French MP complains over lack of foie-gras in parliamentary restaurants
MP from Gers in the south-west told menus have been changed to feature more ‘sustainable’ dishes
The controversial product is a specialist of the south-west
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An MP from the south-west of France has complained that foie gras seems to have been removed from the menus in restaurants serving politicians and staff in parliament.
Other politicians have since said however that there is no ban in place and that the restaurants are only trying to be more sustainable.
David Taupiac, an independent MP from Gers, spoke out after noticing a lack of the controversial food on menus and discussing the topic with restaurant staff at the Assemblée nationale.
They told him a recent change had banned them from ordering certain products, including foie gras, duck breast (magret de canard) and duck confit – all products emblematic of the south-west.
The ban was due to president of the Assemblée Yaël Braun-Pivet signing a charter of ‘good practice in collective catering’ from the Welfarm association, the MP was told.
The charter, among other protective measures for animals, bans products that ‘do not respect the fundamentals of animal welfare’.
Other poultry products the restaurants are also prevented from ordering include capons, Bresse PDO chicken and poularde.
Read more: Comment: France's obsession with eating dead animals must end
Farmer anger over changes
Farmers from the south-west are supporting Mr Taupiac, claiming the products are important not only to the region as a whole but particularly for farmers who raise ducks.
“Behind this decision we can see the influence of a lobby that would like to ban us from eating meat,” said farmer Michel Dubosc to media outlet La Dépêche.
“This move, supported by the president of the Assemblée nationale, is harmful to farmers. Why have you taken this position without any dialogue?” he added.
The move comes a few days before the Paris Agricultural Show, a major event on the farming calendar, and may further stoke farmer anger.
Unions have not officially called for the end of protests over working conditions and the signing of the controversial EU-South America free trade agreement (Mercosur).
Read more: Strikes in France in February 2025 and how you may be impacted
Is there really a ‘ban’?
Mr Taupiac’s comments clearly sparked widespread controversy, but it seems he may have been misled.
There appears to be confusion on the matter, as a fellow MP from Gers clarified on Sunday (February 16).
“Foie gras has never been banned from the Assemblée nationale,” said Jean-René Cazeneuve, who belongs to President Emmanuel Macron’s Ensemble party.
“The Assemblée has signed a protocol aimed at guaranteeing that 50% of the products offered in its restaurants are of sustainable origin… This in no way means that foie gras or any other product from our terroirs is excluded.”
Foie gras and other products that have a Signe d'Identification de la Qualité et de l'Origine (SIQO) label “fully meet the requirements of sustainability and quality [and] remain fully accessible.”
Foie gras is controversial, however consumption in 2024 bounced back after years of falling sales – 33% more foie gras was sold during the Christmas season compared to 2023.
Read more: Day 3 of French regional Christmas specialities: Foie gras
