Foie Gras: A Step Backward for California

As of today, January 8, 2015, the delicacy known as foie gras is no longer banned in California restaurants. For those who may not know, foie gras is made of fatty duck or goose liver, and has been banned in the state since 2004 due largely to how the poultry being consumed were treated. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals state that "workers ram pipes down male ducks’ or geese’s throats two or three times daily and pump as much as 4 pounds of grain and fat into the animals’ stomachs, causing their livers to swell to up to 10 times their normal size," in order to achieve the quality meat necessary to prepare the dish. Because of these enlarged livers, many of the birds had trouble standing and, similar to the hens held by the thousands in industrial chicken facilities, turned to ripping out their own and their neighbors' feathers as well as cannibalism. This level of confinement and forced food consumption is akin to torture and very common in industrial meat facilities today. Chefs in California are rejoicing at the lifting of the ban, as they no longer have to skirt the law by "gifting" foie gras to customers instead of "selling" it and can openly provide the food. Animal Rights activists have vowed to appeal, though, according to National Public Radio, it is unclear if the Federal Court will change its ruling.

Personally, I am disappointed in U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson for his decision. I cannot see any long term benefits to the decision for the state, economically, politically, or environmentally. It appears to be another example of the government choosing pro-business over pro-ethics and this is a quality that needs to change. The government can only respond to what the people want if the people participate and I beg of you, dear readers, to do just that.

It is our job as the predominant species on the planet to keep it inhabitable for other species and generations. The ruling of lifting the ban only clears the path for societal morals to sink even lower when concerning "lesser" species. By re-imposing legality on the cruel torture of these birds, we as California, and the nation, are only allowing speciesism to further penetrate our society. If you are living in California (and even if you are not) I implore you to write to or call (any form of contact) your local legislator and plead the case of the poultry, for it is vital to our future well-being to reverse this decision. Foie Gras is animal torture, and it should not be allowed back into our establishments.

(Photos provided by Wikipedia)
 







NPR: Out of the Shadows And Onto Menus: Foie Gras Is Back In California
PETA: Foie Gras: Delicacy of Despair