Marketed as a delicacy, foie gras is widely opposed by the American public for the horrific animal suffering behind it. To produce foie gras, feeding tubes are shoved down the throats of ducks and geese, who are force-fed until their livers swell to up to 10 times their natural size.

Farm Sanctuary has seen firsthand the toll this cruel practice takes on animals. We have rescued many survivors of the foie gras industry, including Monet and Matisse, who arrived covered in sores, cuts, and scrapes from force-feeding and confinement in cages but found healing in sanctuary and in the close bond they shared.

Thanks to the efforts of animal advocates and organizations across the country, we’ve seen positive steps toward ending this egregious cruelty to birds, starting with California’s 2004 law banning the production and sale of foie gras. 

Most recently, in March of this year, a court ruling allowed New York City’s foie gras ban to take full effect despite agribusiness challenges. The D.C. and Denver bans are likely to face similar obstacles, but with overwhelming public support and animal protection groups on their side, they will have many defenders, too.

With your help, the fight against foie gras continues, as we advocate for a food system rooted in compassion rather than cruelty.