Chicago Bans Foie Gras
As Nick reported at Slashfood, the city of Chicago has decided to ban foie gras from being sold by
retailers and at restaurants. Any establishment or person who violates the ban will be fined $500, according to the New York Times. The legislature has been considering this ban
for some time now in the face of mounting concern over the ethics of force-feeding ducks until their livers reach 10
times the normal size. The ban, adopted by a vote of 48-to-1 will take effect in 90 days, so any Chicago residents
should take in their favorite dish at Rick Tramonto's Tru before it goes off
the menu.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
pro choice Apr 29th 2006 6:16AM
the torture that geese must go through for people to enjoy an overpriced delicacy is a bit sad. it is sad that chickens have no room to run free. it is too bad what cows go through.. pigs.... lamb. fish. it is all not good. it is not right that we can decide what can and cannot be eaten. it is not acceptable to eat a horse or a dog. but it is ok to eat a rabbit? we cannot eat tortured -goose liver... but we can eat chickens that are not able to fly because of clipped wings and no space? never touching the ground? I don't understand any of it.
I eat meat every day. Should the CITY OF CHICAGO really decide what we can and cannot eat? maybe they should outlaw MC DONALD'S... and $3/ bottle water at City venues.....
who decides? Apr 29th 2006 6:18AM
the torture that geese must go through for people to enjoy an overpriced delicacy is a bit sad. it is sad that chickens have no room to run free. it is too bad what cows go through.. pigs.... lamb. fish. it is all not good. it is not right that we can decide what can and cannot be eaten. it is not acceptable to eat a horse or a dog. but it is ok to eat a rabbit? we cannot eat tortured goose liver... but we can eat chickens that are not able to fly because of clipped wings and no space? never touching the ground? I don't understand any of it.
I eat meat every day. Should the CITY OF CHICAGO really decide what we can and cannot eat? maybe they should outlaw MC DONALD'S... and $3/ bottle water at City venues.....
Kristen Apr 29th 2006 6:28AM
I just want to thank all of the people that voted to ban the foi gras - thank you! Please spread the word that innocent ducks and geese are tortured and posioned internally from their force feeding - just so people can eat a "delicacy" for 5 minutes and then forget about it. Please make more humane food choices - free range eggs, organic milk and dairy products - every choice helps one animal! Thank you!
Rex Graycat Apr 29th 2006 6:29AM
No one is denying people from eating various meats, but it should be of some concern that the beasts are not treated any more cruely than necessary. We don't eat veal, for example. We avoid production line chickens like KFC when we can, due to their treatment.
Seek moderation.
reb3184 Apr 29th 2006 6:46AM
Well, Chicago, veal is next. Then farm-raised catfish.
ray jarvis Apr 29th 2006 6:46AM
must be union ducks to get so much sympathy from the city government
Kristen Apr 29th 2006 6:49AM
I just want to thank everybody who voted for this ban and to everybody who is raising awareness of this horrible practice where geese and ducks are force-fed 1/2 of their weight daily until they experience brain damage and have organ failure. Then they cut out the liver and eat it - it is sick. Please spread the word and if you feel helpless to help animals - just start small - spend an extra dollar a week and buy free range eggs and free range milk and dairy, eat meat one time less each week - for every little decision you make, you save or protect an animal. Thank you, you can make a difference!!!
Gail Apr 29th 2006 6:51AM
This is government intrusion into private lives at it's most absurd level yet. The next step will be outlawing the eating of meat.
jack Apr 29th 2006 6:52AM
We are at the top of the food chain,now if I was at the bottom then I'd be worried!
T Apr 29th 2006 6:59AM
Uh - chickens don't fly - clipped wings or not. LOL
Hope Apr 29th 2006 7:03AM
What is sad, is lack of regard we have for ANY living being. I have nothing against the consumption of meat or animals for food. But, the extent to which we will torture an animal to get it..is unbelievable and needs to have limits!!!!! This lack of respect or compassion only explains why the world is so sick and twisted today.
Jim Oremland Apr 29th 2006 7:16AM
Interestingly enough, it's not torture. They do it naturally when the ducks migrate.
Magdalena Apr 29th 2006 7:18AM
Kill the Pig...Kill the Pig...
Bill Apr 29th 2006 7:20AM
I agree completely with Hope, we all need to have compassion for all living things.Torture and inhumane treatment is NOT acceptable.It has been proven that almost all serial killers were animal abusers growing up.
Priscilla Harvey Apr 29th 2006 7:24AM
To the people who think this is funny or a threat to their rights: let's keep you in a cage, jam a metal tube down your throat several times a day, force food through it until you are diseased, then kill you to eat the enlarged liver. Why would anyone with "superior" human intelligence want to eat that? Thank you Chicago!
colleen Apr 29th 2006 7:26AM
God Bless the City of Chicago for taking this humane step toward one of the creatures God has entrusted us with!
Jan Apr 29th 2006 7:35AM
Vegetables are looking better and better...never wanted to even try foie gras, but I miss veal ever since I found out about it...gonna go make a salad !
John Wimmer Apr 29th 2006 7:37AM
The people of the U.S>A> ought to start thinking about putting in political office non poliicans and see if that would take care all our problems. To many political office members on the take.
george Apr 29th 2006 7:37AM
People in goverment should be more concerned with real issues as youth violence and drug abuse, hate crimes not if we overfeed ducks for their liver. Give me a break. come to New jersey where we can eat what we want and our pharmacuetical companies test there products on animals so they won't harm people. eat your heart out peta and all you tree huggers. eat more meat!!!!!!
Deb Apr 29th 2006 7:38AM
I believe animal cruelty of any kind is horrible, and also believe that which goes around, comes around, eventually. God blesses those that are kind to his creatures, and in the case of torturing geese to get a taste of it's liver, one should not complain about his or her doctor bills down the road!