Chicago's Foie Gras Ban Going Into Effect

[EveningStar]

These are dangerous times for ducks and geese in Chicago. Chicago is banning foie gras, a duck or goose liver delicacy made by force-feeding the animals. Some say it doesn't hurt the animals; others say it is cruel...
More (http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/chicagos-foie-gras-ban-going-into/20060813010309990003)

Also, from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foie_Gras#Prohibition)

Prohibition

Foie gras is illegal in several locations, and legislation is pending in others. In August, 2003, the Supreme Court of Israel declared foie gras production to be animal cruelty, and made production illegal beginning in March, 2005. On September 29, 2004, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law that will ban the production or sale of foie gras from force fed birds in the state by 2012. The law would allow foie gras produced by methods that are not considered animal cruelty. Similar legislation is pending in New York. California and New York are currently the only U.S. states with foie gras industries. On April 26, 2006, the city council of Chicago voted to make Chicago the first city in the United States to ban foie gras.

Force feeding is prohibited in:

* Argentina
* Austria (six of nine provinces)
* The Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Finland
* Germany
* Ireland
* Israel (2005)
* Italy
* Luxembourg
* The Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland (1999 — was the world's fifth largest producer)
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* The United Kingdom
* United States: California's ban comes into effect in 2012
* United States: Chicago, IL ban effective August 2006

[Lubbock]

Horrors!!!

Oh, the humanity!!!

From whence will come my Foie gras when it's banned world-wide?

[EveningStar]

Message from PETA (http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video=foie_gras_USA)

[Lubbock]

:finger:

That's my message for PETA!!!

Liss my Foie gras.

[Maggie_T]

I wait with interest for France to join the group of PETA wannabes. :devil:

[EveningStar]

I wait with interest for France to join the group of PETA wannabes. :devil:

They might not want to do that. :D

Main producers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foie_Gras#Main_producers)

France is the leading producer and consumer of foie gras. The country produced 18,450 tonnes of foie gras in 2005 (75% of estimated total world production of 23,500 tonnes) of which 96% was duck liver and the rest goose. Consumption of foie gras in France totalled 19,000 tonnes in 2005. 30,000 people are involved in the industry with 90% residing in the Périgord (Dordogne) and Midi-Pyrénées régions in the southwest, as well as in the east (Alsace). The European Union recognizes the foie gras produced according to traditional farming methods (label rouge) in southwestern France with a geographical indication of provenance.

Hungary is the world's second-largest producer of foie gras and the largest exporter (the country exported 1,920 tonnes of goose foie gras in 2005). France is the principal market for Hungarian foie gras which is mainly exported raw. French companies spice, process or cook the foie gras so that it can be sold as a French product for the domestic market or for export. An estimated 30,000 Hungarian goose farmers are dependent on the foie gras industry.

Bulgaria produced 1,500 tonnes of foie gras in 2005.

Québec also has a thriving foie gras industry. Many Canadian chefs use Québec foie gras as a demonstration of national pride.

[Lubbock]

Foie gras is to France, what cigarettes are to the United States.

A huge industry that the "Culture Police" would like to shut down, but can't touch for economic reasons.

[DoctorDoom]

I have to stand with the opponents on this one. Forcefeeding an animal in order to create a delicacy out of its diseased liver is an example of what man is capable of when he doesn't give a shit for anything but himself. Is it even slightly credible that the birds are not in constant suffering from being engorged?

IMO, it's up there on the cruelty list with greyhound racing, dog fighting, cock fighting, bull fighting and all the other abuses of animals that humanity engages in without a second's thought.

[Eagle1]

that video made me laugh

[EveningStar]

that video made me laugh

You're a very bad boy.

[Maggie_T]

I have to stand with the opponents on this one. Forcefeeding an animal in order to create a delicacy out of its diseased liver is an example of what man is capable of when he doesn't give a shit for anything but himself. Is it even slightly credible that the birds are not in constant suffering from being engorged?

IMO, it's up there on the cruelty list with greyhound racing, dog fighting, cock fighting, bull fighting and all the other abuses of animals that humanity engages in without a second's thought.


Aw, Doc. Now you ruined my foie gras-eating pleasure for ever.

Bah, never mind. It's way over-priced and too fattening, anyway.

[EveningStar]

It is pretty ****ing expensive.