In a huge win for the animals, New York City Council has passed Intro 1378, a bill to ban the sale of cruel force-fed foie gras! When signed into law by Mayor de Blasio, this bill will make New York City the largest city in the world to ban one of the most barbaric and disgusting food products on Earth: force-fed foie gras.
“This is an historic day for animals at the New York City Council,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson shortly after the announcement. “We want a big city that is judged, of course, by how we treat our fellow people, but we also want to be judged by how we treat animals … We want to be at the forefront of protecting animals in New York City.”
Countless innocent animals will be spared from this cruel practice, in which a foot-long tube is shoved down the throats of duck and geese, filling them with so much food that their livers swell to 10 times their natural size.
While the victory is historic, the changes won’t happen overnight. The bill includes a three-year phase-in period for businesses to adjust to the new rules. Beginning in 2022, a civic penalty of up to $2,000 has been set for anyone who tries to sell foie gras in New York City despite the ban. Meanwhile, as New York City is a culinary influencer to the world, this victory will no doubt make waves in the restaurant industry for the benefit of ducks and geese.
Lady Freethinker was part of the coalition — led by Voters for Animal Rights — that spearheaded the campaign to pass this groundbreaking legislation. We thank Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan) for championing this bill through the City Council and Speaker Johnson for including it in his landmark animal package. And we are especially grateful to all of the advocates who spoke out and continue to advocate to save ducks, geese and other animals from cruelty.
What’s New…
This politically correct drama needs to come to an end. One Politician will bring up & Introduce these laws to be implemented. So the next time when another cruel hearted Politician comes into that seat, then He/she will Kill the Bill already being passed & made it a law.
It is necessary to select the PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND & COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS THE OTHER SENTIENT BEINGS. If not this laws & the Bills will be passed & then will be killed again in the hands of cruel men/women.
PLEASE CHOSE THE POLITICIANS WHO ARE COMPASSIONATE OF THE OTHER LIVING BEINGS & THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
Thank you, cruelty needs to STOP!
This is not actually a huge victory for ducks and geese. Please read the following:
1. BILL TO BAN FOIE GRAS – Intro 1378A – sponsored by Council Member Carlina Rivera
At first glance, the bill looked like it would actually put an end to this very inhumane practice — after all that is what those who pushed for the bill have been saying. Foie gras is a particularly gruesome practice of force-feeding ducks or geese in a facility so their livers get fattened to make this “delicacy.” Some years back, the first “ban foie gras” bill was introduced in the Council only to be killed by then Speaker Christine Quinn.
However, the bill does not actually ban “foie gras.” Instead it bans any product that is force-fed to ducks or geese with the intent of fattening or enlarging their liver. The crucial words here are “force-fed.”
To make matters worse, the so called ban does not go into effect for three years after it is signed into law! Yes, you heard it right – 2022.
What will this three-year period do?
1. Expect the companies that produce foie gras to go to court to try to overturn this bill. In 2006, foie gras was banned in Chicago, only to be repealed two years later. California banned it in 2012 and it is still in effect although there have been legal challenges.
2. But this is the really sad part. This will give the farms that produce foie gras the opportunity to retool. Do you think they will retool to make a vegan fois gras? Not likely.
Juan Manuel Benitez is a journalist on NY1 Noticias. He tweeted: Councilwoman @carlinaRivera says the foie gras bill gives upstate farms and businesses three years to adapt. She says the industry should adopt practices like the ones in these farms in Spain. They make foie gras without the “gavache” or force feeding.
In Spain, the geese and ducks are not force fed but instead are allowed to gorge themselves thus fattening their livers. They are then slaughtered and their livers made into foie gras. Their feathers plucked to be used in down coats and pillows.
Force feeding geese and ducks – would be banned. PERIOD. NOT foie gras per se.
Even United Poultry Concerns who originally cheered this bill, revised its statement with this:
“The ban, which is set to take effect 3 years after it becomes law (2022), provides an opportunity for farms to produce foie gras by other means.”
“As the law’s advocates have observed, and as the name of the law signifies:
force-feeding will be banned but not foie gras production as such, if other
methods to create “fatty liver” in ducks and geese are utilized.
It’s about time, thank you Mayor de blasio. If I lived in New York, I’d vote for you.
Not a total victory for geese….they will still end up as dinner, but they will not be force fed to produce Foie Gras.
Wonderful news re Foie Gras. I have been anti this as soon as i heard how it harmed the animals. wonderful day.
Please read and share this: From UPC – Clarification of NYC Ban on Foie Gras – https://www.all-creatures.org/articles2/ar-clarification-nyc-foie-gras.html – “Other methods to produce foie gras are ‘acceptable’ under this new law. Of course, all methods result in slaughtering the birds.
What wonderful news! Now it just needs to be banned everywhere! Thanks to Ladyfreethinker for all her hard work an to all of the other organizations who think this practice is cruel and heartless. Let’s all work to go vegan! It’s hard, but little by little I find myself moving that direction and feel much healthier because of it.
Thank you Jesus !!
great made my day, where one starts another will follow.
Sick bastards, we need to stop horse racing.
Way to go folks let’s hope other’s follow suite.
ABOUT TIME!!!
Thank you Corrie Johnson thank you representative Carline Rivera, thank you Mayor de Blasio. I am so proud to be a born-and-bred New Yorker. This is a day I have been waiting for from many many years. Next let’s go after the fur industry and get them shut down like they did in California. And all you foie gras farmers you can burn in hell for eternity. I hope you have metal tubes shoved down your throat while you burn in hell forever.
It’s a start. Thank you to all who have made this happen.
Cannot believe that people still continue to eat foie gras knowing how it is produced. Shame on them!
each restaurant should be required to give the patron a picture of the goose being force fed. if that person can still eat it, they don’t deserve to live.