Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
birdsastorturedprisoners,here'sthe(politicallyincorrect)perspectiveofthosewho
produce and consume such farm-raised animals.
French enthusiasts of
la gavage
(as the force-feeding process is called) say the
animals are calm, in no pain, and are designed to take in food in this manner be-
cause of their massive gullets and expandable livers (used to store lots of fat for
their long migrations). Geese and ducks do not have a gag reflex, and the linings of
their throats are tough (they swallow rocks to store in their gizzards forgrinding the
food they eat). They can eat lots of food easily, without choking. They live lives at
least as comfy as the chickens, cows, and pigs that many people have no problem
eating, and are slaughtered as humanely as any nonhuman can expect in this food-
chain existence.
The quality of foie gras depends on a stress-free environment; the birds do best
with the same human feeder and a steady flow of good corn. These mostly free-
range geese and ducks live six months (most of our factory-farmed chickens in
