California Restaurants Bid Farewell to Foie Gras

Rachel Bradley-Gomez June 29, 2012 at 04:55 pm

I'm glad to see this ban in place. I adore the flavor of foie gras, and as a chef, I hate to see any ingredient banned outright, but as an animal lover, the practice of creating it crosses a line. That being said, so does factory farming, cattle raised in two feet of manure on cramped feedlots, battery cage raised chickens, and the wholly unethical way that pigs are factory farmed so that their misery eventually leads to self mutilation. It's important that we respect the creatures which are sacrificed for our nourishment. Foie gras is really just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is wrong with our food. And, as much as ignorance of mistreatment of animals farmed for food may be bliss, I assert that the way we farm our food and treat our livestock is a direct reflection on our society as a whole.

Terre Beth DiLouie June 30, 2012 at 06:49 pm

I totally agree!!

Janal E Watkins July 1, 2012 at 01:03 am

Rachel- I think u said it perfectly. I am a meat eater, but I see no reason why animals shouldn't be raised and treated humanely. Temple Grandin's research showed that cattle raised in a humane environment and treated gently on the way to processing yielded a better product.
I know it's a matter of mass production netting a bigger profit, but things need to drastically change.

D C Taylor July 1, 2012 at 05:56 pm

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Gen 1:26.
Personally I think this is one "delicacy" that should go straight to the trash. However, I don't see anything in there that says Californians have to defer to animals. Birds don't have rights or understanding. Keep the animal rights out of legislation and government, and the government out of our personal choices

dan July 1, 2012 at 07:56 pm

I can't believe you girls can sit there and be serious about this ban. Animals are farmed and slaughtered regularly for their meat. This is no different than chickens being killed for your delicios meals or cows or fish or...the list goes on. To put a ban on some food because ohhhhh the animals don't feel well...guess what? They are gonna die anyways! Until ducks or geese evolve to the point where they can vote and speak a coherant language I will continue to eat whatever comes out of them. Besides the poo, that is undelicious.

Trader Lu July 2, 2012 at 02:46 am

D.C. - "The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs 12:10 We are called to be good stewards of all of nature. Also, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." - meaning: give the ox a break and let it eat some of the grain, in other words, show kindness. Dan - I think you just proved that Darwin was right.

Rachel Bradley-Gomez July 2, 2012 at 02:20 pm

Well said, Trader Lu. I would also like to add, for those who have no attention span for empathy, that the ramifications of mistreating the environment, disrespecting nature, and yes, cruelty to animals does not stop at the feed lot. No sir. It eventually ends up in the unsuspecting consumer's body. Our food culture is headed down a very dark path and most consumers are too busy, self important, complacent, or oblivious to the perils that highly lucrative yet abusive factory farming and voracious "Big Ag" represent. It so happens that treating animals ethically before slaughter, and treating the environment with respect while farming are also good for our physical well being as the apex of the food chain and stewards of this planet. Eating sick animals that have sat in their crap, been pumped with antibiotics, and force fed in miserably cramped nose-to-ass enclosures, whilst eating petroleum based, pesticide laden corn and animal derivatives, is perverse. It's also an affront to nature, the human body, and our society as a whole. I eat lots of animals, but I strive to make certain that every animal and plant I utilize is farmed in a conscious and sustainable manner. This is as much for my own health, and the health of those around me as it is for the planet as a whole. And finally, foie gras is a food born wholly of vanity and disrespect. Sure it tastes good, like heroin might feel good to a junkie, but I aint' puttin' that needle in my arm.

TrueRealist July 2, 2012 at 05:28 pm

I say if you can't look your meal in the eye and kill it with yourself then you shouldn't be allowed to partake of it. I bet there'd be a lot more vegetarians on this planet.
With that said, sales of Foie Gras will continue in NY and be shipped to california where you can have it for free with a $25.00 cracker. This won't be enforced. This CAN'T be enforced. It's a waste of taxpayers time and money. Period. The animals are raised for food so they're going to be butchered one way or another. This ban doesn't change anything. Fowl will still be killed, they won't be free and life will move on.

Trader Lu July 2, 2012 at 09:21 pm

Rachel, you have a very balanced approach to this sensitive topic. I believe that the government interference in "Ag" has led to the sharp decline of the family farm. Regulations, subsidies, price controls, etc. have made it to hard to compete and large companies have bought out the smaller family farms. The owners no longer interact with their animals and there is no affection for their well-being.

Trader Lu July 2, 2012 at 09:24 pm

TrueRealist - good post. I have to agree with you and rocker Ted Nugent. Ted only eats what he himself has hunted. Folks like me let someone else do the dirty work for them.