Force India drivers dump controversial duck delicacy

New Delhi: Force India drivers Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi have joined reigning F1 champion Jenson Button in pledging not to eat `foie gras`, a French delicacy which has created a stir because of controversial production methods.

According to a statement by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone`s daughter Tamara wrote letters to the F1 drivers, requesting them to shun the dish. "Tamara Ecclestone, our glamorous anti-foie gras ambassador, took the cup when she got Liuzzi and Sutil to pledge not to support cruelty to birds," said PETA India`s Nikunj Sharma."We are delighted that Liuzzi and Sutil publicly rejected foie gras, and we hope that their compassionate example will inspire other drivers to follow their lead," he added. McLaren`s Jenson Button was the first driver to make such a pledge, while actors Sir Roger Moore and Kate Winslet have appeared in a video to narrate the cruelty of `foie gras` production. Tamara had recently done a nude photo-shoot with ducklings to raise awareness on the issue.Force-feeding of the ducks has been a vexed issue with the animal rights and welfare groups which find it cruel and inhumane. The ducks are usually fed corn boiled with fat, which facilitates ingestion and deposits fat in the liver to produce the buttery consistency relished by some. PTI