MOSCOW, January 8 (Sputnik) – A ban on foie gras in California was overturned by a federal court on Wednesday, leading to fury from animal rights campaigners and delight from French chefs and producers in the state.
"First and foremost, I am very happy for my guests, I know the people of California have missed their foie," Ludo Lefebvre, chef of Trois Mec and Petit Trois in Los Angeles told the Los Angeles Times. "Speaking as a French chef, it is an important ingredient and part of the legacy of French cooking."
Four places in the Bay Area that are serving #foiegras TONIGHT: http://t.co/PbWd2zHkHo pic.twitter.com/USNee6KM9A
— Eater SF (@eatersf) 8 января 2015
However, the animal rights activists were strongly critical of the ruling, which came after legal action from importers and producers of the food against the ban. The animal rights group PETA made a statement saying, "Foie gras is French for fat liver, and Fathead is the American word for the shameless chefs" who serve the delicacy, which it called "torture in a tin."
.@HumaneSociety's response to poor judicial ruling on #CA #foiegras law: http://t.co/k7i8bqzh85 pic.twitter.com/plbBd4YHQc
— Paul Shapiro (@pshapiro) 8 января 2015
Under the ban, restaurants faced a fine of up to $1,000 for serving foie gras made from force-fed poultry. The legislation came into force in 2012, having been passed by state lawmakers in 2004. A previous appeal by out-of-state producers in August last year failed in challenging the law, the LA Times reported, but this time the plaintiffs were successful in arguing that the ban was unconstitutional because it conflicts with federal regulations of poultry products.
