Major U.S. City Bans Sale of Foie Gras in Restaurants, Citing Animal Welfare and Sustainability

The City of Portland is taking a stand against foie gras.

The Portland City Council in Portland, Oregon voted to ban the sale of foie gras, which means “fatty liver” in French and refers to fattened duck or goose liver, on June 4, 2026.

According to the document explaining the ban, it restricts retail and food service establishments from selling or serving “force-fed product.” The ban on force-fed products, including foie gras, will go into effect 180 days after June 4.

The council explained that the reasoning behind the ban is “to prevent animal cruelty, to preserve the environment, to bolster the reputation of Portland’s food service and retail community, to position Portland as a humane tourist destination, and to protect public morals related to animal welfare and environmental sustainability.”

Per the council’s website, foie gras typically entails force-feeding geese or ducks until their livers are enlarged “up to ten times its normal size.” It said that the production involves inserting a metal or plastic tube into the bird’s throat and injecting feed into the stomach.

“Force-feeding induces liver disease in the birds, which is painful and often fatal. The process also causes the animals significant injury and illness,” the council wrote on its website.

The council also argued that the foie gras industry keeps animals in confinement, leading to “environmental degradation and climate change” because of its use of water and energy, as well as the pollution the process causes.

The council said that birds in such factories have weakened immune systems, leading to increased susceptibility to bird flu outbreaks that can spread to humans.

The council’s website said that Oregon law recognizes animals as capable of experiencing pain and provides that animals should be cared for in a way that minimizes pain and suffering. It added that the city wants to promote “responsible and sustainable business practices.”

“It is in the public interest to avoid supporting animal cruelty, unsustainable environmental practices, and zoonotic disease risks by removing force-fed products from the marketplace,” the council said of the ban on its website. “It is also in the public interest to codify values related to the humane treatment of animals, public health, and environmental stewardship.”

Portland City Councilor Mitch Green, who sponsored the bill, told PEOPLE that as a native of Portland, he has seen the demand for a foie gras ban throughout his life.

Green said 81% of Portlanders support making the city “a more cruelty-free place,” which motivated him to champion the ordinance. He said that he has heard from chefs who don’t serve foie gras who still make delicious pâté and is confident that the Portland food scene will innovate without it.

For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.