Environment Minister Koizumi for ethical diet, too, “avoids eating foie gras”

On November 17, 2020, at the House of Representatives Environment Committee, Representative Keinin Horikoshi explained the cruelty of foie gras and the heated discussions in France. The day has finally come when we can talk about the cruelty of foie gras in the Diet!

This question leads to an appeal to prevent cruelty to livestock animals, but stated that the world is beginning to reject cruel procedures. Foie gras, which is said to be one of the world’s three major delicacies and is indispensable for Christmas in France, is now in an era where the majority of people are ok for it to be banned even in France. Last year, New York City, one of the centers of consumption, banned foie gras sales. The demand continues to decline in Japan as well.

“For example the kind of discussion being held in France now is about foie gras, which is a traditional food; ducks and geese with fatty liver disease… using so-called forced feeding gavage, about two weeks before shipping, a large amount of corn powder is forcibly drunk and eaten, and fatty livers and sick livers are produced, which is the traditional food, so-called foie gras. There is a lot of public opinion about the method of forced feeding, and there is a growing voice about whether this is really (doing) good for the animals, and now in France, the pros and cons of this gavage, the way of forced feeding, have been questioned.” To this information by Representative Horikoshi, the Environment Minister Koizumi responded:

“Your honor talked about foie gras, but I also try not to eat foie gras now. And recently from someone’s recommendation I went to a vegan restaurant that ranked number one in the world. I was surprised. Really if you don’t tell me I wouldn’t notice; I ate it thinking it’s yakitori but it wasn’t; I thought it was cheese in the salad but it wasn’t cheese. I can’t do this perfectly, but in aiming for a more sustainable society and decarbonization, changing our own surroundings, not just “my bag”, eco bag, and “my bottle”, but also the food supply chain, this whole thinking about what’s happening and how much resources are wasted in the fashion production process; I’m thinking I would like to work on each and every one of them.”

In addition, Representative Horikoshi said, “In the situation that’s said to be a multicultural society going forward, there are still few vegan options in Japan, inconvenienced, and since this affects the inbound population, I would like the Ministry of the Environment to promote this largely, too, so I beg you this in addition. “

One act that makes us think that society will get better and better as politics shifts to younger people.

Makes us very happy. Ethical consumption, including animal issues, is steadily penetrating.