Animal Equality travels to Paris to defend ducks and geese at the Olympics

• On July 22, Animal Equality delivered 60,000 petition signatures to Olympic organizers in Paris, urging them to remove foie gras from the VIP hospitality menu.
• Joined by local animal protection groups and volunteers, Animal Equality held signs and projected messages on local buildings.
• Abigail Penny–Executive Director of Animal Equality UK–personally delivered the signatures to the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee.
• The in-person visit to Paris escalated the campaign just days before the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony.

On July 22, just days before the Olympics, Animal Equality intensified its global campaign against foie gras by traveling to Paris. Advocates carried over 60,000 petition signatures, urging the Olympic organizers to remove foie gras from the VIP hospitality menu. 

Supported by local groups and volunteers, protesters held signs outside the organizers’ offices, highlighting the cruelty of foie gras production. Their message: the public will not tolerate animal abuse.

The Executive Director of Animal Equality UK–Abigail Penny–personally delivered the signatures to the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee. That evening, advocates projected messages on buildings across Paris, declaring that consumers want foie gras out of the Olympics. 

Their actions drew attention from thousands of locals and tourists.

The long journey to Paris

Over the past month, Animal Equality has campaigned to remove foie gras from the Olympic Games’ hospitality menu. The campaign, launched by President and Co-founder Sharon Núñez, began with a letter to the event organizers.

Over 60,000 people signed Animal Equality’s global petition. A second letter followed, signed by Olympic medalists, conservationists, sustainability experts, and animal protection academics.

The campaign also included an email and social media effort, prompting thousands of supporters to message event organizers and comment on chefs’ Instagram posts.

Animal Equality’s efforts gained widespread media coverage, with articles in outlets such as Le Monde, Forbes, The Independent, and The Mirror.

Despite the campaign, the Olympic organizers have yet to take action. With the Games opening this Friday, Animal Equality escalated the campaign with its in-person visit to Paris.

What is foie gras? 

Each year, millions of ducks and geese suffer in the foie gras industry in France alone. These animals are force-fed large amounts of calorie-dense food to induce fatty liver disease, their livers then extracted and served in high-end restaurants. The force-feeding process occurs up to 63 times during an animal’s life.

Animal Equality has documented severe suffering on foie gras farms through over ten investigations across Europe. The evidence shows birds with breathing difficulties, eye infections, broken wings, and beaks, some covered in blood or left dead and rotting.

A compassionate approach to luxury

French chef Alexis Gauthier, owner of three London restaurants, has created his own plant-based faux gras recipe. This compassionate alternative provides the rich, luxurious taste of traditional foie gras–without the force-feeding cruelty. For more details on how to make this compassionate dish, visit Love Veg today. 

You can also sign up for our newsletter to receive a free cookbook filled with plant-based recipes, bringing even more kindness to your kitchen.

PROTECT DUCKS

Even before hatching from their eggs, ducklings communicate with their close‑knit families.

Protect these families by eating plant‑based and ditching animal products.