12/02/09 Tamara Ecclestone Reveals "The Naked Truth" About Foie Gras
Animal Friends and PETA in a campaign against goose liver pate
- Formula One Heiress Is Horrified By Production of "Torture in a Tin"
Wearing nothing but a bracelet and appearing with two adorable ducklings next to the tagline "The Naked Truth: Foie Gras Is Torture in a Tin," Formula One heiress Tamara Ecclestone is the star of a brand-new ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which Animal Friends will launch in Croatia, shot by ace photographer Karl Grant. In an exclusive PETA interview, Tamara explains the tremendous amount of suffering that goes into every sliver of the cruel "delicacy."
Says Tamara, "To produce foie gras, ducks and geese are force-fed by having metal pipes shoved down their throats. Corn mush is pumped into their stomachs, two or three times a day, every day for weeks... The pipes sometimes puncture their throats, causing severe injuries that make it painful or even impossible for them to drink."
Foie gras is goose and duck pate which is produced after four weeks of force-feeding of geese and ducks until their liver become 6 to 12 times larger then their normal size. They look like a pale, blown up mixture the size of a melon, instead of a small, firm and healthy organ. The gees and ducks then are being slaughtered and the ill organs of these tortured animals are put into further processing, and eventually human consumption.
Foie gras production is so cruel that it is prohibited in 16 countries, Croatia included. However, it is still legal to sell it in Britain, Croatia and throughout Europe. Amongst those who have spoken out against foie gras are Sir Roger Moore, Pope Benedict XVI and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, who has banned foie gras from Royal menus.
Named by Forbes as one of the "Hottest Billionaire Heiresses," Tamara is the daughter of Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone and Croatian model Slavica Ecclestone. In addition to starting her own TV production company, Tamara also reports for SKY Italia on the luxury lifestyle and party scene behind Formula One racing.
The advertisements with Tamara Ecclestone will be released in Croatia at the beginning of December, while Animal Friends with this campaign requests the legal ban on selling of foie gras and appeals to Croatian restaurants and stores to exclude goose and duck pate from their offer.