‘Torture in a tin’ removed from Winchester restaurant menu

Margaux Lounge, based on Jewry Street, confirmed it no longer serves the dish, which campaigners say is produced through inhumane methods.

Foie gras is created by force-feeding ducks and geese to enlarge their livers, a practice banned in the UK but still legal to import from countries where the process continues.

In March, PETA staged a protest outside Margaux Lounge to highlight what it calls the “cruel and violent” production behind the controversial delicacy. Demonstrators even recreated the force-feeding process to illustrate the suffering experienced by the birds.

Dr Carys Bennett from PETA said the restaurant’s decision marks an important moment in the group’s campaign. She even praised Margaux Lounge’s decision:

“We are so delighted that Margaux Lounge has made the compassionate decision to take foie gras off their menu, it is a product of cruelty, its torture in a tin.”

She added that the organisation is urging more restaurants to follow suit, and believes an import ban is necessary to stop the dish being served in the UK altogether.

“PETA are calling on the government to ban the importation and sale of foie gras in the UK. This is something that was promised before the election and we’re campaigning to death for them to take this action immediately. 86% of the British public want this to be banned!”

PETA says Margaux Lounge’s decision reflects a wider shift. King Charles has banned foie gras from all royal residences, and several restaurants across the country have introduced plant-based versions, known as ‘faux gras’.

Despite these developments, animal welfare groups argue that an import ban is needed to take foie gras off menus for good.

PETA now hopes the move in Winchester will encourage other businesses to reconsider their menus and ultimately help bring an end to foie gras sales across the UK.