After Strasbourg, Grenoble, Villeurbanne, Lyon in its turn eliminates foie gras from the menu of its receptions.

The municipal team of Grégory Doucet, EELV mayor of Lyon has decided to ban foie gras from the menu of his official meals.

“We see it very badly, I am a small producer, my installation is totally organic and we work in a qualitative way” reacts Olivier Artigue from the Perrelles farm in Anse in Beaujolais. “Yet we are put in the same basket as large industrialists who make the most of their production.”

A choice for “animal welfare”

In a letter addressed to our colleagues from Lyon Mag the town hall of Lyon replied that it has “decided to stop the foie gras service during official events, buffet and reception”.

The municipality explains its choice by the fact that “Foie gras is a product of breeding that goes completely against animal welfare.”

“You should know that the overfeeding of ducks is something naturally chosen in connection with migration” answers Olivier Artigue from Perrelles farm in Anse. “Before leaving, the birds eat more to meet their needs during the journey. Physiologically, the duck works the same way, we haven’t distorted anything. ”

A difficult 2021 season for local producers

When asked if he feels like he’s being mistreated with his animals, he calmly replies that he doesn’t, that he raises them for 4 months and does not aim to make the biggest liver on each animal.

This farm produces 2,500 ducks per year and achieves between 30 and 40% of its turnover during the end of year celebrations. But he recognizes it: in 2021, the season is struggling to start and the industry fears the impact of these political decisions on the turnover of farms.

The Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region has around forty producers of foie gras. Lyon is the fifth municipality to have removed foie gras from its official meals after Grenoble, Strasbourg and Villeurbanne.