Foie gras is a popular Christmas delicacy in France. But this year there is a bottleneck. As geese and duck stocks have dwindled due to avian flu and the war in Ukraine has pushed up the cost of fattening the birds, a 30 to 40 percent drop in supplies is expected, the newspaper “Le Parisien” reported on Reference to the foie gras association.
In addition, consumers should expect significantly higher prices. Compared to the first half of 2020, the production costs for a foie gras goose have increased by 28 percent. The main reasons for this are higher grain supply and energy costs, but transport and packaging also cost more than before.
Breeding site shut down due to bird flu
The goose liver association had already warned about a drop in production in the spring. Due to the bird flu outbreak in various parts of the country, the breeding of geese and ducks, which are later fattened for foie gras, has come to a standstill.
Animals are fattened by cruel methods
In France, foie gras is traditionally part of most meals at Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For the delicacy, however, ducks and geese are fattened by a method that has a reputation for being cruel. The food is pumped directly through the throat of the birds with a metal tube. There are also more and more protests against this in France.
The producers’ association is concerned about consumer behaviour. About 40 percent of households continue to buy foie gras. According to the association, 11,674 tons of foie gras were produced in France last year, after 14,593 tons in 2020 and 16,764 tons the year before.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
