If you’re wondering what to buy Ricky Gervais for his 50th birthday on 25 June, you’d better steer clear of anything from Fortnum & Mason! The comedian set aside his well-honed sense of humour to pen a deadly serious letter on PETA's behalf to F&M head Beverley Aspinall calling the department store out for its sale of cruelly produced foie gras.
Foie gras is a pâté made from the livers of ducks and geese.
“I have been a customer of your store, for many years and I consider it a great British institution,” writes Ricky. "I am however, saddened to hear that despite the extremely unethical processes involved in obtaining it, you continue to stock foie gras.
“You may be unaware, but the process in procuring this delicacy is a very cruel method indeed. The goose is continually overfed through a large pipe, which is forced down its throat. This causes the defenceless animal’s liver to swell to several times its normal size.
“This is a terribly inhumane way to treat any animal, and it is upsetting that the trading of this food simply keeps the high demand for this unnecessary torture.
“If you would reconsider your stance on selling this awful product, it would be a huge step for this campaign.”
Gervais isn’t the only public figure to team up with PETA to speak out against Fortnum & Mason’s continued sale of foie gras. Other supporters of PETA’s campaign include campaign leader Sir Roger Moore as well as Twiggy, Jenny Seagrove, Carley Stenson, Peter Egan, Owain Yeoman and the Duchess of Hamilton – all of whom have appealed to F&M to have a heart and take this “torture in a tin” off the shelves.
Source: PETA
