In a big win for animals, voters in Denver and Washington, D.C., overwhelmingly approved ballot measures banning the sale of foie gras and the force-feeding of birds in the November 3 election.
Foie gras, which means “fatty liver” in French, is the product of a torturous process in which a tube is shoved down a goose’s or duck’s throat while they are force-fed.
Besides just being brutal, the practice can cause injuries to their throats, breathing difficulties, and other serious health problems. This process, known as gavage, causes their livers to swell to several times their normal size so humans can eat this so-called delicacy.
The bans won’t take effect until July 1, 2027. They don’t just ban restaurants from serving it — they prevent the future production of it.
If restaurants break the rules and get caught, they could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation, with possible license suspension for repeat offenders. Currently, there are approximately 15 restaurants in Denver that will be affected.
“Measure 311 doesn’t ask anyone to give up a staple food,” said Justin Clark, the campaign director of Pro-Animal Colorado. “It asks whether a dish sold at a few high-end restaurants is worth force-feeding a bird.”
Denver and Washington, D.C., join a growing number of places taking action against foie gras.
In 2012, California became the first state to ban the sale of foie gras produced through force-feeding. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Brookline, Massachusetts; and Portland, Oregon have since enacted similar bans.
But the fight to end foie gras sales is far from over. Chicago repealed its ban in 2008 after less than two years, while New York City’s 2019 ban remains tangled in legal battles. It shows just how fiercely restaurants and producers are fighting to keep the controversial delicacy on menus.
There is already a lot of opposition in D.C. Chef Bart Hutchins of Butterworth plans to fight the ban and publicly notes that he’ll serve foie gras regardless of the ban, according to Washingtonian. Hudson Valley Foie Gras, a producer in New York, has also threatened legal action.
Lady Freethinker has campaigned against the cruelty of foie gras for years and we hope these victories inspire more cities to follow suit. Thank you to everyone who chose compassion and stood up for innocent ducks and geese.
