Victory in New York City! Foie Gras Ban Is Here to Stay
The compassionate people of New York City, as well as countless ducks and geese, have just secured a hard-fought victory. The state’s Appellate Division has upheld the city’s foie gras ban after years of litigation that kept the voter-approved law from going into effect.
Photo: Andrew Skowron
In 2019, New York City residents made their position clear: 81% supported Intro 1378 (Local Law 202), banning the sale of foie gras within city limits. The law was signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio and was set to take effect in 2022, but enforcement of the compassionate legislation was delayed for years due to lawsuits from foie gras producers in upstate New York.
Now, that delay is finally over. The court’s decision affirms that New York City has the right to set its own standards for animal welfare and to reject products of cruelty like foie gras.
Following the ruling, Allie Taylor, President of Voters For Animal Rights, described the decision as a historic victory:
“Today’s ruling not only upholds the city’s ability to make decisions in the best interest of its residents, human and nonhuman alike, but also shows the power of citizens coming together for justice and compassion. This is a momentous step forward in creating a kinder, more humane world, and it proves that meaningful change is possible when people refuse to accept cruelty as the status quo.”
Although this is a major victory for New York City, this is only the beginning of the nationwide fight to finally put a stop to the production of this profoundly cruel product.
The sale of foie gras, which is the fatty liver of a goose or duck, directly violates USDA law, as the Poultry Products Inspection Act requires ‘diseased poultry carcasses and parts be condemned.’ Because this product is the direct result of inflicting fatty liver disease on innocent birds, this food should not be sold anywhere in the country and New York City’s position should be the rule, not the exception.
You can help by signing our petition calling on the USDA to enforce existing law and ban foie gras nationwide. New York City has shown what’s possible—now it’s time for federal policy to catch up.