Origins and celebrations

Foie gras is proud of a long and prestigious history. The first traces of the delicacy go back to the time of ancient Egypt more than 3000 years BC. The Egyptians had observed the bulimia of some birds before their migration and their natural ability to store fat in the liver. They reproduced the technique of assisted feeding on domesticated animals. This technique then spread throughout history especially in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, this tradition continued in Jewish communities who used to replace butter with goose fat to cook their meat. The Jews then spread the foie gras production in France, especially in Alsace, as well as in Hungary and along the Danube with the migrations of Jews from Bohemia. As palmipeds are fed with corn, farms were progressively deployed in areas where the cultivation of this cereal was developing like in the south-west of France.

The foie gras has therefore become a traditional gastronomic product whose production is closely linked to the culinary identity of some Euro Foie Gras member countries: in France, foie gras is recognized as being part of the Protected Cultural and Gastronomic Heritage and in Hungary, goose liver has obtained the distinction “Hungaricum”: a unique product to which Hungarians attach great importance.

Contributing to the culinary outreach of Europe, foie gras is rooted in the identity of several territories and celebrations are organized. In Hungary, the Goose Festival is celebrated on Saint Martin’s day which marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Other examples in France: the Fest’Oie organized every year in the city of Sarlat to celebrate the goose of Périgord or the regional foie gras festival of the city of Phalsbourg near Strasbourg. These celebrations mean tradition, culture, heritage, conviviality, pleasure and sharing.

Differents products

Everything is good in the fat goose and fat duck! If foie gras remains the most noble and renowned product, other products delight our taste buds: duck breast also called “magret”, confit, rillettes etc.

The presentations of foie gras:

Raw foie gras:

Foie gras mainly cooked by processors and restaurateurs to make terrines to serve it fried for example. It is also bought by connoisseur consumers who want to prepare their own foie gras.

Processed foie gras

Ready-to-serve foie gras generally purchased by consumers. It is defined at European level as coming from an animal specially fattened to obtain a liver with a minimum weight of 300gr for duck and 400gr for goose. Learn more about this topic.

The appellations of foie gras:

Whole foie gras

Composed of a whole foie gras or one or more whole lobes of foie gras and accompanied by a seasoning.

Foie gras

Preparation consisting of pieces of agglomerated foie gras lobes and seasoning.

The block of foie gras

Preparation composed of foie gras mixed and reconstituted with the addition of a seasoning. The block of foie gras can include pieces of whole foie gras, it is then called block of foie gras with pieces.

Duck breast or “magret”

“Magret” is defined by the European Regulation No 543/2008 on marketing standards for poultry meat as coming from an animal that has produced foie gras. Corresponding to the breast of the fat goose or duck, it can be served as a main dish or smoked and dried to magnify mixed salads.

Confit

Confit is the leg of a duck or a goose. It is obtained thanks to the particular cooking of the meat in its fat.

Foie gras professions

In the European Union, the sector generates more than 50,000 direct jobs with a turnover of 4 billion euros. It is also the source of a series of indirect jobs on the part of food suppliers, hatcheries, slaughterhouses and traders.

Proud breeders committed to quality

Passionate about their profession, fat palmipeds breeders are in contact with their animals on a daily basis. They want them to live in good health to ensure satisfactory growth and excellent product quality.

For many breeders, the passion for foie gras is inherited from parents and grandparents and the majority of farms in Europe are family and extensive. Breeders of fat palmipeds are sometimes also corn producers; this corn is used to feed their animals. Thus, they are the custodians of a terroir and traditional know-how that is the pride of European gastronomy.

Processors and Chefs at the service of good taste

Terrine of foie gras, magret, goose or duck confit … So many products with high added value that thrill the taste buds. At an earlier stage, slaughtering, evisceration and cutting activities are necessary. The processing of raw products takes place either on the farm or in specialized establishments.

As for the dish itself, foie gras is open to all fantasies. Consecrated in a series of recipe books, it reveals its softness and delicate taste and is a must for a multitude of restaurants in Europe and around the world. Unsurprisingly, it is also the theme of a series of culinary contests and awards. For example, the “Foie Gras Challenge” in France allows Young Creators to express their inventiveness by putting foie gras in the spotlight. Honouring foie gras means honouring a European gastronomic heritage carried by all links in the production chain.