Federal Court Ruling Dismisses False Claims By Foie Gras Industry While Upholding Ban In California As Constitutional

Photos from Voters For Animal Rights, Facebook

This week, a federal court ruling affirmed the constitutionality of California’s foie gras ban after rejecting the foie gras industry’s many attacks.

The United States District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the industry’s constitutional challenge in its entirety, and prohibited the plaintiffs from trying to renew their claims to undo the foie gras ban.

The court left open a narrow window for the challengers to try to substantiate their request that the ban not apply to out of state producers seeking to sell foie gras to California buyers.

California banned the sale and production of foie gras out of concern for the welfare of the geese and ducks that suffer tremendously in the process of making foie gras.

As previously reported by WAN, foie gras is produced by force-feeding ducks or geese until their livers swell up to ten times their natural size, inducing a painful disease of the liver. The birds are then slaughtered so their livers can be served as a so-called “delicacy” for human consumption.

California’s ban has been subject to a prolonged legal challenge by the foie gras industry since lawmakers placed a ban on the production and sale of foie gras in 2004. The law went into effect in 2012. In January 2019, the United States Supreme Court, for the second time, denied the industry’s plea to take its case.

The foie gras industry responded by filing yet another amended complaint to challenge the constitutionality of the law.

As per a statement released by Animal Legal Defense Fund, the organization will continue to monitor the case, and defend the foie gras law’s constitutionality and broad enforcement.

Anyone who sees foie gras being sold in California restaurants or stores is encouraged to report the sighting to police, then submit the tip to the Animal Legal Defense Fund HERE!

You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg