French Butchers Seek Police Protection Against Vegans

Veganism is an emotive subject – whether people eat meat products or don’t, the topic can provoke a lot of debate. In France, this passion is playing out at butcher shops around the country, where an all-out battle is raging with butchers on one side and vegans on the other.

There are not many vegans in France…

It might be a stereotype, but the majority of French people really do take an active interest in food and cooking (as well as wine) and when we think of traditional French dishes – beef bourguignon, cassoulet, daube – they all involve meat. France is not known to be a nation of vegetarians and it can be difficult to find vegetarian food, although the landscape is starting to change. Around 3–5% of the French now report themselves as being vegetarian but even fewer are vegan, although veganism is on the rise in France and many other European countries.

… but meat consumption is going down

Vegans have been protesting against French butchers

Vegan organisations have become much louder in trying to raise awareness about what they perceive to be animal cruelty in France. In recent months, there have been attacks on butcher shops where windows have been defaced with anti-meat stickers or slogans. Fifteen shopfronts have even been splashed with fake blood. In Lyon, a cheesemonger’s window was sprayed with the words, ‘milk is rape’ and across the country, a few butchers’ windows have been broken.

In retaliation, the butchers are asking for the government’s help

A total of 18,000 representatives of butchers and animal-related businesses have written a strongly-worded letter to President Macron’s government asking for police protection. The language they have used has been strong, saying they feel threatened by vegan ‘terrorists’ who are trying to force a different way of life onto people who don’t want it. As reported in The Guardian, the federation wrote: ‘We count on your services and on the support of the entire government so that the physical, verbal and moral violence stops as soon as possible’.

French butchers are obviously advocating more meat consumption

Butchers are increasingly lobbying the government against ‘anti-meat’ measures

Butchers are feeling the pressure of declining sales in France. The letter to ask for help was just the latest request for support from the French government. Butchers successfully fought a recent campaign by the government to introduce one vegetarian meal in schools each week; the bill was dropped after a strong protest. They are also currently taking a stand against the notion that non-meat products can call themselves by names usually associated with meat, such as ‘steak’ or ‘sausage’. For example, French butchers argue that it is not fair to claim that your tofu is a ‘fillet’, believing that a ‘fillet’ must contain meat.

It’s an emotive issue that doesn’t look like it’s going away

It seems that a new war is waging between French butchers and French vegans. Both sides are using fierce language, both sides hold firm beliefs about the best way to live your life and livelihoods are being affected. It seems this is an argument likely to run and run – there is a lot at ‘steak’ for everyone.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.