Reversing Course on Foie Gras

Chicago did something rather unusual earlier this week.

The City Council on Wednesday repealed its two-year-old ban on the gourmet dish, drawing dissent from animal rights activists who consider foie gras cruel because the birds are force-fed to make their livers bigger.

...

"You might disagree with serving foie gras, but you don't do a ban and forbid everybody to have foie gras," Durand said. His restaurant was one of many across the city that held foie gras dinners in the days before the ban took effect.

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called the repeal a political maneuver benefiting the restaurant industry. The Virginia-based organization said the council's first "compassionate decision was reversed in a secretive, rushed bow to special interests that benefit from the cruel treatment of animals."

Wednesday's vote was led by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who called the ban the silliest ordinance the council had ever passed. The repeal measure passed by a vote of 37-6 with no debate, an about-face from the original ban, which passed in April 2006 by a vote of 48-1.

PETA isn't concerned about animal welfare except as a means to further its animal rights agenda.  Only about 80 people showed up in front of city hall this evening to protest the overturning of the foie gras ban. 

During the ban, a number of renegade restaurateurs operated "duckeasies," ensuring that foie gras was readily available.  There wasn't much threat of punishment.

As city Health Department spokesman Tim Hadac told the Sun-Times, investigating foie gras complaints "is without question the least-important thing we're called upon to do."

I wonder though if radical activists will go back to vandalizing Chicago restaurants that serve the dish.  Returning to the original article.

Alderman Thomas Tunney, who brought the issue to vote, said the sentiments of most Chicagoans were served.

"Supporters of this legislation have accomplished their goal by raising awareness of this issue," Tunney said in a statement. "And while I respect their viewpoint, this is clearly a matter the council should stay out of and let the educated consumer and chefs make their own menu choices."

California's foie gras ban goes into effect in 2012.

Comments

[Mike]

What? But the Chicago City Council has 49 Democrats and only 1 Republican! Are you telling me Democrats eat foie gras?

Unbelievable! And Elmo thinks Republicans are the ENEMY! Not to geese they're not, apparently. Except, of course, in California.