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Laws & Policies
Because of concern about its inherent cruelty, foie gras production has been banned in many countries, and the product is not sold in many establishments throughout the world. The laws of at least fourteen countries include language that prohibits force-feeding ducks and geese to produce foie gras.

In some countries, the law explicitly bans the force feeding of ducks and geese, and in other countries, the general animal welfare laws are interpreted to prohibit the practice.

The following countries/states have enacted explicit bans against force-feeding:

The laws of the following countries have been interpreted to ban force-feeding of animals for foie gras production: The European Union, which has already imposed a ban on other inhumane farming practices such as veal crates and gestation crates, is considering a ban on foie gras as well. Such a ban would outlaw cruel foie gras production in 15 European countries. Click here to read more.

Many fine establishments worldwide have also dropped foie gras from their menus after learning about the terrible cruelty it perpetuates. To learn about establishments that have been reported to eschew foie gras, please click here.

Legislative Remedies
Over the last few decades, foie gras production has been outlawed in at least fourteen countries, either with explicit language in the laws, or as part of the general animal cruelty law. As of January 2004, Italy banned foie gras production, following the lead of Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, and Poland. Other countries whose laws have been interpreted to ban the force feeding of animals for foie gras production include Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Perhaps most significantly, Israel, once the world's fourth largest foie gras producer, recently banned foie gras production in the country. In August 2003, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a 39-page decision declaring foie gras production to be contrary to the country's animal protection laws. In issuing his opinion, Judge Strasberg-Cohen stated:

There is no real controversy with respect to the fact that the practice of force-feeding causes suffering to the geese. . . the goose is prevented from eating freely and is forcefully fed several times a day with high energy food and in quantity far above is physiological requirements. The process-whereby a metal tube, through which the food is packed into its stomach, is introduced into the goose's body-is violent and harmful. The process causes a degenerative disease in the goose's liver and enlargement of the liver up to ten times its normal size. There is no controversy that without the injury to the goose liver, it is not possible, at present, to produce goose liver. (see Israeli Report, page 32).
His colleague, Justice E. Rivlin, concluded the court's declaration by stating:
. . . no one denies that these creatures also feel the pain inflicted upon them through physical harm or a violent intrusion into their bodies. Indeed, whoever wishes to may find, in the circumstances of this appeal, prima facie justification for the acts of artificial force-feeding, justification whose essence is the need to retain the farmer's source of livelihood and enhance the gastronomic delight of others. . . But this has a price-and the price is reducing the dignity of Man himself. Like my colleague Justice Strasberg-Cohen, I also think that the regulations concerning the force-feeding procedure are to be annulled, and the acts of artificial force-feeding, as allowed by the regulations, are banned. (see Israeli Report, p. 39).
Despite these legislative advances, worldwide foie gras production has been increasing dramatically in recent years, and in France it has nearly doubled in the last decade. The last decade has also seen the establishment of foie gras farms in the U.S., which previously imported all of its foie gras from abroad. Hudson Valley Foie Gras in New York is responsible for most of the U.S. foie gras production, followed by Sonoma Foie Gras in California. Undercover investigations in both of these farms have revealed terrible, graphic suffering, from bloodied birds barely able to stand or walk, to trash cans full of dead birds. Legislative and other efforts are now underway in the U.S. to ban this cruelty.

The state of California and the city of Chicago have banned the cruel product. These are successful examples of legislative and other efforts now underway in the U.S. to further ban this cruelty. Click here to see how you can help.

Legal Prosecutions
In 2003, Farm Sanctuary urged San Joaquin County, California District Attorney to investigate and prosecute Sonoma Foie Gras for violating California's animal cruelty statute. In making the request, Farm Sanctuary submitted a full year's worth of evidence, including videotape, photographic evidence and written documentation of the ongoing mistreatment and suffering of ducks at the facility. The evidence shows, among other cruelties: Ducks encrusted in filth, bloodied ducks, ducks unable to stand or walk, ducks having difficulty breathing, and dead ducks lying in cages among live ducks. It presents graphically what animal protection advocates have long claimed: That Sonoma Foie Gras wreaks horrific abuses and torture on its animals to produce a "delicacy" food item.

Please click here to read Farm Sanctuary's letter requesting prosecution.

In August 2003, the Israeli Supreme Court determined that the force feeding of birds to produce foie gras is a violation of the nation's anti-cruelty laws. The Israeli Animal Welfare Law states, "No one shall torture an animal, treat it cruelly or abuse it in any manner." (clause 2(a)) Noah, the Israeli Federation of Animal Protection Organizations acted as the plaintiff in the court case, and asked that the court rule that force feeding is forbidden under Israeli law because force feeding constitutes torture, cruel treatment and abuse.

The judges ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, and Israel joined the many other nations that have prohibited foie gras production. As Judge T. Strasberg-Cohen stated summarily, "There is no real controversy with respect to the fact that the practice of force feeding causes suffering to the geese."

Click here to read the full text of the Israeli ruling.

In June 21, 2006, The Humane Society of the United States and Farm Sanctary, along with the Government Accountability Project's Food Safety Program and the New York State Humane Association, filed a formal action with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to stop the practice under a state law that makes it illegal to produce food from diseased animals. Click here to read more about this petition asking that foie gras be declared an adulterated food product.

Click here for a Question & Answer document about the importance of fighting the foie gras industry

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