UK News

Prince Charles says "no" to foie gras - campaigners reveal

Feb 26, 2008, 16:11 GMT

London - Britain's Prince Charles has backed a call by animal rights campaigners to boycott the sale and consumption of the French delicacy foie gras, made from the liver of a specially fattened duck or goose.

Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (Viva) contacted Prince Charles after finding the product was for sale in a shop in Tetbury, south-west Britain, which has won royal approval for its range.

'I just wanted to reassure you that The Prince of Wales has a policy that his chefs should not buy foie gras,' the prince's private secretary said in his reply to Viva, published Tuesday.

Prince Charles had not been aware that the product was on sale in the House of Cheese in Tetbury, and he would address the issue of the royal warrant when it came up for review.

'The royal approval for the campaign to make Britain foie gras free is invaluable,' said Viva campaigns manager Justin Kerswell.

'There is nothing humane about forcing a pipe down a duck's throat and making it consume such an abnormal quantity of food its liver expands many times its normal size.'

'We ask consumers everywhere to give foie gras the elbow and go vegetarian,' he said.