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York hotel becomes first to ban foie gras
3:49am Friday 19th October 2007
Comments (44)A YORK hotel and restaurant chain has become the first in the city to ban French delicacy foie gras from its menu.
The de Bretton Hospitality Group acted after York council demanded the foodstuff be outlawed in Britain.
In a pioneering motion, the council also called for an end to its "cruel and painful" production.
"I have banned foie gras from all our restaurants with immediate effect," said de Bretton managing director David Hattersley, who recently acquired Four High Petergate Hotel & Bistro. I discovered that it had been on the menu at Four High Petergate in the past and I was horrified.
"It is disgraceful and will have no place in my businesses."
De Bretton also includes Harvilles Restaurant in Fossgate, Marmadukes Hotel, off Bootham, and the Lendal Tower complex on Lendal Bridge.
Foie gras is made by force-feeding ducks and geese until their livers swell to up to ten times their normal size.
Pneumatic pumps are used to force food down the birds' throats. They often suffer breathing difficulties and die early.
City councillor Paul Blanchard has spearheaded the campaign against foie gras, winning the support of James Bond star Roger Moore and launching a petition which now boasts thousands of names.
Coun Blanchard said: "This is great news, and serves as an inspiration to others. It goes without saying that I very much welcome their decision.
"De Bretton is the first hotel and restaurant group in York to stop serving foie gras, and I hope that many more follow suit. I will be writing to the other vendors asking them to follow their excellent example.
"They are obviously a progressive and customer-led organisation, and their decision will be good for their business and good for animal welfare too."
De Bretton's chefs only use quality ingredients carefully sourced from well-run farms. Monty's Grill at Marmadukes Hotel is Yorkshire's first rare breeds restaurant, and the company's chosen charities include The Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
"Animal welfare and traditional farming methods are very important to us," said Mr Hattersley. "The way foie gras is produced is barbaric and it will never be served in my restaurants."
Your Say YourYork Press
bjb, York says...
7:54am Fri 19 Oct 07
SilverSurfer, Surfing says...
8:14am Fri 19 Oct 07
ah shuddupayaface, York says...
8:39am Fri 19 Oct 07
SilverSurfer wrote:I'm sure they will miss your trade Silver surfer, i heard most other super heroes have been supporting foie gras aswell. Spiderman can't get enough of the stuff.
It's my birthday next month and had been planning a trip to Harvilles - I'll think of somewhere else now if I can't get Foie Gras!
Peter, Malton says...
8:43am Fri 19 Oct 07
Envelopes are brown, @ CYC says...
8:47am Fri 19 Oct 07
I wonder what is required for this, planning permission, a late license?
ouserower, york says...
8:51am Fri 19 Oct 07
Barry Bethal, says...
8:54am Fri 19 Oct 07
batman, york says...
8:59am Fri 19 Oct 07
I'm sure they will miss your trade Silver surfer, i heard most other super heroes have been supporting foie gras aswell. Spiderman can't get enough of the stuff.hey it keeps us going when the going gets tough.
Rust_Never_Sleeps, says...
9:13am Fri 19 Oct 07
Let's be realistic. Unless you have no life or interest in anything remotely important then you wouldn't give two hoots about bloody geese.
People are dying in illegal wars, starving in Africa, youths are going wild in Britain, old people can't afford to keep themselves warm, green belt land is being destroyed by big business and corrupt local government and all Blanchard and his stupid, tree hugging, gang can think about is bloody geese.
Somewhere the priorities have all been mixed up.
Please The Press, no more foie-gras.
Nobody really cares.
RodneyRowe, York says...
9:21am Fri 19 Oct 07
akuma, York says...
9:22am Fri 19 Oct 07
Food is food though, end of the day it all ends up in the same place, at the bottom of the toilet.
Autumn, York says...
9:41am Fri 19 Oct 07
Rust_Never_Sleeps, says...
9:54am Fri 19 Oct 07
RodneyRowe wrote:Because he hasn't a clue about real issues.
Who cares about Fois Gras anyway. I don't think I'll go to the restraunt just because they jump on some loony councillors bandwagon. Why doesn't Councillor Blanchard spend his time on more pressing York issues like student expulsion rates or transport or somthing that makes a real difference to his tax paying electorate, not some Animal Rights claptrap.
Isobel, York says...
10:00am Fri 19 Oct 07
Polls show consistently that the majority of British people care very much about animal welfare.
I'm glad the Press covers this issue - it's one of the main reasons that I buy the paper.
Rust_Never_Sleeps, says...
10:04am Fri 19 Oct 07
I'm sure the majority of the population will now be much more inclined to support 4 High Petergate because of their better animal welfare policies.
What planet do you live on?
Anyone with any sense will boycott any restaurant that has a policy of food fascism.
Have you actually tried foie-gras? It is delicious. Not something you would want to eat every day but perfect if you want to treat your palate to a lovely delicacy.
Next people will be telling us we shouldn't roast potatoes in goose fat!
art, York says...
11:17am Fri 19 Oct 07
How would you feel if it was your pet that was being force-fed? There's really no difference it's still a living creature.
I'm not a veggie, but do believe strongly that animal cruelty is unjustified and unnecessary in this day and age. Well done to those restaurants that take it off the menu!
Rust_Never_Sleeps, says...
11:24am Fri 19 Oct 07
Is he worried it might upset muslims? Surely a man so committed to animal rights wouldn't bow to political correctness?
jaycee, york says...
11:28am Fri 19 Oct 07
art, York says...
11:41am Fri 19 Oct 07
This isn't about telling people what they can and can't eat, it's about acknowledging that the practice is cruel and unnecessary.
art, York says...
11:42am Fri 19 Oct 07
This isn't about telling people what they can and can't eat, it's about acknowledging that the practice is cruel and unnecessary.
Rust_Never_Sleeps, says...
11:42am Fri 19 Oct 07
Notjimbhobs_mate, York says...
11:52am Fri 19 Oct 07
akuma wrote:I think I can smell Broderick slapping on the aftershave from here!
Maybe Delly will make an appearance today. Food is food though, end of the day it all ends up in the same place, at the bottom of the toilet.
Bemused, says...
11:53am Fri 19 Oct 07
And your views on halal meat Art?
And kosher, both are barbaric?
HOBBIT, at work says...
11:58am Fri 19 Oct 07
art wrote:Your not a veggie?? So tell me, the meat you do eat, how do you think those animals felt abouy dying to feed you, is that not as cruel... bit hypocritical dont you think??
How can anyone justify animal cruelty just so some diners can stuff their faces with a 'delicacy'? There are plenty of other delicacies that don't require the animal to be force-fed or caused discomfort eat those instead! How would you feel if it was your pet that was being force-fed? There's really no difference it's still a living creature. I'm not a veggie, but do believe strongly that animal cruelty is unjustified and unnecessary in this day and age. Well done to those restaurants that take it off the menu!
Dock Leaf, York says...
12:04pm Fri 19 Oct 07
should be working, york says...
12:20pm Fri 19 Oct 07
art, York says...
12:22pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Notjimbhobs_mate, York says...
12:32pm Fri 19 Oct 07
should be working wrote:I'm never giving you anymore bloody money if your using it to enjoy the finer things in life!
i think the stuff is great there are other ways to produce it though
sr, york says...
12:39pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Steven McLean, Leeds says...
12:45pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Rust_Never_Sleeps wrote:And you do???
RodneyRowe wrote: Who cares about Fois Gras anyway. I don't think I'll go to the restraunt just because they jump on some loony councillors bandwagon. Why doesn't Councillor Blanchard spend his time on more pressing York issues like student expulsion rates or transport or somthing that makes a real difference to his tax paying electorate, not some Animal Rights claptrap.Because he hasn't a clue about real issues.
Please don't make me laugh :):):)
HOBBIT, at work says...
12:46pm Fri 19 Oct 07
art wrote:So and please dont get me wrong here, i eat meat, I grew up on a farm, I know what happens at slaughter time, but your saying its okay to eat meat as long as its been well tearted whilst it were alive, but not so if it were treated badly?? It makes not a shred of difference, the end result is the same, slaughtered to feed us!
I don't belive I am hypocritical. I only buy meat that is free range, organic and I know has been treated as well as possible. I grew up on a smallholding and have an appreciation of where meat comes from and how an animal can live a good life if treated well and killed humanely.
art, York says...
1:12pm Fri 19 Oct 07
There is no excuse for cruelty in farming.
jonboy, malton says...
1:29pm Fri 19 Oct 07
are we going to start banning them too?
HOBBIT, at work says...
3:04pm Fri 19 Oct 07
jonboy wrote:All that already happened a few years ago, what a waste of time and energy....
what about veal calves? are we going to start banning them too?
Meep, York says...
3:08pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Holgate F****** Bridge, Chavs, Burglarys, Violent crime, the worst city council in England full of fat theiving jobs worths and a gazillion other things that are more important than a food stuff with a fancy french name.
Tippler, York says...
3:12pm Fri 19 Oct 07
People are dying in illegal wars, starving in Africa, youths are going wild in Britain, old people can't afford to keep themselves warm, green belt land is being destroyed by big business and corrupt local government
CHAOS CHAOS!!! thats right rust cos there are illegal wars famine in africa and youths running wild we are not entitled to worry about smaller things about children getting kidnapped about losing a finger in an accident. dont worry says rustneversleeps you have 9 other fingers and theres famine so shut up and stop complaining. my babys just died, shut up says rust thousnds die in illegal wars stop complaining.
its about time this barbaric foreign crap is banned from our island. we have no need for european delicacy scoffed by people who have far too much money than sense and thinks its sophistcated. your not cultured if you eat this your just a gullible pillock.
John M, says...
5:02pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Bemused, says...
6:04pm Fri 19 Oct 07
Posted by: John M on 5:02pm today
Tinned foie gras was on sale today in the Continental Market in Parliament Street.
Tinned foie gras was on sale today in the Continental Market in Parliament Street.
Up yours Blanchard!
RikRock, York says...
7:09pm Fri 19 Oct 07
its about time this barbaric foreign crap is banned from our island. we have no need for european delicacy scoffed by people who have far too much money than sense and thinks its sophistcated. your not cultured if you eat this your just a gullible pillock.
Totally agree.
In actual fact it is already banned - it has been illegal to make foie gras in this country for ages because of the cruelty involved - We shouldn't let the French and the EU decide our laws for us.
foie gras is dirty french food suitable only for posers or people who eat frogs legs and snails.
Bemused, says...
7:40pm Fri 19 Oct 07
We shouldn't let the French and the EU decide our laws for us.
We can't stop them, especially after Brown has sold us down the river even further today by signing the new EU Constitution!
RikRock, York says...
7:31am Sat 20 Oct 07
Britain has always had higher standards than the French. We beat them at Rugby and now we are going to ban their dirty food as well.
Eating Foie Gras is distinctly Un-Brtish - for many different reasons.
Ban Foie Gras - and well done to David Hatersly for making a stand.
John Marsh, York says...
7:09pm Mon 22 Oct 07
karkila, wgtn says...
9:52am Mon 17 Dec 07
This is a question that periodically raises its head, and I have yet to hear a rational voice amongst all the emotional opinions being aired. Some time ago I therefore phoned Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware, and spoke to the senior animal pathologist there, who would be one of the most highly trained veterinarians in the USA if not the world.
He turned out to be a no-nonsense Aussie, who fielded my question about the force-feeding of geese with the following comments, (as nearly as I can remember):
"The geese obviously don't mind being force fed, as you will notice that instead of running away from the farmer when he appears with the grain-bucket and funnel, they gather around to be fed. After all, can you imagine trying to catch each goose in a flock once a day and force a funnel into its gullet? There would certainly be an element of danger in that activity if the goose wished to resist. I expect that the goose feels like you or me after eating christmas dinner with all the trimmings and plum duff afterward. Now if you wanted to stop cruelty to animals then you should prevent people fishing with a hook and line. Don't let anyone tell you THAT doesn't hurt. You can perhaps imagine having a fish-hook lodged in your soft palate, and then pulled out."
I have no personal attachment to any particular argument in the fois gras debate, but just offer this as a factual and impartial viewpoint from a personal well-placed to know about what animals feel or suffer.
David Hattersley
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Taken for a Mug, To the right of centre says...
7:50am Fri 19 Oct 07
http://www.yorkpress
.co.uk/business/boss
/display.var.949192.
0.david_hattersley.p
hp
Such is the blessing, or curse, of the born entrepreneur, the first signs of which were seen when the ten-year-old David started selling poultry - chicks - by same-day rail service.
"I discovered that it had been on the menu at Four High Petergate in the past and I was horrified. It's disgraceful and will have no place in my businesses."
Don't worry David we have all got to start somewhere.