Animal Equality’s proposed foie gras ban in Portland heats up
Animal Equality’s campaign to ban the sale of foie gras in Portland is heating up, as reported by Willamette Week. Sarah Hanneken, Animal Equality’s Legal Advocacy Counsel, has spearheaded these efforts as we work to change local and state legislature on our way to a nationwide ban.
Concerned citizens have supported the proposed legislation that would ban foie gras in the city. Each week, the Portland City Council hears from those speaking out against one of the cruelty foods in the world. Around 43 people have already delivered speeches in front of the City Council against the sale of foie gras. No one has spoken out in favor.
What is foie gras?
Foie gras directly translates to “fatty liver.” It is considered a “delicacy” in upscale markets and restaurants. However, the production of this animal product is one of the most controversial practices in animal agriculture.
Foot-long tubes are shoved down the throats of ducks and geese, who are then force‑fed large amounts of grain, fat, and compressed air. The animals endure this process three times a day until their liver becomes diseased at 10 times its normal size. They are then slaughtered at only 15 weeks old.
This inhumane process causes serious health consequences to the animals. Many experience damage to their esophagus and liver, have difficulty breathing, standing, and walking, and even have cardiac or renal failure. The mortality rate of force-fed ducks and geese is 20 times higher than non-force-fed birds.
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Even before hatching from their eggs, ducklings communicate with their close‑knit families.
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Animal Equality’s campaign against foie gras
Animal Equality has been denouncing the practice of force‑feeding ducks and geese for many years. We released our first investigation inside the French foie gras industry in 2011, followed by years of force-feeding investigations in Spain, Italy, and Germany.
The images from the investigations directly resulted in progress to ban the cruel practice:
- November 2012: the largest supermarket chain in Italy, COOP, ends the sale of foie gras.
- December 2012: The third-best restaurant in the world, Mugaritz, is fined for using foie gras coming from illegal farms.
- August 2014: India bans the importation of foie gras
- December 2014: Animal Equality investigates German duck farms and the country’s largest suppliers are forced to close for several months
- November 2018: Animal Equality is joined by actor and animal advocate Peter Egan to deliver 100,000 signatures demanding a UK foie gras import ban to Prime Minister Theresa May. Several restaurants drop foie gras from their menus.
By February 2022, Animal Equality decided to launch a campaign in the United States for a nationwide ban. Foie gras remains legal in 49 out of the 50 states. California is the only state to have banned the cruel practice. Nearly 58,000 US supporters have signed their names against foie gras.
Fighting for a foie gras ban in Portland
Animal Equality is focusing on state and local legislation on our way to a nationwide ban.
Our Legal Advocacy Counsel and Portland lawyer, Sarah Hanneken, decided to take on legislature close to home in Portland. Sarah has drafted an enforcement solution and ordinance proposal for the City to make the decision even easier.
Animal Equality will continue our efforts to convince the City Council to introduce and pass a ban on foie gras.
How you can help ducks
You, too, can denounce the sale of foie gras in the United States.
This unnecessary “delicacy” is inhumane and causes immense suffering to animals. Add your voice against this cruelty by signing our US petition to ban foie gras nationwide.
{firstname}, thank you for signing this petition to end foie gras!
Support our investigations and campaigns to put an end to the cruelty of foie gras:
Continue your impact for animals, {firstname}
You can continue supporting our mission to change the future for millions of animals.
Do your loved ones know how foie gras is produced? Invite your friends to join you against the cruel treatment of animals.
Share this action
Sign our petition calling for a ban on the sale and production of foie gras in the United States.
