“Neither a call for a boycott nor a ban”. Grégory Doucet wanted to extinguish the controversy ignited following his comments on foie gras, banned from official events since 2020. In a forum
published this Sunday in the JDD, the ecological mayor of Lyon wishes to reassure the profession. In particular, restaurateurs who are quick to defend the sector of a “culinary and gastronomic heritage”.
By indicating that he wanted to “widen the dialogue” so that this initiative “can be followed in restaurants”, Grégory Doucet has turned part of the profession to back. Many see it as a sign of interference. A deprivation of liberties. And a call for a boycott.
“No reproach is made to the composition of the menus”
“No reproach is made to the composition of the menus of one like the other, answers the elected official from the outset. A good table goes through good products. Their total freedom is not open to debate. “But, insists the mayor of Lyon,” the question of public procurement should not be confused with that of festive meals, in the home as in the restaurant. “
“We are committed in our mandates to promote local productions, which take into account the issue of animal welfare, fair remuneration for producers, low ecological impact (and) respect for the land,” continues Grégory Doucet. Like 80% of French people [selon un sondage Ifop de janvier 2021], we would like to see the emergence of other models than that of industrial agriculture and intensive breeding, the trivialization or intensification of chain force-feeding of geese. “
“The choices made by the communities contribute to the evolution of practices, and that’s a good thing! », He concludes. The city of Lyon is not the only one to have banned foie gras from its official events. The ecological municipalities of Strasbourg and Grenoble have done the same.