New York City wants to ban foie gras from its restaurants

On Wednesday, October 30, 2109, the New York City Council adopted by 42 votes to 6 the ban on selling, holding or serving foie gras. And this from 2022, under penalty of a fine of 500 to 2000 dollars per violation. A decision that must be confirmed by the mayor. This ban is taken because of a practice deemed “cruel and inhuman” by the municipal rapporteur for the initiative.

This vote can have more symbolic than economic resonance.

Barely 1% of New York restaurants serve foie gras in this city yet considered the gastronomic capital of the United States.

The USA does not import any French foie gras. Indeed, for several years the attempts to obtain USAD approval of French establishments are not progressing.

In the USA, three companies producing foie gras are concerned (“La Belle Farms” and “” Hudson Valley foie gras “in New York State,” Au Bon canard “in Minnesota). The largest, Hudson Valley foie gras, employs 400 people and accounts for a third of its sales in New York. Its manager Marcus Henley told Reuters that he complied with state rules and respected animal welfare in all respects.

The three-year period is supposed to allow these companies to convert into other activities. Hudson Valley Foie Gras does not intend to capitulate and is considering taking this decision to court. French professionals also condemn it by protesting against this “attack on free trade and free consumption of foie gras”, pointing out that this is the result of lobbying by intolerant vegan activists.

Two other US bans have already affected foie gras, and they have been the subject of controversy and legal battles. California banned it in 2012, then the courts suspended the decision in 2015 to finally ban it again in January 2019. In 2006, the city of Chicago had banned foie gras and then canceled the ban two years more late.

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