repair on a meat free diet. You could argue that there is less fat in vegtables, but there simply isn't the complex long chain protein molecules muscle needs to develop to Olympian standard. Just look at the Linda McCartney cycle team. They were all vegetarians but sadly not very competetive.
T - what do you mean that every veggie is anaemic and looks like they are about to snap? - How do you explain this then -that 50% of American Olympic Atheletes are vegetarian ? - it is in fact quite easy to explain, cos they know that is a MUCH healthier diet, which gives their bodies more energy, not less, and doesn\'t clog their arteries with fatty deposits. - think about it, why do meat eaters get so defensive? maybe because they know they are in the wrong perhaps?
Secondly, why do vegetarians insist that their point of view is the only point of view. We as meant eaters do not give a hoot if you dont want to eat meat! No really we don't Just DO NOT try telling us we can't or shouldn't It is our right as it is yours to eat what we feel.
Nicci, says...
12:50pm Wed 24 Jan 07
T, says...
12:55pm Wed 24 Jan 07
MuscleMan wrote:I never said all veggies, i said all the ones i know!i eat meat very healthily, and i also play alot of sport! The only time i become defensive about eating meat is when people like vegitarian tell me i shouldn't just like i would be defensive about any of my own decisions that people tell me are wrong.
T - what do you mean that every veggie is anaemic and looks like they are about to snap? - How do you explain this then -that 50% of American Olympic Atheletes are vegetarian ? - it is in fact quite easy to explain, cos they know that is a MUCH healthier diet, which gives their bodies more energy, not less, and doesn't clog their arteries with fatty deposits. - think about it, why do meat eaters get so defensive? maybe because they know they are in the wrong perhaps?
MuscleMan, says...
1:21pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Muscleman, says...
1:36pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Bill Pearl
Four-time Mr. Universe
Ridgely Abele
Winner of eight national championships in karate
Surya Bonaly
Olympic figure skating champion
Peter Burwash
Davis Cup winner and professional tennis star
Andreas Cahling
Swedish champion bodybuilder, Olympic gold medallist in the ski jump
Chris Campbell
Olympic wrestling champion
Nicky Cole
First woman to walk to the North Pole
Ruth Heidrich
Six-time Ironwoman, USA track and field Master's champion
Keith Holmes
World-champion middleweight boxer
Desmond Howard
Professional football star, Heisman trophy winner
Peter Hussing
European super heavy-weight boxing champion
Debbie Lawrence
World record holder, women's 5K racewalk
Sixto Linares
World record holder, 24-hour triathlon
Cheryl Marek and Estelle Gray
World record holders, cross-country tandem cycling
Ingra Manecki
World champion discus thrower
Bill Manetti
Power-lifting champion
Ben Matthews
U.S. Master's marathon champion
Dan Millman
World champion gymnast
Martina Navratilova
Champion tennis player
Paavo Nurmi
Long-distance runner, winner of nine Olympic medals and 20 world records
Bill Pearl
Four-time Mr. Universe
Bill Pickering
World record-holding swimmer
Stan Price
World weightlifting record holder, bench press
Murray Rose
Swimmer, winner of many Olympic gold medals and world records
Dave Scott
Six-time winner of the Ironman triathlon
Art Still
Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs MVP defensive end, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
Jane Wetzel
U.S. National marathon champion
Charlene Wong Williams
Olympic champion figure skater
T, says...
1:59pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Muscleman wrote:Hmm so this isnt defensive???????? I certainly am being defensive..of my right to choose, not because what im doing is wrong! and i already said that, you obviously didnt read the responses, just assumed. Im not telling you to eat meat, so why are you telling me not to. Oh and in response to all those names, yes lots of them are clearly veggie (& crap) but that is by no means 50% of athletes and what about the other 50% they seem to be doing just fine.
Anyone who may be skeptical about the strength, endurance and general health of people choosing a vegetarian diet might consider these vegetarian athletes: Bill Pearl Four-time Mr. Universe Ridgely Abele Winner of eight national championships in karate Surya Bonaly Olympic figure skating champion Peter Burwash Davis Cup winner and professional tennis star Andreas Cahling Swedish champion bodybuilder, Olympic gold medallist in the ski jump Chris Campbell Olympic wrestling champion Nicky Cole First woman to walk to the North Pole Ruth Heidrich Six-time Ironwoman, USA track and field Master's champion Keith Holmes World-champion middleweight boxer Desmond Howard Professional football star, Heisman trophy winner Peter Hussing European super heavy-weight boxing champion Debbie Lawrence World record holder, women's 5K racewalk Sixto Linares World record holder, 24-hour triathlon Cheryl Marek and Estelle Gray World record holders, cross-country tandem cycling Ingra Manecki World champion discus thrower Bill Manetti Power-lifting champion Ben Matthews U.S. Master's marathon champion Dan Millman World champion gymnast Martina Navratilova Champion tennis player Paavo Nurmi Long-distance runner, winner of nine Olympic medals and 20 world records Bill Pearl Four-time Mr. Universe Bill Pickering World record-holding swimmer Stan Price World weightlifting record holder, bench press Murray Rose Swimmer, winner of many Olympic gold medals and world records Dave Scott Six-time winner of the Ironman triathlon Art Still Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs MVP defensive end, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame Jane Wetzel U.S. National marathon champion Charlene Wong Williams Olympic champion figure skater
muppet, says...
3:56pm Wed 24 Jan 07
MAISIE, says...
3:58pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Barry Young, says...
4:06pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Here We Go, says...
4:28pm Wed 24 Jan 07
MAISIE wrote:ISLINGTON! Blimey! Have you got the right bloke?! Last time I met him it was in a normal, average pub in Yorkshire. And the next Labour Leader!! God, the guy seems more interested in being a normal 30 something bloke & doing his job. AND, anyway, what's all that to do with his beliefs on cruelty to animals! At least he's got beliefs! And .....(again!) I can't stand this government, Blair or any of them, hate the lot & the War in Iraq, so no point in trying to say I'm a crony! Try treating people as individuals! Paul seems OK to me.
This is all publicity seeking for the foie gras eating politicos who hang out with Cllr Blanchard in Islington restaurants. Not many of you will be aware that he is supposed to be the Parliamentary Advisor to Lord Cumnock (aka war mongering George Ffoulkes) He is also on the Labour list for fast tracking bright young things and is being groomed to be a next Labour leader. He has the patronage of Hazel Blears and Alan Johnson - two more politicos who don't know how the rest of us have to live and cannot afford foie gras even if we wanted it. So Paul, be honest and stop seeking publicity. You lost my vote years ago when you refused to march against the Iraq war.
J, says...
4:29pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Observer, says...
5:02pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Ah yes, that's right, we can't go upsetting them can we, that'd be racist.
bean flicker, says...
5:09pm Wed 24 Jan 07
What utter tripe.
Everyones knows that she enjoys nothing better than munching on beef..curtains.
johnny, says...
5:40pm Wed 24 Jan 07
puppy love wrote:I prefer my beaver pink!
candian geese are very sumptious,plenty about too. ive got a recipe book on rare foods. id like to try doggy while spit roasting a beaver.
ron dyson, says...
7:57pm Wed 24 Jan 07
v. knighton, says...
10:39pm Wed 24 Jan 07
Councillor Paul Blanchard is rather presumptuous to think he can impose his choice of menus on our local restaurants. If he doesnt like the idea of foie gras, he can abstain, but what authority does he have to stop others enjoying it? Such moral condescention is despicable as well as ill-informed.
In my native France unlike perhaps in other countries - foie gras production and animal husbandry are strictly regulated and controlled; the small artisan producers of South-West France scrupulously adhere to these requirements and have great respect for their animals and immense pride in the quality of the finished product.
Cllr. Blanchard should take a trip to South-West France and visit a few producers to gain an understanding of what foie gras production really entails and see for himself how it is done.
Perhaps then, instead of wanting to ban restaurateurs from selling foie gras, he might demand they ensure the foie gras on their menus is of the utmost quality and has a clear traceability back to the producer. This way, he can be sure to avoid the evils on which he built his ridiculous campaign.
And if the Councillor decides to go ahead with his crusade, surely his ban should extend to fruit and vegetables from labour-exploiting farms in african countries, intensively-produced poultry and nearly-extinguished fish?
Véronique Knighton
York.
Spen, says...
12:46am Thu 25 Jan 07
Sarah wrote:York Council is giving people the choice No, york Council are preventing people having choice
By bringing this cruel practice to the public's attention, York Council is giving people the choice to do the right thing. Cruelty like this goes unchallenged too often in modern society!
Laura Louzader, says...
1:47am Thu 25 Jan 07
I'm a resident of Chicago and I live in the 49th Ward, represented by Alderman Joe Moore. I understand that our AlderMooron has recently visited your part of the world in order to promote a ban on fois gras, as though he had nothing better to concern himself with, like the ongoing problems with crime, slumlords, and lack of economic development in his ward.
Mr. Moore has made this his pet issue, I believe, because he has so little to his credit in any other area, except, of course, his efforts to make Chicago even more hostile to business than it already is by his 'big box' ordinance that would have forced 'big box' retailers to pay a minimum wage substantially higher than other businesses in the city, and than anyone in the suburbs.
The Mooron has, in the 16 years he has held his office, failed to curb slumlords, make the area attractive to the kind of retail we want, failed to respond to residents' complaints about crime, gangs, and drug dealing, and moreover has rubberstamped every TIF boondogle that will take money from necessary services to deliver it to well-connected private developers and corporations.
The fois gras issue is Moore's ticket to the 'big time', he believes, because it wins approval from celebrities like Paul McCartney, and is an easy 'feel good'.
It would be more to his credit if he were to take a reasoned stand against the unspeakable cruelty of agribusiness and the meatpacking industry in general, but Moore, like all bullies, is a coward and would rather take on a small industry and a food hardly anyone eats than take on the powerful agribusiness lobby or meat-packing industry. Yet, you cannot take a stand against animal cruelty without taking on these, as well as the dairy industry.
The fois gras ban has only made that food the most popular food in Chicago, where the new law is widely flouted. Just what we needed-another unenforceable law governing very private behavior, in a major American city rife with violent crime, and which has many other more pressing issues to deal with.
All you will accomplish with a ban on a particular food item is to make another unenforceable law, which engenders contempt for the law and creates lawlessness and disorder.
You shouldn't even let your own city council tell you what to eat and you should for the love of the gods not let a failing small-time American politician whose constituents roundly despise dictate your eating habits and morals.
Shane, says...
10:02am Thu 25 Jan 07
J, says...
10:42am Thu 25 Jan 07
Another typical wannabe politician taking a shot at some thing which is easy target as the majority of the population don't understand gavage but can respond the to pictures of little fluffy ducks with a pipe in their throat.
If he wanted to do something that would make a real difference to animal welfare. How about the sale of broiler chickens in supermarkets. Go for it Paul. I will support a motion which calls for York to ban the sale of broiler birds in York. What not got the balls to take on the likes of the big four supermarkets and numerous local suppliers but can target probably less than a dozen small independent businesses . What a huge difference you will make and how brave you are.
D, says...
3:14pm Thu 25 Jan 07
Anyway, not being a Yorkist I cannot comment on the state of the city but this does appear to be a minor problem for a city official to concentrate on.
reader, says...
4:40pm Thu 25 Jan 07
http://superchefblog.com/2007/01/foie-gras-war-from-york-to-china.html
Magda Szyffer, says...
1:52am Fri 26 Jan 07
Christopher of California, says...
2:24am Fri 26 Jan 07
York, if you succeed in banning this, you will set a brilliant example for the rest of the world.
I certainly hope you do!
Laura Louzader, says...
5:15am Fri 26 Jan 07
I could support such a ban. We really don't need to eat meat or dairy products to be healthy, and the conditions under which all animals raised for food are kept are barbaric in the extreme.
I am personally committed to the vegan lifestyle, as it is not only kinder, but consumes much less energy and is altogether easier on the environment.
However, the 'feel good' crowd will go for the fois gras ban while continuing to eat their beef and chicken. It's so much easier to ease your conscience by making a law binding upon other people that will in no way discommode you.
I find the hypocracy of it insufferable, especially since it in no way mitigates the brutalality of agribusiness on the whole.
Alex Robinsn, says...
12:38am Sun 28 Jan 07
Check out EDM 1517, look at www.sweetpoison.com and do a search on the internet for dangerous e numbers (e951). That's more helpful than this french stuff.
Huge Heffer, says...
12:05pm Sun 28 Jan 07
Alex Robinsn wrote:Hit the nail on the head there, Alex. Perhaps if they spent more time looking at what does more damage to us, rather than interfering with the way the French do things, we would all be a lot healthier.
Why don't they ban Aspartame. Far worse to mankind than some over fed goose liver.
Check out EDM 1517, look at www.sweetpoison.com and do a search on the internet for dangerous e numbers (e951). That's more helpful than this french stuff.
I have looked into Aspartame poisoning, it is by far the most evil substance in the food chain.
For a city like York to lose a Sugar Factory and all those associated jobs, it is about time the residents looked into what the food industry is using instead of sugar and WHY. The aspartame industry is full of corruption. I did a search for 'Aspartame' & '92' and was horrified, try it!
Huge.
J, says...
5:03pm Mon 29 Jan 07
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Marvin, says...
9:46am Tue 23 Jan 07