Dale's Table

By Stella

September 21, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

So, are the Central Texas Animal Defense folks going to try to ban veal next? How about rabbit? Why don’t they just try to ban meat from being served ever. Have you ever seen how chickens are kept and slaughtered?

If you don’t like how foie gras is produced, then don’t buy it, or boycott restaurants who serve it. I like it, and don’t particularly think there is anything special about a goose, except how it tastes.

By bookishatx

September 12, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this

The protesters aren’t winning any hearts or minds by violating the restaurant owner’s rights, and the person caught on tape ought to be prosecuted to the full extent.

That said, the main scientific study Mark references above (http://artisanfarmers.statesmanblogs.com/) makes it seem as if there has been incontrovertable evidence to prove that force-feeding geese to enlarge their livers for foie gras production has no ill effects on the animals. It should be noted that while stating an objective approach in their methods, the study was significantly funded by the Animal Protection Office of the French Ministry of Agriculture, an agency of the French government. France is the largest producer of foie gras in the world, so a ban on the disputed practice would have extreme economic effects that country.

As far as I can tell, there have been a lot of conflicting studies, but none that have conclusively proven that the animals subject to this practice go unharmed.

I love foie gras. I eat it anytime I get the chance. But I don’t harbor any illusions about the methods of its production.

By Kaya

September 12, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

Vandalism is simply criminal and the protestor(s) responsible are hypocrites. You can’t decry something you belive is wrong while actively committing a crime without losing all your integrity. Grow up and back off the Austin restaurants. You’ve made your point about your food choices but you crossed the line with criminal behavior. The vandal(s) associated with the anti-foie gras group has completely undone any good work you sought to do.

By Mark

September 12, 2007 6:33 AM | Link to this

Foie gras production is not well understood by the public. Because of this, it is a logical target for animal rights activists. Research, as well as observation by impartial veterinarians, does not support the activist claims.

In 1998 a European Union committee criticized foie gras production but indicated there was very little scientific data against or in support of the practice.

To address the concerns of the committee, since 1998, researchers in France, significantly funded by the Animal Protection Office of the French Ministry of Agriculture, have done numerous experiments to investigate the animal welfare aspects of foie gras production. The conclusion of the research is that foie gras, in terms of animal welfare and animal health, is that foie gras is a “non-harmful, non-pathological product”.

For the science, see: http://artisanfarmers.statesmanblogs.com/

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has studied this issue since 2004, reviewing the research and visiting foie gras farms. They have rejected proposals to declare foie gras production detrimental to the animals’ welfare.

A report on some of the AVMA deliberations may be found at: http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/sep05/050901q.asp

I would guess the protesters outside Jezebel to not want to be troubled by the facts. They have no direct experience of foie gras farming and have not studied the available literature.

It is irresponsible, and as we see in Austin, dangerous, for the animal rights groups to prime these people with bad information. There are a lot of bad things in the community and the country they could be working to improve. Foie gras farming is not one of them. And certainly not the restaurants that serve foie gras.

By SH

September 11, 2007 7:06 PM | Link to this

Vandalism is wrong, but protesting is the American Way and I say KUDOS to this group protesting the serving of foie gras in every restaurant that serves it in Austin. Don’t just single out Jezebel! It’s being banned in other cities, as it should be in Austin. We live near Jezebel and do not intend to eat there.

By g_Ray

September 11, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

Foie Gras tastes good.

By JuJu

September 11, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

I do not approve of vandalism. However, I absolutely do not approve of any restaurant serving foie gras. This meat is produced in a very inhumane way. It should be against the law to treat animals that way. These people should try to find a legal way to stop this horrible cruelty, rather than vandalize resturants that serve foie gras.

By Paul Silver

September 10, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this

I intend to dine more regularly at Jezebel to support them against this extremism.

By E

September 10, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

I’m really concerned that the protesting group has chosen to single-out a single restaurant. What is their true goal? Are they trying to drive them out of business? I’ll say this, as a certified lover of foie gras, I respect their position, but vandalism and targeting a single company is doing more harm than good. On the flip-side, I’ll be dining at Restaurant Jezebel this week! I’ve been meaning to go, but hadn’t gotten to them. All this free publicity has me intrigued!

By JG

September 8, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this

It’s comments like what this so-called campaign against foie gras that will make me frequent Restaurant Jezebel and others like it. Who do these people think they are? Vandalizing businesses is no way to push some twisted agenda. All the best to all the restaurants that serve what the public wants. Sales will determine what is sold.