Campaign launched to ban foie gras sales in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Today marks the launch of Animal Equality’s campaign against foie gras sales in the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Foie gras, a French “luxury” dish, is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese until their livers swell up to ten times their normal size. These swollen, diseased livers are ground into a pâté and served at upscale restaurants from Paris to Michigan.

With the launch of this new campaign, advocates are urging Ann Arbor’s city council to enact an ordinance banning foie gras sales. This campaign is led by Animal Equality’s Legal Advocacy Counsel–Maggie Marshall–a Southeast Michigan resident.

Home of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor has long been at the forefront of animal protection legislation. In 2021, Ann Arbor banned the sale of fur within city limits. In 2023, the city banned pet stores from selling dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, certain birds, and large reptiles. Now, Ann Arbor residents are asking the city to take a firm stance against businesses profiting from cruelty.

Extreme cruelty uncovered on foie gras farms

Over the years, Animal Equality has released investigative footage from the global foie gras industry, exposing extreme cruelty and eliciting controversy.

In the foie gras industry, ducks and geese are trapped in cages so small that they are unable to flap their wings. Diseases and injuries are rampant, with investigators photographing animals lying dead in their cages or on concrete floors.

During foie gras production, workers restrain animals and insert long, metal pipes into their esophagi. Then, they deliver excessive amounts of high-calorie food directly into animals’ bodies.

Footage from the industry has revealed animals with broken beaks and bloodied bodies, many panting from fear and covered in vomit. They’ve even witnessed animals backing into the corners of their cages as workers approach them, desperately looking for an escape.

The force-feeding process is repeated several times per day for several weeks, until their livers reach the desired size. In their final moments, animals are forced to watch as their companions are slaughtered in front of them.

End the era of force-feeding

Ann Arbor residents are eligible to sign Animal Equality’s petition asking the city council to ban foie gras sales. Meanwhile, advocates residing in Southeast Michigan are invited to become volunteers as Animal Equality prepares for its in-person demonstrations.

Those living outside Southeast Michigan can also join the action. Simply sign Animal Equality’s petition to ban foie gras sales nationwide or become an online volunteer.

Ban foie gras in the United States now

Foie gras is one of the most violent animal products available. Ducks and geese are force-fed through a tube that is inserted into their throats in a process called gavage.

Large amounts of fat are deposited into the duck’s liver, causing it to grow up to ten times its normal size. This can leave the animals unable to walk or even breathe before slaughter.

Force-feeding is extremely painful and stressful for these sensitive animals and causes injuries and death from ruptured organs.

Foie gras is already banned in several countries

Due to the animal cruelty involved, the State of California and several countries—including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel (formerly the world’s fourth-largest foie gras producer), Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Argentina—have either outright prohibited force-feeding for foie gras production and/or sale or have interpreted production as illegal under existing anti-cruelty laws.

In the UK, where production is already illegal, the government is also considering banning the import of foie gras.

Most recently, New York City overwhelmingly passed a bill to ban the sale of foie gras in 2019. Additionally, several restaurants and retailers—such as Costco, Safeway, Target, Giant Eagle, Whole Foods Market, and Wolfgang Puck—refuse to sell foie gras due to animal cruelty concerns.

It’s time to end the cruel force-feeding of animals

The undersigned demand that the United States follow the lead of the many countries listed above and similarly ban the sale and production of foie gras in the USA. It’s time for this cruel delicacy to become a thing of the past. I stand with Animal Equality in calling for an immediate ban on this atrocity.

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Stand against suffering for all kinds

While ducks and geese suffer immensely in the foie gras industry, pigs, cows, chickens, lambs, and other animals suffer similar fates. Animal Equality’s investigations have uncovered cruelty in all corners of the factory farming industry, exposing corporations that use animals to produce meat, dairy, and eggs.

You can take a stand against all forms of animal cruelty by replacing animal products with compassionate, sustainable, and wholesome proteins. Sign up for the Love Veg newsletter to receive your copy of our plant-based cookbook today.

PROTECT DUCKS

Even before hatching from their eggs, ducklings communicate with their close‑knit families.

Protect these families by eating plant‑based and ditching animal products.