Illinois Considering Ban on Foie Gras

Thursday, March 10, 2005


SPRINGFIELD - When the duck is full, stop feeding it.

That's the idea behind legislation debated in Springfield Wednesday that would outlaw force-feeding birds.

It was one of several, somewhat offbeat proposals, including whether prostitutes can sue their pimps, that lawmakers addressed.

Force-feeding ducks by inserting tubes down their throats is how the delicacy foie gras is made. "Foie gras" translates to mean "fatty liver" and is often found in pate de foie gras. When ducks are force-fed grains, up to a pound every day, their liver can enlarge by several times, almost killing the birds before they're eventually slaughtered.

State Sen. Kay Wojcik, a Schaumburg Republican, thought the practice was inhumane.

Her legislation was approved without opposition by a Senate committee Wednesday and moves to the Senate floor. No businesses operate in Illinois that force-feed birds. Wojcik wants to keep it that way. The practice was recently banned in California, and many European countries have done the same.

"No one is going to be harmed in Illinois," Wojcik said. "The restaurants can still purchase their foie gras. All we're saying is that if you're planning on coming to Illinois and starting a business to do something like this, then the door is closed."