K A S H R U T . C O M_©

NYC Foie Gras Ban Found to Violate State Law

December 16, 2022 - from the Graub Street:

"The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued an order that supports the sale of foie gras in New York City, potentially ending the city’s efforts over the past three years to impose a ban.

"The 2019 New York City law prohibiting the sale of foie gras was scheduled to take effect last month, but a Manhattan judge issued a restraining order delaying its implementation. That law has now been found to violate a state law that prevents municipalities from enacting laws that “unreasonably restrict farming operations in certified agricultural districts,” according to the Catskill Foie Gras Collective.

"La Belle Farm is one of two major foie gras producers, along with Hudson Valley Foie Gras, that make up the Catskill Foie Gras Collective."

New York City Bans Sale of Foie Gras

October 31, 2019 - from the Specialty Food News and Graub Street:

"The New York City Council has passed legislation banning the sale of foie gras in the five boroughs, part of an animal welfare bill package. The law banning “force-fed poultry products” goes into effect in 2022, so it won’t have an immediate impact on the roughly 1,000 New York City restaurants serving foie gras on their menus or the upstate farmers supplying them, who say they could eventually lose up to 400 workers as a result of the legislation. New York follows California in banning foie gras, which went into effect in 2012. When the New York bill goes into effect, violations will be punishable by a $2,000 fine. That is, if the foie gras is produced by forced feeding, which not all of it is."

Potential Foie Gras Ban Remains Controversial in NY

August 30, 2019 - from the New York Times:

"As a proposed ban of foie gras makes its way through the City Council, duck farmers and animal rights activists are scrambling to make their respective cases."

"About 1,000 New York City restaurants serve foie gras, a calling card of fine dining and proof of a chef’s classical training."

"But foie gras, which can be made from geese as well, has also been at the center of a debate over whether the process of producing the delicacy is humane or, as animal rights activists suggest, torture."

"The New York City Council is leaning toward torture: It is now considering proposed legislation that would effectively ban foie gras from being sold in New York, one of the country’s largest markets for the product."

"The bill could come up for a vote in the fall; more than half of the Council has signed on as co-sponsors, and Mayor Bill de Blasio said he supports the intent of the proposal."