Actress Winslet speaks out against foie gras in video

Afp
Saturday 17 April 2010 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet threw her weight Wednesday behind a campaign against foie gras, narrating a video which she said shows the "terrifying and painful" way the food is produced.

Winslet, winner of the 2009 best actress Academy Award for "The Reader", put her voice to the footage for campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The video - which PETA said was filmed undercover on foie gras farms - shows birds confined to cramped cages and apparently being force-fed by having tubes placed down their throats.

The foodstuff is normally made by force-feeding ducks and geese to enlarge their livers.

"Foie gras is sold as an expensive 'delicacy' in some restaurants and shops, but no one pays a higher price for foie gras than the ducks and geese who are abused and killed to make it," she said.

"This is a terrifying and painful process for the birds, who have no semblance of a normal life and know that several times a day a tube will be rammed down their throats," added the 34-year-old.

She ended the video with an appeal to boycott the food: "Please join us in helping ducks and geese by pledging never to eat foie gras."

PETA said the video would be sent to exclusive department stores around the world in a bid to stop them selling the product.

Winslet is the latest British star to speak out against foie gras. Actor and former 007 Roger Moore paid for and starred in a poster campaign outside a top London shop in November against the food.

The bus stop poster outside the upmarket department store Selfridges, on the British capital's Oxford Street, urged shoppers to think twice about buying the delicacy. The ad was also for PETA.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in