Hannah Truxell
Duck yeah! A court ruling upholds New York City’s foie gras sales ban after years of unwavering determination.
New York City is one of the world’s great culinary capitals. Now it’s also proving how far cities can go to confront cruelty in the kitchen.
A court ruling has upheld New York City’s foie gras sales ban after a long legal fight.
The law dates back to 2019, when the New York City Council passed legislation prohibiting the sale of foie gras produced through force-feeding ducks and geese. The measure followed years of advocacy led by Voters for Animal Rights (VFAR), a New York–based organization and Animal Policy Alliance member that pushed city lawmakers to take action.
“This ruling not only upholds the city’s ability to make decisions in the best interest of its residents, human and nonhuman alike, but also shows the power of citizens coming together for justice and compassion,” said VFAR President Allie Taylor.
A closer look at foie gras
Often served in white-tablecloth restaurants and featured on tasting menus, foie gras comes from a practice widely considered inhumane.
Foie gras—French for “fatty liver”—comes from the enlarged liver of a duck or goose, produced through a process known as gavage. Birds are force-fed through metal tubes inserted down their throats multiple times a day for weeks, causing their livers to swell to ten times their natural size.
The enlarged organ places significant strain on the birds’ bodies, making it difficult for them to breathe or move. Many suffer broken bones, pneumonia, and other serious health complications.
Industrial foie gras production raises broader concerns as well. Concentrated duck and goose farming can generate significant waste and pollution. Intensive poultry operations have long been associated with increased risks of disease transmission.
Because of these concerns, foie gras production is banned in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, and others, as scrutiny of the practice grows worldwide.
How the foie gras ban became law
Back in 2019, the New York City Council passed legislation banning the sale of foie gras produced through force-feeding. Known as Intro 1378 and later enacted as Local Law 202, the measure was led by VFAR and championed by former Council Member Carlina Rivera.
Even with 81% of New York City voters backing the ban, the foie gras industry was determined to overturn the law. They sued, they stalled, they claimed the ban would hurt business. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets even stepped in, arguing the ban “unreasonably restricts the business of farms.”
As the case moved through the courts, VFAR acted as an amicus curiae—a non-party, individual, or organization permitted by a court to advise on a case to assist in legal interpretation or highlight broader societal impacts. They provide specialized expertise, legal arguments, or technical information, often to sway decision-making in high-stakes litigation.
More than 50 nonprofit coalition partners joined the campaign. At the Humane League, we provided strategic consultation and a grant to help cover part of the legal costs as VFAR worked tirelessly to defend the law.
After a drawn-out legal fight, an appellate court ruled in New York City’s favor, finding that the foie gras sales ban is lawful.
When New York City changes course
Food culture evolves. Practices that once went unquestioned can fall out of step with what diners expect. And when one of the world’s most influential dining scenes says force-feeding has no place on menus, the industry takes notice.
The decision reflects growing public concern about cruelty in food production. As Allie from VFAR said, the ruling shows “the power of citizens coming together for justice and compassion” and marks “a momentous step forward in creating a kinder, more humane world.”
The lives behind the law
At the center of the foie gras debate are ducks and geese whose lives are shaped by our food system. Their suffering has driven years of advocacy from people determined to bring this issue into public view.
Efforts like this help bring that reality into the open for more people to see. For every activist, volunteer, and caring New Yorker who refused to give up, it’s a moment worth celebrating. And a reminder that progress takes persistence.
New York City shows what’s possible, but there’s more work ahead. Join us in taking cruelty off the table. For ducks. For geese. For a more compassionate food system.
