Chicago's Foie Gras Ban Repealed:

Chicagoans should be concerned that the foie gras ban was repealed Wednesday, May 14, 2008, by the City Council without a hearing or debate. In April 2006, the ordinance passed with 48-1 votes and many praised the City of Chicago for its humane decision. Now, Chicago will be known for bypassing legislative procedures in an effort to please the restaurant industry.

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". Unfortunately, the Aldermen present for the repeal vote were unable to hear about the egregious practice used in the production of foie gras because Ald. Joe Moore was not permitted to present the facts.

Foie gras 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 to 10 times their normal size. This cruel method 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 of diseased, fatty liver.

In repealing the ban on foie gras, City Council showed a total disregard for animal welfare and constituents' opinions by denying hearing and debate opportunities for Aldermen.

As a fellow Chicagoan, I urge local citizens to contact the Mayor and your Aldermen. Let them know that hearings and debates must be permitted so that all sides of all issues may be represented. Animals used in food production deserve to be treated humanely and protected from cruelty.