NEW YORK, NY, November 21, 2019 — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has signed a historic anti-cruelty bill into law banning the sale of force-fed foie gras. New York has become the largest city in the world to ban the sale of foie gras due to the inherent cruelty involved in its production.

In response to the foie gras industry’s ridiculous claim that enlarged livers in humans aren’t diseased, we asked a medical expert for the facts. In this post, Dr. Gray—a gastroenterologist who specializes in hepatology and liver transplantation—provides information about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans, which would be the equivalent of what happens to force-fed ducks raised for foie gras.

Numerous investigations into Hudson Valley Foie Gras has documented routine and extreme cruelty happening behind closed doors.

The foie gras industry is known for providing false information to lawmakers and the public in an attempt to conceal their unethical behavior. This post refutes claims made by their paid-consultant at the June Health Committee hearing and details how they use “staged tours” to cover up their abusive practices.

Hudson Valley Foie Gras (HVFG) is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) located in Ferndale, NY. According to documents, HVFG is permitted to confine up to 138,000 ducks, generates 3,090 tons of manure, 500 tons of litter and bedding, and 1,500,000 gallons of wastewater. An aerial view of HVFG shows that it is an industrial factory farm, not a small family farm.

The foie gras industry is attempting to mislead the public and the NY City Council by claiming their “poll,” conducted by Change Research, shows that “New Yorkers are not in favor of the proposed ban.” This statement stems from a severely flawed survey. Alternatively, an creditable poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon, found that 81% of New York voters support Intro 1378.

More than 60 NYC-based restaurants support a prohibition on the sale of force-fed foie gras in New York City.