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 4 of 16)

Michael Apr 29th 2006 9:25AM

Goose liver pate is disgusting. But I don't think it's my place to tell people they can't eat it. Free range liver pate should still be for sale. Maybe the politicians in Chicago are still voting like usual, early and often. Vote for the dead. Vote the geese, too, why not? The real trouble I have with this is that it's a victory for PETA, whose membership thinks I should be a tofu-teething (yuck!), tree-hugging salad-eater, when I LIKE MEAT! I mean, there's nothing wrong with salads and veggies. But PLEASE! Bring on the pork, beef, poultry, and fish. If they can get the politicians to outlaw pate, are my steaks and barbequed ribs next? God forbid! Next there will be no turkey for my Thanksgiving dinner!

Marc Mitchel Apr 29th 2006 9:26AM

I am overjoyed to see this. I learned years ago, from a humane-minded Frenchwoman no less, about this atrocity.

Cyndi Apr 29th 2006 9:28AM

I am a meat eater, but I see no reason why a goose or duck's liver needs to be eaten. There's plenty of other meats out there that taste good. Those of you who can AFFORD it are the ones who are against this ban. People with money are the ones who are always exploiting animals or doing something to satiate their selfish hedonism. Thusly, they are the ones who have no hearts - all they care about is "status." If it has a high price on it, it MUST be good (but of course, too good for the paupers & peons.) I don't care if Foie Gras was $1.00 a pound - I would not eat it for the simple fact of the way these poor animals are treated. It's just WRONG. To those of you who consume it, you'll no doubt find another defenseless creature to torture, exploit, and consume it's innards for an exorbatant amount of money!

Benny Cornett Apr 29th 2006 9:33AM

This was obviously politicians folding to pressure from self-interest groups like peta and the rainbow coalition. If the health of Chicago residents were the issue, McDonalds would be banned. If the practice of forcefeeding animals as being cruel were the issue, veal would be banned. If politicians are going to engineer our lifestyles then they must be consistent across the board, otherwise they will appear corrupt as in this case. This is a specific cause meant to benefit specific people in the government and specific people in the private sector. This doesn't pass the smell test and the people of Chicago should be outraged!

Judy Callender Apr 29th 2006 9:36AM

Kudos to Chicago. If I had to kill an animal for food, I would probably become a vegetarian, but I have no problem eating the meat that is in the supermarket. I know it is a double standard, but I certainly don't believe in torturing an animal in any way just so it will highten our enjoyment of the meat and poultry we eat. I know I wouldn't like to be force fed or stuck in a cage all my life just to be killed when I reach perfection. I'd at least like to run around a little bit first, and eat when and what I want.

Stacey Fleming Apr 29th 2006 9:37AM

I am proud of the City of Chicago for taking action for something they believe in. It is sad, however, that we need this ban because people don't have enough compassion and common sense to make their own humane decisions. Did you know one serving of foie gras has as much fat and cholesterol as a dozen large orders of fries with 10 Tbsps of mayonnaise? We are not the top of the food chain as some have said. If humans had no weapons do you think they'd survive against a hungry lion or bear?
Show respect to all creatures and be respected. You'd be surprised to find that the Earth could carry on quite well without human existence.

Paco Apr 29th 2006 9:38AM

I know! Lets all just live together with the animals! Run free naked and frolic in the grass... singing "We Are the World" or even "Give Peace a Chance." That will work until some lion comes along and takes little Johnny as its noonday meal. Then we have to at least protect ourselves... you know.. spears and such. Oh wait a minute, we already did that! What a bunch of whining, whimpering, dolts!

Pass me the sirloin...

nick Apr 29th 2006 9:40AM

This is a rather stupid thing to ban.People are not going to eat fois gras though they will eat steak.There is so many more important issues to think and vote on.To all these people get a life.

Johh Apr 29th 2006 9:41AM

Congratulations Chicago. You just made Foie Gras more desireable and popular. Sure consumers may have to go to St. Louis to enjoy the delicacy, but that will mean they will just have to "stock up". More concerning should be the way human fetus' are treated during abortions. (What about that, Chicago?)
By the way. If we are not meant to eat animals, then why are they made of meat?

bob Apr 29th 2006 9:42AM

Big brother is watching you.....

Henry Igleheart Apr 29th 2006 9:44AM

What do expect from a town that is run by a dictator, that bulldozed one of the finest small airoorts in the World at midnight so his wife could have a city Park where she wanted it! The fact is I plan to one up W.C. Fields when I pass on! I'll have engraved on my tombstone: Well it's better than being Chicago!

Leilani Apr 29th 2006 9:46AM

The uber-enlightened politicos of Chicago have voted to criminalize consumption of fattened goose liver by the "unwashed masses" of their fair city, but partial birth abortion, the most hideously gruesome atrocity ever devised by man on this earth, is just fine & dandy anywhere, anytime. No accounting for taste, I guess. Or philosophical consistency.Astonishing.

Kathy Apr 29th 2006 9:46AM

Sometimes the government needs to step in stop inhumane treatment of animals such as this! I am so glad to hear that they have banned this - hopefully all cities and states will follow their lead! Just like Kentucky Fried Chicken who feeds their chickens so much to fatten them up that they can't even walk!
I don't have a problem with eating meat just how these big companies go about getting it to fatten up so they can fatten up their wallets!

Paul Apr 29th 2006 9:46AM

They will soon be telling us what we can say, what we can wear and were we can eat!
Any body remember the movie Demolition Man, I don�t remember Foie Gras on the menu at Taco Bell.

brian Apr 29th 2006 9:46AM

what's good for the goose is good for the gander! someone please force feed me with beer and extract my liver if you want a real delicacy! we'll all be happy..
well, except PETA of course.

Gail Apr 29th 2006 9:47AM

I agree with George. There are many other more important issues than whether some goose with a brain the size of a walnut is being force fed. Give me a break. What about the kid I once knew whose crack addicted mother used to burn his hand over a gas stove as punishment to the extent that now he cannot open his hand wide enough to be able to catch a ball. His mother broke his leg so many times that one is now shorter than the other. He was 12 when I knew him and still couldn't read, probably the effects of brain damage. Where was the government when he was suffering? They were probably out protecting some goose.

mary beth Apr 29th 2006 9:52AM

RIGHT ON! It's not about being a "do-gooder", it's
about being humane and respectful towards other
life. Now if we could just get the indians to
back off on their quest to begin slaughtering
gray whales.
I was actually shocked when Oprah served foie gras
at her big birthday bash. Guess she's not as enlightened as she wants us to believe.
People who believe animals are there simply for
exploitation by humans have no integrity.
Ghandi said "you can see how civilized a culture
is by how they treat thier animals."

Mark Sappenfield Apr 29th 2006 9:52AM

I would never eat Foie Gras but I do think the city of Chicago is going overboard by this ban. I hope this reckless decision is not allowed to stand. A french restaurant should be allowed to have Foie Gras on the menu. I wouldn't mind if they banned escarot, though, who really wants to eat snails with garlic butter? I'm glad I live in Kansas City. I can go to Tatsu's french restaurant and order Foie Gras if I want to. I'll try any food once but not snails.

mort stanley Apr 29th 2006 9:53AM

mine bubbie is turning over , knowing the chicago will next ban chopped chicken liver with a schmear of schmaltz

Bluedancingfox Apr 29th 2006 9:53AM

The Lord God said" Thou shalt not eat of the webbed feet, nor the crustations of the sea, nor of the swine" The bible goes on to mention a few other things that we shalt not eat. In addition to things that we could eat.

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