Viva! Victory: Luxury Hotel Stops Selling Foie-Gras

Viva! has campaigned against the sale of foie-gras since 2009, as it is one of the most abusive animal products on the market. In 2011, Viva! successfully campaigned for Bath & North East Somerset Council to ban the sale of foie-gras in registered food outlets. It’s great to see The Gainsborough Bath Spa, a hotel known for it’s gold standard luxury, move away from foie-gras as well.

Foie-gras is produced by force-feeding caged geese and ducks with a metal tube until their liver swells up to ten times the natural size, which impairs function, restricts blood flow and makes it difficult for the birds to breathe. Despite the cruelty involved, it is known as one of the most luxurious food items in the world. 

“We are thrilled that The Gainsborough – a hotel which claims to set the gold standard for luxury hotels – has extended this ban to their menu. Given the production of foie-gras is banned in the UK due to the inhumane practice of force-feeding, the idea that foie-gras is a luxurious item is a sick joke. We hope this commitment will set precedence for other hotels, not just in Bath but across the UK,” said Viva!’s Campaigns Manager, Lex Rigby.

Times are changing

The production of foie-gras has already been banned in many countries including the UK, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland and Turkey because of the immense cruelty involved. But, retailers can still import the product from France, where around 75% of the world’s foie-gras is produced.

It is hoped The Gainsborough’s decision to remove foie-gras from the menu will set a moral benchmark for other high-end establishments to remove the cruel product from their menus and, ultimately, stop selling all products that involve animal cruelty.

“We very much welcome The Gainsborough’s sensible decision to remove foie-gras from their menu. The council simply cannot support the sale of food that involves such cruelty in its production”, said Councillor Dine Romero, Bath & North East Somerset council leader.

To find out how you can help end the cruelty involved in foie-gras, visit our campaigns page and get involved.