This holiday product will be present on end-of-year tables and prices should even drop!

Which product best represents end of year celebrations ? If we ask this question to consumers, the answers will be champagne, capon or even log. But the dish that will come back the most will certainly be foie gras.

Every year, foie gras is a must-have for the end-of-year celebrations. According to a survey by the Interprofessional Committee of Foie Gras Palmipedes (CIFOG) and the CSA, 92% of French people say they consume it and 74% of French people consider it as a great must-have for festive tables.

Only here, for three yearsthe foie gras sector has been heavily affected by avian influenzathe avian flu which decimated many farms. As a result, the production of foie gras was reduced and the price of its products was higher.

For this end of year 2024the foie gras sector has presented its forecasts and they are rather reassuring, both for producers and consumers. “On note a confirmed and gradual resumption of production”indicated Marie Laborde, deputy director at CIFOG, during the presentation of sector figures last October.

A wide and varied offer for all budgets

“This year, there will be foie gras at Christmas, but also duck breast and confit”assured Fabrice Chevalier, President of CIFOG. If foie gras will be present for the end of year celebrations, it is thanks to success of duck vaccination (flesh and foie gras). “Vaccination is a real success. France was a pioneer in this area”explains Fabrice Chevalier.

On October 2, 2023, the vaccination campaign for fatty webfoots was implemented across the entire territory. This vaccination made it possible to drastically reduce the number of outbreaks of avian influenza. During this same press conference, only five outbreaks were recorded since the summer and no preventive felling has taken place. In comparison, at the same time in 2023, there were more than 400 households.

Today in France, vaccination is compulsory for all ducks. If the latter was able to be put in place, it is thanks to thefinancial support from the State which amounts to 85% of the total amount. But for 2025, “there is still matters to be resolved” explains Fabrice Chevalier, particularly on the share of State funding.

Still according to the figures announced by the sector, 13,000 tonnes of products are available over the entire year 2024, i.e. 33% more compared to 2023. Enough to reassure consumers as the holidays approach, who can already find on the shelves “a wide and varied offering to meet all budgets”. And good news, prices should drop by 5 to 6%.

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