Olympics organisers urged to drop foie gras from menu
The Independent|June 21, 2024
Catering at Paris Games set to include controversial product
CLAIRE COLLEY & JANE DALTON
Olympics organisers urged to drop foie gras from menu

Organisers of this year’s Olympic Games will be serving VIP guests foie gras – a product that is made by force-feeding ducks and geese – despite promoting the menu as eco-friendly and mostly meat-free.

Thousands of dishes that include the paté will be offered to guests with premium hospitality packages at the Paris event, which begins on 26 July. Force-feeding birds to make foie gras, which translates as “fatty liver”, is considered so cruel that producing it in the UK is banned, and Labour has promised to ban foie gras imports if it wins the 4 July general election.

Olympics organisers say they aim to “deliver a taste of France in a responsible manner”, and claim to be “laser-focused on showcasing French food that is sourced, produced and consumed in a responsible way”.

To try to provide sustainable, environmentally friendly options, 60 per cent of the 13 million meals provided will be meat-free and plant-based. However, despite the event’s organisers promoting “leaf over beef” and announcing that foie gras will not be offered to athletes in the Olympic Village or to general spectators, foie gras will feature on the hospitality menu.

This story is from the June 21, 2024 edition of The Independent.

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This story is from the June 21, 2024 edition of The Independent.

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