Production of foie gras and frogs’ legs comes under scrutiny

Imported foie gras and frogs’ legs destined for Swiss consumers will need to be clearly labelled if they’ve been produced using methods prohibited in Switzerland.

The Federal Council has adopted a motion calling for a mandatory declaration for products of animal origin obtained without anaesthesia, which can be the case with frogs’ legs. 

The Council has also specified that products derived from the force-feeding of geese and ducks, which applies to foie gras, is clearly stated. 

The new rules follow an initial motion, passed in 2021, calling for a “declaration of production methods prohibited in Switzerland” to be stated on affected products. 

The Council had originally planned to legislate on all products that fall into this category but said that this would be too costly and too complicated. 

The origins of foie gras and frogs’ legs have long been a cause for concern amongst animal rights campaigners.

 

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