Chicago's Ban of Foie Gras in Jeopardy:

In April 2006, Chicago made history as being the first city to adopt and enforce a ban on the inhumane treatment of ducks and geese used for the production of Foie Gras by requiring food establishments to no longer sell the product. The legislation is now in jeopardy. Chicago Alderman, Thomas Tunney (44th Ward), plans to initiate a repeal today of the legislation banning the sale of Foie Gras. This repeal must be stopped.

Foie Gras (fatty liver) is produced using the inhumane procedure of shoving a metal pipe down the throats of ducks and geese, force-feeding them a corn substance to enlarge their livers. The cruel and inhumane practice leaves ducks and geese in a tortuous state unable to properly breathe or even walk and stand. Unable to preen themselves and subjected to confinement in small cages, ducks and geese suffer horribly until the day they either die from a puncture wound inflicted by the metal pipe or are violently slaughtered for human consumption.

Historically this menu choice has been touted as a delicacy, but Chicago's Committee on Health reported findings by a Zogby poll that "...nearly 80% of Americans, when educated about foie gras, support a ban on the force feeding of birds". Even the famous Chicagoan restaurateur, Charlie Trotter, stopped serving Foie Gras prior to the ban. Since enactment of the legislation, there have been no reports of restaurants suffering financially as a result of the ban.

However, the restaurant industry continues to put pressure on City Council members to repeal the ban. Tunney, along with Mayor Daley, think the ban should never have been passed. Alderman Joe Moore (49th Ward) sponsored the ban and sees no reason to hold another vote when the legislation passed in April 2006 with 48 yeas and only 1 nay.

As a fellow Chicagoan, I urge all local citizens to contact your Aldermen. Remind them that Chicago will not stand for the cruel practices associated with the production of Foie Gras. Animals in food production must be treated humanely. Please call and email your Alderman immediately as voting will take place today at 10 A.M.