A TOWN centre shopper has called for a controversial pate to be taken off the shelves at Solihull's quarterly continental market.
Janet Cummings said she was horrified when she saw Pate de Foie Gras on sale on Saturday in Mell Square.
The luxury food, available for £12 a jar, has attracted controversy because it comes from enlarged geese or duck livers. According to animal rights campaigners the birds are force fed corn three times a day until their liver becomes eight-times larger than its original size.
Production of the food has been banned in the UK but sale of the meat and pate is still allowed.
"Solihull is my main shopping centre and I'm a regular visitor but after seeing this it's got a black mark by its name," said Ms Cummings, who lives in Rugby and campaigns for Compassion in World Farming (CIWF).
"I thought it was a disgrace that it was on sale. They force feed the birds corn down their gullets with machines, it's barbaric."
Geoff Drinkel, joint general manager of the market's organisers, Continental and Old French Market Ltd (COFM), said: "If the great chefs in England use Pate de Foie Gras, why should she pick on a continental market that has a few tins?
"I can understand her view but I'd much rather see people campaigning against cruelty to children."
