House of Lords bows to pressure and bans foie gras
The House of Lords is to take foie gras off its menus after bowing to pressure from MPs and animal rights campaigners.
Caterers at Lords had been criticised for serving the delicacy, which was available on a pre-Christmas menu as a confit of quails' eggs, carrot and black garlic and a foie gras mousse starter.
A number of MPs complained about its presence on menus, including Mark Pritchard, the Conservative MP for The Wrekin, who said: "Foie gras is produced in a very cruel way.
"I don't think it is in tune with public opinion. It is cruel and not sustainable. We need a little more fish and chips and a little less foie gras."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) had also garnered support from peers for foie gras removal from menus. It is already off the menu in the House of Commons.
A House of Lords spokesman said: "Foie gras was listed on a Christmas menu. The house has now risen so there's no food being served until January. When it returns on the 8 January there will be a new menu that will not feature foie gras."
A final decision over whether foie gras will ever be served again will be taken in the new year.
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By James Stagg
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