The widely controversial menu item foie gras is now banned in New York City.
A new bill was introduced at the beginning of 2019 by Manhattan councilwoman Carolina Rivera which would make the sale of foie gras—fatty goose/duck liver—illegal on the basis of animal cruelty. Under her proposal, those who are caught selling the liver pâté would face fines up to $1,000, a misdemeanor, and one year in jail for each offense. Rivera told the New York Post that “[foie gras] is not part of the diet of everyday New Yorkers. Less than 1 percent of all New York City restaurants serve it. This is truly a luxury item.”
The “luxury item” was already banned in places like California, and has been a controversial delicacy for quite some time. Foie gras is typically made by force-feeding geese and/or ducks to enlarge their livers, which gives them their fatty taste.
On Wednesday, October 30, NYC council members voted on the new legislation, but with Mayor de Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson backing it (and many council members who had already signed on), the bill was expected to pass, and did—officially making this menu item illegal.
However, even though it has passed there will be a three year period given to businesses to adjust to the new policy.