[Azred]

The news story is here.

from the article: PARIS -- Foie gras is a travesty for some, a delicacy for others. But for French lawmakers it is part of France's cultural heritage, to be protected like a great work of art. Lower house deputies approved a draft law on Tuesday that declares foie gras "part of the cultural and gastronomic patrimony, protected in France." The measure, an amendment to a sweeping bill to overall agricultural policy, was passed unanimously on Monday. The entire draft law passed 376-150 on Tuesday. Animal protection groups, and even some governments, oppose the forced-feeding of ducks and geese needed to make the gourmet product that is a specialty of southwest France. The lawmakers did not shy away from telling it like it is, defining foie gras in the amendment as "the liver of a duck or a goose specially fattened by force-feeding." "Foie gras is an emblematic element of our gastronomy and our culture," read an accompanying explanation of the amendment. The move comes amid growing criticism of the method used to obtain foie gras _ stuffing the duck or goose for a 10-day period to fatten the liver and create the unctuous pate. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which fights cruelty to animals, denounced the forced-feeding of fowl on Tuesday, calling it "veritable torture for geese and ducks." A foundation statement asked consumers to stop eating foie gras _ a mainstay of the French Christmas season. Lawmakers noted that France produces 83 percent of the world's foie gras _ and eats more than 90 percent of it.

I've had foie gras before; it's really tasty. However, to protect it? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img] Oh, well. Lawmakers everywhere do strange things from time to time.

Most Americans don't even know what it is, anyway.... [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]

[ 10-18-2005, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: Azred ]