Group of activists arrested for occupying Utrecht restaurant: stop serving foie gras!
With foie gras, spread thickly on a baguette, or fried with apples, you can make many lovers of classic French cuisine very happy. Geese and animal rights organizations, somewhat less so. Last Friday, the group Active for Justice rose up against the serving of foie gras at a restaurant in Utrecht.
According to trend forecaster Vincent van Dijk, classics such as foie gras, veal sweetbreads and Peking duck will be completely veganized this year. A horror for foie gras lovers, but something for animal rights organizations to celebrate.
For years, the controversial French ingredient has been under fire because of the animal suffering involved in obtaining foie gras: a fattened goose liver weighing at least four hundred grams. That is approximately six to ten times as heavy as a goose liver of normal weight. To reach four hundred grams or more, geese are forcibly fattened. A fatty mash is pumped directly into the animal’s esophagus through a rubber tube or metal rod.
Time for action
And that is anything but animal-friendly, Active for Justice also believes—although animal-friendly foie gras also exists. They protest animal suffering and, as part of that effort, restaurants serving foie gras to their guests. After sending emails and letters without receiving a response, the activists decided to occupy Bistronome Des Arts in Utrecht and chain themselves to the restaurant.
They also chanted slogans against the French product. Eventually, after consulting with the owner, the police allowed the activists to leave voluntarily if they identified themselves. They refused, after which six of the ten people were arrested.
During the tumultuous evening, one person had particularly bad luck. This guest not only missed their dinner but was also slightly injured after slipping on the activists’ flyers.
Criminal offense
In California, Australia and New York, selling and producing foie gras is prohibited. In the EU, foie gras is still produced in five countries: France, Spain, Belgium (Wallonia), Hungary and Bulgaria. In the Netherlands, only importing it is permitted.
Is that a problem? Should eating foie gras be banned altogether? Aren’t disruptive actions such as gluing or chaining yourself in place becoming a little excessive, or perhaps even annoying? You be the judge.
Source: NOS, Wakker Dier, image: Active for Justice
Also read:
- These are Europe’s most vegetarian-friendly cities
- Scientifically proven: male vegetarians fart more often
- The sobering truth about vegan cheese
