Chicago Bans Foie Gras

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
Apr 28th 2006 at 7:32AM

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.

Tags: ban, chicago, dining, foie gras, FoieGras, food, gourmet, liver, restaurants, retailers

Filed under: Dining

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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 16)

John Wyz Apr 29th 2006 8:31AM

If God didn't want us to eat animals, why did he make them out of meat?

Denise Apr 29th 2006 8:31AM

So, it is part of the food chain to SHOVE a tube down an animals' throat to force feed it until it is literally torn to pieces so "people" can eat a fatty organ? THINK about it, animals were not put on earth for us, how can anyone be so smug? PETA is a wonderful organization doing God's work "Thou shalt not kill" I suppose you could eat your dog or cat if it weren't so darn cute! Good for you Chicago!

Lindsey Mull Apr 29th 2006 8:33AM

PETA - people eating tasty animals

Mother goose Apr 29th 2006 8:35AM

The National anthem should be performed in english . If you do not like america please leave...TY

Mike Apr 29th 2006 8:40AM

When that duck fys over and nails your just waxed car, tell me you wouldn't want to tear out his liver yourself.

Ronda Masters Apr 29th 2006 8:41AM

I just hope all the people that think its so INHUMANE for the animals etc, believe the same way whe it comes to HUMANS....for example, partial birth abortion...it is fine for people to have their opinions about the animals, but I would just hope they send the same message for human issues....when children and elderly and disabled HAVE NO CHOICE....

Gordon Watkins Apr 29th 2006 8:45AM

I do not love meat but I do eat it occassionaly. Liver happens to be one of my favorites, be it from poultry, swine or cattle. I've never tried "force fed duck" liver. How do you force feed a duck anyway? I get images of someone holding a duck by the neck and stuffing food down it's mouth. Is that the way it's done? If that is the case, then count me out. Or is the duck, goose, whatever, just allowed to eat all it can hold. If that's the case, then I'll eat it. We feed swine, cattle, chickens etc. high protein foods to increase weight, lean/fat ratios etc. I don't have a problem with that either. If a duck or goose eats himself to death, hell, half of the population is doing the same thing. Am I just "rambling"? You betcha, which is what this stupid vote was anyway. Just a bunch of ramblings from people who apparently don't wear leather, eat meat or use glue.

PHIL MAZURE Apr 29th 2006 8:46AM

WELL FOLLOWING THE SAME LINE OF THOUGHT, THE CITY OF CHICAGO SHOULD BAN THE SALE OF:

VEAL: MILK-FED VEAL (CALVES) ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR MOTHER AT A VERY EARLY STAGE OF THEIR LIFE AND CONFINED TO A 2-FOOT-WIDE VEAL CRATE!

CHICKEN: FROM A SMALL CHICK TO A FULL HORMONE INFLATED CHICKEN, IT WILL SPEND HIS SHORT LIFE IN A TINY CAGE WITH MANY OF ITS KIND. THE CAGES ARE SMALL AND OVERPOPULATED, THE LIGHT IS ON 24 HRS./DAY. THE KILLING IS AS FOLLOWS: THEIR THROAT ARE CUT, THEIR ARE LEFT BLEEDING TO DEATH IN A PILE OF DEAD ANIMALS BEFORE THEY ARE THROWN ON A CONVEYOR BELT!

THIS LIST COULD GO ON FOREVER AS INDUSTRIAL FARMING HAS NOTHING HUMAN! IT IS NOT THEIR INTENT. MAXIMIZING PROFITS IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY IS THEIR GOAL.

AND TO SUM UP, AS A WHOLE, PEOPLE CONSUME FAR LESS "FOIE GRAS" THAN CHICKEN, VEAL, BEEF, FARM-RAISED FISH (SALMON, TILIPIA..)

BON APPETIT!

Amy Apr 29th 2006 8:49AM

I guess I won't be going to Chicago anytime soon. What a bunch of b.s. This is what the people of Chicago's tax dollars goes towards. Politicians sitting around discussing and voting on the rights of geese. Their time would be better spent trying to better the lives of the people in their city, not stupid birds. Oh yeah, by the way, I love foie gras.

Gordon Apr 29th 2006 8:52AM

Now see what the "do gooders" did! Made me misspell occasionally!

ROGER F. PHILLIPS Apr 29th 2006 8:52AM

What is good for the goose is good for the gander. That Toddlin'Town has turned into a Wadlin' Clown. Al Capone would have been mortified and moved to California.

Lucy Gucci Apr 29th 2006 8:55AM

Ban the faux pas? Never. Fight on, I say. Forevermore.

Donna Yazbek Apr 29th 2006 8:58AM

I had no idea how fois gras was produced. Knew it was duck (or goose) liver, but that's it. As a young girl, my favorite meat was veal. Not until I was in my twenties did I discover the truth, haven't had it since. Fois gras won't be missed either. Those who really want it can seek it out elsewhere, but my guess is very few will. (Good news for the fowl!)

kevin Apr 29th 2006 9:01AM

Isn't it time that a challenge to the state (in this case the city) is brought forward on their ability to enact a law or regulation that prohibits the sale of something that is otherwise legal. If 2 million people in a city of 2.1 million decide fois gras is bad does that still give charter or authority to a government body to prohibit retail sale. Incidently, wholesale sale, cannot be limited or prohibited by any non-federal agency or authoritative body.

Sharon Apr 29th 2006 9:01AM

I hope they ban foie gras all over the world.....

ROGER F. PHILLIPS Apr 29th 2006 9:02AM

I'm sure human flesh is fine on the Menu. Especially if it is Republican

Ann Apr 29th 2006 9:06AM

I love meat...I even like goose liver, however I did not realize what the process was to get it to that point. I do not eat veal (due to how it is created) & now goose liver is off the menu. Simply...it is not right in any way, shape or form for "humans" to inflict purpuseful torture or pain on any living creature just for our short lived pleasure. The human species has become way to greedy & self satifying...many are not worried about things not witnessed or that doesn't have direct involement in their life. Thank goodness not everyone is like that. Eat your meat...enjoy it...just try not to encourage cruelty to animals. And FYI...I am not a Peta supporter (extremist groups only create more violence)...just someone who tries to live a decent life with decent values.

Ralph Apr 29th 2006 9:14AM

Being a Chef I would have to agree It is a cruel process. But so is killing a baby cow before it's even weaned off it mothers milk or keeping chickens locked up in a cage with no room to move. What about thousands of fish and dolphins that get killed just so we can have a tuna sandwich, I mean come on now. I can't believe we're so worried about how much ducks get force-fed and they really don't when you think about it. Every time I go to the park and feed them they can't seem to get enough, their like a fat kid in a candy shop. I just don't think our government should be worrying about what we ate and start worrying about the bad president we have. That all 8-)

david santos Apr 29th 2006 9:16AM

I just want to thank all the people out there who are sayign this was a wise choice and so on. Because you really are showing how stupid you really are. There stupid animals that are meant to be eaten. Tehy haven't been tied down and forced fed like all those dumb petas members say in years. In france the goose actually runs to the owner to be "force fed" Remember animals will eat and eat and eat as long as food is there. Take it from someone whose been on a foie farm. Try this little experiment. Take your dogs bag of favorite food and rip it open onto the floor. Let him go crazy and see exactly how much food is left over when you hes done. Then start some quality research on this subject. Maybe then you guys will have some idea on this subject.

Cher Apr 29th 2006 9:17AM

Let's ban MCdonald's most americans have no problem STUFFING there children to obesity but I guess humans don't count.How much government money was spent on making that decision? Probably enough to house a few homeless children, so everyone getting all "worked up over geese" get your priorities in order. Ask yourself, what do you do in your world to help HUMANS

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