A success for animal rights activists, a defeat for gourmets: New York banishes the controversial delicacy foie gras. The City Council of the US metropolis voted on Wednesday to pass a bill banning the sale of foie gras from October 2022 onwards. In case of violations penalties should threaten between 500 and 2000 dollars per offense. The bill still has to be signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"This is a historic day for the rights of animals in New York City," said Matthew Dominguez of the animal rights group "Voters for the Rights of Animals". On the other hand, foie gras producers announced legal action against the ban.
Forced feeding over several weeks
"We'll give them a kick in the butt in court," said producer Hudson Valley founder Foie Gras Izzy Yanay. "I have 400 people who have been working for me for 30 years, and these people are suffering a tragedy." It was not until January that the US Supreme Court upheld a ban on foie gras in the state of California following a 15-year lawsuit.
While foie gras is regarded as a delicacy by gourmets, animal rights activists criticize the fact that ducks and geese have to suffer during fattening: Before slaughtering, the animals are forcibly fed on grain for several weeks until their livers are completely fat-choked to multiples.
In France, the stuffing mast has been protected from prohibitions since 2006: foie gras was then declared a "part of the cultural and gastronomic heritage". The foie gras is a traditional Christmas meal for many Frenchmen. The production of foie gras is already banned in some countries, including Denmark, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The city also banishes swear words
It's not the only ordinance that has recently hit the headlines in New York City Council. In mid-October, the city had criminalized Hudson's discrimination against immigrants: those who use the words "illegal" or "illegal alien" in a degrading manner face a fine of up to $ 250,000.
At the beginning of the year, the Municipal Human Rights Committee decided that the city's residents would no longer be penalized or insulted for their hairstyle.
