Dear Editor
Unlike vegetarian converts, I’ve never had a crisis of conscience about eating meat, provided it’s sourced from animals who’ve been treated with respect and slaughtered humanely. A prime example would be livestock reared on a Hebridean holding by a caring crofter who knows his stock individually.
This is most certainly not the case for ducks, geese and other unfortunate wildfowl imprisoned in tiny cages where, through a tube inserted down their gullet, they are force-fed nutrients that artificially enlarge their livers to grotesque proportions to provide the culinary delicacy known as foie gras. We can only imagine their sheer torment, and weep for those sociable animals whose natural inclination is to preen, graze and fly freely in the great outdoors.
This practice amounts to the prolonged torturing of helpless animals solely for the gastronomic kicks of wealthy patrons who frequent upmarket eateries. Anyone who enjoys this delicacy, aware of the pain and suffering endured to put it onto their plate, is quite simply a salivating sadist indulging in the dining equivalent of badger-baiting.
Though by no means the only culprit, one of the best known beneficiaries of selling foie gras to the well-heeled diners of his international restaurant chain is celebrity TV chef Gordon Ramsey of The F Word fame.
May I suggest that for Ramsey’s next TV appearance there should be a surprise departure from the usual recipe, turning the dining tables and The F Word on the celebrity chef. The BBC make-up department should attach to Ramsey’s real foul mouth Orville the Duck’s prosthetic fowl mouth through which pulverised horsemeat (available from selected supermarkets) is force-fed until, choking on his own vomit, he pleadingly ‘quacks’ for mercy. His pleas are ignored and the process is continually repeated until he’s writhing agonisingly in his own filth. This is what the BBC would describe as a real-life reconstruction.
This drastic departure from F Word normality should shock viewers out of their culinary comfort zone and traumatise Ramsey’s and other dining establishments’ clientele into a sudden loss of appetite for foie gras. If not, they’ll rightly be regarded by all humane people as the drooling, sadistic accomplices of restaurateurs profiteering from a barbaric form of animal torture.
Faithfully, etc
Iain M Macdonald
Miavaig
I frequently disagree with IMM of Miavig but, on this occasion, I totally agree with him about Foie Gras.
Actualy I completely disagree with IMM this time as well as every other time. He seems unable to think things through like many people on Lewis. I don’t disagree foie gras is cruel and horrible. Of course it is. But so are sauasages and eggs bought from any supermarket. These are all from animals who have led awful lives in cages and pens. People from the north of your island go to Sulisker to murder solan geese every year, not because they need to for food for themselves and their families, but because they are seen as a delicacy. Horrible cruel bloody needless death on a rock – for fun basically.Why doesn’t Ian Macdonald use his valuabe time complaining about that. maybe it is because he is just another hebriodean hypocrite – theres a lot of them about.
Fiona D–not all sausage and eggs are produced from cages and pens,outdoor production for instance.Not all indoor production is from cages and pens.Large deep littered straw yards afford social interaction,stimulation,healthy happy content animals,with little stress or health issues,far from being the exception,this is the norm..Having spent a career achieving results in the industry top 5% constantly for over 30 years l can comment with knowledge,not twisted heresay or narrow focused ideaology of some welfare lobby groups,to whom this sort of occurance does not fit with their indignant outraged campaigning style and membership figures.Oh,and foie gras production is barbaric and cruel.Unsurprisingly the vast majority of livestock farmers would agree,as they diligently go about their constant daily duties of ensuring the animals in their charge receive the best care they can provide,often at the expense of their own wellbeing.Those that do,or those that are content to say they do–pretty sure which option serves animals best
Flyingporkers: Totally agree.
So, Fiona D reckons people on Lewis are unable to think things through..(what she really means is you have not agreed with her). How often do we hear this stereotyping of a whole people just because they have a different viewpoint from such as her? If people in London, for example, disagree with her, does she label every Londoner as being unable to think things through? Learn to accept that others are just as entitled to their views as you are. Reasoned debate and argument can be carried out without the need to insult.
Given our need to eat, most reasonable people would surely agree that rearing and killing animals for human consumption ,though unavoidable, can be done in as humane a way as possible. So rather than lash out at those who share her concerns about animal welfare, Fiona D should direct her fire at the arrogant human dregs who believe it’s their fundamental right to have animals systematically tortured for their gastronomic pleasure,fashion tastes,or financial gain.
Although similarly lashed, I wouldn’t categorize those involved in the traditional annual cull of Solan Geese on Sulasgeir as animal torturers for following in the footsteps of their hunter/gatherer forebears. I would strongly recommend Fiona read ‘ The Guga Hunters’ by Donald S Murray, from she may form a more balanced perspective on what she mistakenly and melodramatically refers to as “ horrible,cruel bloody murder”
Which reminds me of my unpleasant task of how best to punish my normally well-behaved cat for her recent unprovoked and brutal murder of an innocent sparrow.
Was a man recently jailed for strangling a cat. He said he was “teaching it a lesson”
Though the cat won’t be harmed in any way for pursuing her natural hunting instinct,I’m really surprised that anyone thought I was serious
I don’t think he thought you were actually being serious IMM. The best thing about blogs and other ‘pewter’ based things, is that the tone of a post, as well as any sarcasm or innuendo used in them, is often lost, don’t you think?
Yes indeed Mr P. Things a lot more elusive to catch than leaping felines and airborne sparrows can at times pass unnoticed over our heads, as I mentioned earlier to my purring cat.