Alternatives to Foie Gras
During the holiday season, foie gras is sometimes served as part of the celebratory meal, but there are many alternatives available which are more humane
FOUR PAWS Switzerland has researched several alternative products to foie gras, many of which are already available in Switzerland. These alternatives can be split into:
1. Vegetarian or vegan alternatives, often known as “faux gras”.
2. Meat-based alternatives, sometimes referred to as “foie fin” or simply goose liver.
To help improve animal welfare, QUATRE PATTES recommends applying the 3Rs principle (Replace, Refine, Reduce):
- Replace foie gras with a plant alternative (this option is kindest to animals).
- Refine the quality of the meat, for example by choosing a foie fin (i.e. without force-feeding).
- In the case of foie gras, however, the third R (“Reduce”) is irrelevant. Even just once a year is too much!
Sadly, alternatives are not yet available everywhere, so on this page we have provided links to certain stores, restaurants and brands which advertise availability in Switzerland. We are not directly affiliated with any of these stores, restaurants or brands: we do not receive any commission on sales nor can we guarantee the availability of products or delivery.
QUESTIONS ABOUT VEGETARIAN/VEGAN ALTERNATIVES
There is a very long list of alternatives to foie gras, many of which are vegetarian or vegan.
Which vegetarian/vegan alternative should I serve at home?
If you prefer a Swiss product, “Noix gras” is a great option. It has been developed by a Michelin-starred Swiss chef in Zurich. Sales outlets are listed on the Noix gras website.
For lovers of Parfait, Faux gras de Gaia (available on this site for example) is undoubtedly the best option. Faux gras de Gaia is very similar in texture to foie gras, but the ingredient it has in common with Parfait means that it is also a bit more similar to it in terms of taste. For variety, there is also a version of Faux gras de Gaia with cranberries.
Make sure you check with your guests about potential allergies: many products, including Noix gras and Faux gras de Gaia, contain nuts.
There are also delicious alternatives made by small local producers. For example, the Epiq grocery store in Lausanne makes its own faux gras. Finally, you will find further below a list of restaurants.
How do I cook faux gras myself?
There are many recipes available online. Here we provide two that we have tried and tested ourselves.
I have a small budget, what’s the most affordable vegan alternative?
Several vegan alternatives to foie gras are less pricy than actual foie gras, making them an attractive financial as well as ethical alternative. This is for example the case of Faux gras de Gaia (on this site for example). Unfortunately, not all the vegan alternatives are currently available in Switzerland. Check out our full list here.
Which restaurants offer vegetarian or vegan alternatives in Switzerland?
Café Mutin (GE)
- Boulevard de la Cluse 20
- 1205 Genève
- +41 22 566 29 25
- https://cafemutin.ch/
This exclusively vegan restaurant has reinvented many meat dishes and attracts both passionate vegans as well as people used to more traditional cuisine. Their faux gras is only on the menu in winter, but the restaurant is worth a visit all year round.
Alive (GE)
- Rue des Barques 2
- 1207 Genève
- +41 22 735 30 75
- https://www.alive.swiss/
This café specialises in healthy and sustainable cuisine: 100% vegan and as organic and local as possible. Here you will also find gluten-free dishes, “superfoods”, etc. It is a great spot for those conscious of their diet or with allergies. Their faux gras is only available in winter.
Restaurant die Rose (ZU)
- Dorfstrasse 42
- 8803 Rüschlikon
- +41 44 724 00 77
- http://die-rose.ch/
This starred restaurant (1 Michelin star, 1 Michelin green star, 16 Gault&Millau points) is run by head chef Tobias Buholzer. It offers both vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as more traditional fare. Noix gras, a vegetarian recipe based on cashew nuts and Swiss butter, is on the menu all year round.
If you’re aware of other restaurants, please let us know and we will add them to our list.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MEAT-BASED ALTERNATIVES
Not ready to fully embrace the vegetarian or vegan options? Then start with these alternatives
What are the advantages and limitations of meat-based alternatives in terms of animal welfare?
The alternatives presented on this webpage exclude force-feeding, diseased organs and cages. In this respect, they represent a considerable improvement in animal welfare. However, there are other important aspects to the welfare of ducks and geese. For example, the ability to swim is essential for waterfowl. This cannot yet be guaranteed by all producers. This is also why vegetarian and vegan alternatives are the most animal-friendly. QUATRE PATTES is examining the other criteria for rearing conditions for the production of meat-based alternatives and will keep you informed of developments in due course.
Which meat alternative is best for serving at home?
Happy Foie products taste very similar to foie gras, but they are produced free range and without force-feeding. In Switzerland, the brand is available at farmy.ch as well as at Migros during winter in the Romandie, in Ticino, and some locations in the German speaking part of Switzerland.
Lovers of local products can also try house goose liver parfait by Ueli and Esther Niederhauser, produced in the canton of Bern. Please note that goose liver has a distinctive flavour that is different from duck liver. If you prefer duck, the duck terrine with truffles from Goldwurts.ch is made from ducks reared without force-feeding in the canton of Appenzell.
If you prefer to shop in-store rather than online, you will love Aldi’s Gourmet finest cuisine goose liver or Manor’s foie fin by Labeyrie. Depending on your personal taste, you might prefer another product from our full list.
I have a tight budget, what’s the most affordable meat alternative?
Foie fin is made from non-fatty liver (i.e. without force-feeding): the fat from another part of the duck or goose is often added. Foie fin usually costs less than foie gras, although the taste is equivalent. Depending on the store, Labeyrie’s foie fin can be almost half the price of the brand’s foie gras! That makes it the perfect opportunity to promote animal welfare and save money. Manor stores usually stock their foie fin on the same shelf as foie gras.
DUCKS AND GEESE NEED YOUR HELP
- Try one of the foie gras alternatives listed on this page and give up foie gras.
- Talk about alternatives! Share our page on social media. Tag quatrepattes.suisse on Facebook or quatrepatte_suisse on Instagram. Use the hashtag #StopFoieGras. You can even send a message to your contacts on WhatsApp.
- Avoid meat obtained from force-feeding. Magret is a product of force-feeding, unlike fillet. Fat, confit and gizzard also often come from animals subjected to force-feeding. Organic or Swiss meat is never from force-fed animals.