BBC Television programmes permalink
The use of foie gras in cookery shows
This discussion has been closed.
-
Message 1.
Posted by Jynxygirl (U15624770) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
re: The Great British Menu 20/02/13
I am astounded that after many complaints the BBC is still allowing the use of the cruelly-produced "torture in a tin" that is foie gras in its cookery shows. I thought the BBC was supposed to be a responsible broadcaster. Obviously not or they would not allow the blatant use of a product that is considered so cruel that production of it is banned in this country. It is about time the BBC realised how the public feel about animal cruelty. I object to paying a licence fee which I can't afford to subsidise the promotion of said animal cruelty. I predict they will lose many viewers and even more respect after this programme which they can ill afford after the Jimmy Savile debacle. -
Message 2
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I don't believe they said where the foie gras was sourced. Not ALL foie gras is obtained by crulety and forced feeding. A lot of foie gras is now produced by natural gluttony.
-
Message 3
Posted by longmemoryintv (U15477482) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
re: The Great British Menu 20/02/13
I am astounded that after many complaints the BBC is still allowing the use of the cruelly-produced "torture in a tin" that is foie gras in its cookery shows. I thought the BBC was supposed to be a responsible broadcaster. Obviously not or they would not allow the blatant use of a product that is considered so cruel that production of it is banned in this country. It is about time the BBC realised how the public feel about animal cruelty. I object to paying a licence fee which I can't afford to subsidise the promotion of said animal cruelty. I predict they will lose many viewers and even more respect after this programme which they can ill afford after the Jimmy Savile debacle. For Heaven's sake, woman, get a sense of proportion. -
Message 4
Posted by tony ingram (U14880461) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I like foie gras. Haven't had it in years though. Maybe next time I go shopping...
-
Message 5
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
ps there were complaints last year as well www.dailymail.co.uk/...
Quote from that article - The BBC has now received more than 400 complaints about the programme, which aired last Monday, as animal rights campaigners condemned the corporation for publicising the dish.
However, 400 complaints seems low compared with the number of people who actually watched the programme and didn't complain.
-
Message 6
Posted by Huckerback (U14411634) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I object to foie gras, veal and boiling crustaceans alive - but what's the point of complaining to the BBC about it?
They have a pretty shameful record on animal cruelty. -
Message 7
Posted by Lee (U1149673) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
ps there were complaints last year as well www.dailymail.co.uk/...
Quote from that article - The BBC has now received more than 400 complaints about the programme, which aired last Monday, as animal rights campaigners condemned the corporation for publicising the dish.
However, 400 complaints seems low compared with the number of people who actually watched the programme and didn't complain.
As the article states, the complaints were sent in by members of a lobby group at their request. Most of those people won't have actually seen the programme. -
Message 8
Posted by Huckerback (U14411634) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
As the article states, the complaints were sent in by members of a lobby group at their request. Most of those people won't have actually seen the programme. Does that matter in this instance?
Would seeing footage of the actual foie gras make a difference?
-
Message 9
Posted by Bouillaguet (U14312340) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I object to foie gras, veal and boiling crustaceans alive - but what's the point of complaining to the BBC about it?
They have a pretty shameful record on animal cruelty. What is your objection to veal? -
Message 10
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Yes it did, so that makes the ratio of viewers to complaints even lower.
I have just spoken to the hotel where Colin McGurran is Head Chef, they have confirmed that all the foie gras they use at the resturant, and which Colin would use in the competition, is ethically sourced from non cruelty production.
-
Message 11
Posted by Lee (U1149673) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
As the article states, the complaints were sent in by members of a lobby group at their request. Most of those people won't have actually seen the programme. Does that matter in this instance?
Would seeing footage of the actual foie gras make a difference?
Not really, but 400 is unusually high for a specific broadcast. It's just worth noting that the figure is the result of a pressure group lobbying its members rather that a natural reaction from the people who actually saw the programme. -
Message 12
Posted by St Maddenus patron saint of reprobates (U14314874) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
"I predict they will lose many viewers and even more respect after this programme which they can ill afford after the Jimmy Savile debacle."
Jynxy Bringing Jimmy Savile into a debate on Fois gras will lose you even more respect than you could possibly imagine.
You may as well bring in the Nazi's too. I do not approve of force fed Fois Gras but I cannot see a compareson to Child abuse.. -
Message 13
Posted by AJScribe (U15624854) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
What episode was foie gras used in?
-
Message 14
Posted by Huckerback (U14411634) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I do not approve of force fed Fois Gras but I cannot see a compareson to Child abuse.. I think there is a comparison in a lack of compassion and empathy leading to these situations.
But these are very emotive subjects, and I'd agree it is generally counter-productive to mention them both in the same context. Most people regard human tragedies as unquestionably more important than those experienced by other species. -
Message 15
This posting has been hidden during moderation because it broke the House Rules in some way.
-
Message 16
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Last night, here's a link to iPlayer, 2.50 minutes in. www.bbc.co.uk/iplaye...
But as I have said already, his hotel have confirmed all their foie gras is sourced ethically from non cruelty production farms.
-
Message 17
Posted by zencat (U14877400) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
As one goose said to the other "Life's a binge, and then you die!"
-
Message 18
Posted by BooBoo2 (U1168789) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Amazing how pressure groups are pandered to in some circumstances and dismissed on others. Equally how is it that one complaint on a subject can cause an immediate reaction whilst 400 complaints on another is seen as too little? We have seen posters removed from the underground because of a few complaints when tens of thousands (or more) have not.
Simple fact is some subjects causes fear amongst authorities and some pressure groups wield an disproportionate amount of power.
-
Message 19
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Oh dear
can't help but smile at that one zencat. -
Message 20
Posted by BooBoo2 (U1168789) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Didn't the second goose say "get stuffed!" a cock a snook to the first one? or am I finally going quakers. -
Message 21
Posted by Lee (U1149673) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Amazing how pressure groups are pandered to in some circumstances and dismissed on others. Equally how is it that one complaint on a subject can cause an immediate reaction whilst 400 complaints on another is seen as too little? We have seen posters removed from the underground because of a few complaints when tens of thousands (or more) have not.
Simple fact is some subjects causes fear amongst authorities and some pressure groups wield an disproportionate amount of power.
I don't know about other organisations (like the Underground) but at the BBC decisions to remove something or make a change are based on the validity of the complaint. It doesn't matter if there's only one complaint, or 10.000 of them. If an examination of the issue shows something is wrong, it will be changed. If there's nothing wrong, then it won't be changed. -
Message 22
Posted by longmemoryintv (U15477482) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I object to foie gras, veal and boiling crustaceans alive - but what's the point of complaining to the BBC about it?
They have a pretty shameful record on animal cruelty. What is your objection to veal? Yes, come on, what's your objection to veal? In this part of France, it's 'veau sous la mère' - calves in open fields suckling from their cow mothers. -
Message 23
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I object to foie gras, veal and boiling crustaceans alive - but what's the point of complaining to the BBC about it?
They have a pretty shameful record on animal cruelty. What is your objection to veal? Yes, come on, what's your objection to veal? In this part of France, it's 'veau sous la mère' - calves in open fields suckling from their cow mothers. And all UK produced veal is rose, male calves raised in good conditions for their admiittedly short lives, (no shorter than lamb etc though) but otherwise they would most probably be killed at birth.
-
Message 24
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
This is obviously going to descend into what is and what is not ethical debates-whereas the OP will be conspicuous by their absence.
-
Message 25
Posted by St Maddenus patron saint of reprobates (U14314874) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
"But as I have said already, his hotel have confirmed all their foie gras is sourced ethically from non cruelty production farms. "
When have facts ever come into a discussion here
"Life's a binge"
"This is obviously going to descend into what is and what is not ethical debates-whereas the OP will be conspicuous by their absence."
Yes.. Do you think the DM will pick up on this one? -
Message 26
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
You also make me smile sometimes StM.
You are right thedogcody, so I will leave it for now to keep peace.
-
Message 27
Posted by St Maddenus patron saint of reprobates (U14314874) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
thanks.
Unsubsribing too as this is just going to go round in circles.
There is just one thing I miss, one character I should say. I miss Alexrabidsyskin or whatever his name was. Always good for an irrational debate on animal cruelty even when he was right. -
Message 28
Posted by brian spooner (U14259156) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I've heard that Foals and Puppies are delicious too.
-
Message 29
Posted by Chilliflake (U14757416) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
'However, 400 complaints seems low compared with the number of people who actually watched the programme and didn't complain.'
Complaint numbers reflect no true values. What about all those people out there that just can't be bothered to say or do anything either way?
-
Message 30
Posted by billy_bumble (U14467942) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
You know what I object to??
People who tell me what I should or shouldn't eat
-
Message 31
Posted by Stokey Sue (U14258170) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I object to foie gras, veal and boiling crustaceans alive - but what's the point of complaining to the BBC about it?
They have a pretty shameful record on animal cruelty. You're 20 years out of date with veal - UK rose veal is no crueller than lamb, or beef for that matter, and is accredited by RSPCA Freedom Foods
Crating (which really is cruel) has not been legal in the UK since 1990
Foie gras is legal across the EU, and widely on sale in London restaurants and shops, where people, of their own free will, pay good money for it
Why should the BBC join a boycott of a legal product, when boycott is supported by only a small minority of the viewers? That does not seem to be part of their charter -
Message 32
Posted by tony ingram (U14880461) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I object to foie gras, veal and boiling crustaceans alive - but what's the point of complaining to the BBC about it?
They have a pretty shameful record on animal cruelty. Do they? What, you mean there are cages full of live animals being tortured with electric prods at lunchtime in the bowels of Broadcasting House or something? I'm shocked! -
Message 33
This posting has been hidden during moderation because it broke the House Rules in some way.
-
Message 34
Posted by Lee (U1149673) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Failed post quoted - quote removed No, these are just SOME of the people occasionally employed the BBC. I think you'll find a wide range of views are held by our presenters and contributors. It's interesting how everyone with a strong view feels the BBC is a propaganda outlet for the opposite point of view.
-
Message 35
Posted by swillott (U13835085) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Notably the OP first time poster has started the debate and disappeared giving the ranters chance to spout.
I love fois gras, veal and cheval, which was much eaten in the UK until someone translated the French. -
Message 36
Posted by QE (U15612083) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
The so-called 'foie gras' possibly comes from Romanian pigeons via dodgy Eastern European food processing plants.
Otherwise, come on Jynxy, they're geese! If they weren't living like couch potatoes being encouraged to eat more than is, frankly, good for their liver, they'd be exhaustedly flapping back and forth between Greenland and Slimbridge pursued by Chris Packham, Martin Hughes-Games and a BBC film crew in a microlight.
Please don't start on about cruelty to haggis prior to next year's Burns Night! -
Message 37
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
I'm sorry you may feel I am a ranter taking the chance to spout.
Yes, unfortunately many first time posters will post and disappear, I feel that is because they want to have their say and don't realise people will expect them to come back and continue in a discussion or argument.
Maybe they would be better sending an email to POV, but they don't know that, and I can honestly tell you that I only responded to the OP in the hope that they did come back, but not expecting it.
Having said all that.............. does not you stating you love fois (foie) gras, veal and cheval untill some French transation mean you are spouting a little as well?
No, don't answer that.
-
Message 38
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Haggis hunt for 2012/2013 here haggishunt.scotsman....
-
Message 39
Posted by Essential Rabbit (U3613943) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
A lot of foie gras is now produced by natural gluttony
I'd be interested in your definition of natural gluttony when applied to a goose.
But as I have said already, his hotel have confirmed all their foie gras is sourced ethically from non cruelty production farms
"force feeding is required to meet the French legal definition of "foie gras""
"ethical foie gras is used for gavage-based foie gras production that is more concerned with the animal's welfare (using rubber hoses rather than steel pipes for feeding)"
So they only shove a rubber pipe down the goose's throat, rather than a steel one.
Yeah, really humane!!!
Personally I would allow foie gras production only if the producers were force fed in a similar way. -
Message 40
Posted by DoverSoul (U14934992) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
No bunny rabbit, they simply put out loads and loads of food and let the ducks or geese eat as much as they like, then when they are fatty enough the axe falls.
No different to most meat production of today.
-
Message 41
Posted by laughinsam (U11244950) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
By French law, foie gras can only be labelled as such if the product is engorged duck or goose liver and not mixed with other fats, but this foie gras is produced along kinder lines than gavage. The birds live longer, for up to 125 days, and during this time roam free-range in large fields. When September comes, instead of being force-fed polenta pumped with hormones through a tube, these birds are fed whole grain by hand, for 20 seconds twice a day, for up to 13 days.
-
Message 42
Posted by GusMcGuire (U7223549) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
No different to most meat production of today.
So now our foie gras has horse meat in it?! -
Message 43
Posted by Valdimar the Unending (U15551013) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
What about this then:
The new version avoids the process known as "la gavage" - force-feeding birds with grain by using a metal tube - by allowing geese to stock up on extra food naturally in preparation for their normal winter migration to Africa.
www.telegraph.co.uk/... -
Message 44
Posted by saffiewalks (U11222674) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
You all seem to be missing the main point. Comic Relief is largely about feeding starving people all over the world. So what does the clown on GBM do - use an obscenely expensive product, no I wouldn't eat it in a million years, the price of which could feed an poor family in the Third World for a month. Clever thinking.
To add insult to injury, he melted his fois gras balls, did not serve them and no doubt they went in the bin. -
Message 45
Posted by minibones (U14961554) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
You all seem to be missing the main point. Comic Relief is largely about feeding starving people all over the world. So what does the clown on GBM do - use an obscenely expensive product, no I wouldn't eat it in a million years, the price of which could feed an poor family in the Third World for a month. Clever thinking.
To add insult to injury, he melted his fois gras balls, did not serve them and no doubt they went in the bin. I bet the price of your car, television, laptop, smartphone, house, etc etc etc etc would also feed a a poor family in the Third World and probably for longer that the cost of a average portion of foi gras. -
Message 46
Posted by tony ingram (U14880461) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
What does that have to do with anything? He's entitled to whatever he's got.
-
Message 47
Posted by saffiewalks (U11222674) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
You all seem to be missing the main point. Comic Relief is largely about feeding starving people all over the world. So what does the clown on GBM do - use an obscenely expensive product, no I wouldn't eat it in a million years, the price of which could feed an poor family in the Third World for a month. Clever thinking.
To add insult to injury, he melted his fois gras balls, did not serve them and no doubt they went in the bin. I bet the price of your car, television, laptop, smartphone, house, etc etc etc etc would also feed a a poor family in the Third World and probably for longer that the cost of a average portion of foi gras. Don't own a car, laptop, smartphone or house - sorry to invalidate your reply.
Use an elderly PC, landline, and rely on public transport. -
Message 48
Posted by minibones (U14961554) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
What does that have to do with anything? He's entitled to whatever he's got. and someone's entitled to fois gras if they so wish
-
Message 49
Posted by minibones (U14961554) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
You all seem to be missing the main point. Comic Relief is largely about feeding starving people all over the world. So what does the clown on GBM do - use an obscenely expensive product, no I wouldn't eat it in a million years, the price of which could feed an poor family in the Third World for a month. Clever thinking.
To add insult to injury, he melted his fois gras balls, did not serve them and no doubt they went in the bin. I bet the price of your car, television, laptop, smartphone, house, etc etc etc etc would also feed a a poor family in the Third World and probably for longer that the cost of a average portion of foi gras. Don't own a car, laptop, smartphone or house - sorry to invalidate your reply.
Use an elderly PC, landline, and rely on public transport. OK, but just using them as exemplars of western benefits over the Third World. Are you sure your lifestyle is congruent with the poverty you were describing? Otherwise, maybe not your exact situation, but you must accept that the average Western lifestyle is supported by an excess that puts the production of fois gras into the shade. -
Message 50
Posted by daliscar (U15564228) on Thursday, 21st February 2013
You all seem to be missing the main point. Comic Relief is largely about feeding starving people all over the world. So what does the clown on GBM do - use an obscenely expensive product, no I wouldn't eat it in a million years, the price of which could feed an poor family in the Third World for a month. Clever thinking.
To add insult to injury, he melted his fois gras balls, did not serve them and no doubt they went in the bin. I bet the price of your car, television, laptop, smartphone, house, etc etc etc etc would also feed a a poor family in the Third World and probably for longer that the cost of a average portion of foi gras. Don't own a car, laptop, smartphone or house - sorry to invalidate your reply.
Use an elderly PC, landline, and rely on public transport. Then you are so untypical of your times, whether by choice tr not that your opinion on being any kind of consumer is irrelevant.
About this Board
The Points of View team invite you to discuss BBC Television programmes.
Add basic Smileys or extra Smileys to your posts.
Questions? Check the BBC FAQ for answers first!
Go to: BBC News Have your say for news discussions.
Complaints? Refer to the BBC complaints website
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Mon-Sat: 0900-2300
Sun: 1000-2300
This messageboard is reactively moderated.
Find out more about this board's House Rules
Search this Board
Recent Discussions
BBC iD
BBC iDbbc.co.uk navigation
BBC links
BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.