Anger at huge Chinese foie gras project

China is set to become one of the biggest international producers of foie gras, much to the chagrin of the mainland's fledgling animal rights movement.

The move comes as concerns about force-feeding connected to the French delicacy is driving the industry out of developed nations.

But plans to establish a massive production facility on the shores of Poyang Lake in Jiangxi province, announced by a British investment company, have prompted a Beijing-based environmental group to call for a boycott of the delicacy.

The Darwin Natural Knowledge Society has launched a campaign condemning the project, which it believes would be one of the biggest in the world.

'As we understand it, the project has already started, and the first products are expected to be on the market by the end of this year,' said Liu Huili, a spokeswoman for the society. 'Foie gras production is inherently cruel, as the force-feeding causes the ducks' livers to swell up to six to 10 times their normal size.'

Concerns over the traditional gavage method - force-feeding ducks and geese through a metal tube inserted down the bird's throat - has led to growing pressure for a ban in all European Union countries.

A food fair in Germany in July caused a minor diplomatic incident after it banned French producers of foie gras from attending, on the grounds of animal rights concerns.