Izi Yanai, the man who first brought foie gras to New York in the 1970s he established the first foie gras poultry farm north of the metropolis. His creation is under threat, however, today after the ban on sale Foie gras in 2019 in New York.
The paste is made by force-feeding ducks and geese to remove their swollen livers. Although the ban was supposed to take effect at the end of 2022, the case went to court following a lawsuit by poultry farmers against the state.
On the side of producers, even the French government, which considers foie gras a symbol of French culinary culture, and the Department of Agriculture in Washington called New York legislation too intrusive. On the other hand, animal rights activists are pushing for Mayor Adams to implement the law.
Last week, the City of New York filed a lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture, accusing the federal agency of improperly interfering in the internal affairs of the city.
New York lawyers argue that the Yanai farm still produces many products other than foie gras, and that the city’s ban on the sale of the controversial products will not lead to the farm’s financial ruin. Yanai will be able to continue to cook and sell foie gras to customers outside of New York.
The French consulate in New York has filed a letter with the relevant courts urging the municipality to reconsider the ban, claiming it will harm the city’s 1,300 foie gras restaurants. The letter describes the restrictive measures as “an attack on French traditions.”
California law
California introduced a similar ban in 2012 after an eight-year litigation. Edita Birkrant, head of the New York City animal welfare group that generously funded former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign, says she’s confident foie gras will soon be a thing of the past for the city.
“Remember, the 2017 law banning the use of elephants in New York State circuses has been in the making for over a decade. I believe that we are on the right side of history in this matter,” says Ms Birkrant. While French restaurants remain popular in New York, foie gras has lost its former glory.
Source: Kathimerini
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