Analyzing Portland’s Proposed Force-Fed Foie Gras Ban

On January 27, 2026, Portland City Council’s Arts and Economy Committee considered a proposal to ban the sale of force-fed foie gras within the city of Portland. Although the measure failed to advance out of committee, the pursuit of a ban on the sale of force-fed foie gras in Portland is not over. In this blog, we explore the purpose behind the proposed ban and address some common questions and misunderstandings about what this measure aims to accomplish.

What is Force-Fed Foie Gras?

Foie gras, French for “fat liver,” is a luxury delicacy made from the enlarged liver of a duck or goose. Often served seared or as a pâté, it is a high-priced gourmet item. While it is possible to develop foie gras without force feeding, most producers in the industry use force-feeding as the method of production. Force-fed foie gras is formed by shoving a tube into a bird’s esophagus multiple times a day over the course of several weeks, to pump the animal’s stomach with enough grain to swell the liver up to ten times its normal size. The amount force-fed is significantly greater than the volume of food the birds would normally consume. Veterinary studies demonstrate that the force feeding process causes significant pain and adverse effects to birds, including the risk of esophageal injury and the stress of repeated capture and restraint. Even some foie gras producers consider the force-feeding process to be inhumane.

The Proposed Ban

The proposal before the Portland City Council is a measure to prevent the sale of force-fed foie gras. Under the proposed ordinance, any retail establishment that sells force-fed foie gras would receive a written warning that a violation has occurred. If the violation is not corrected within 14 days of the date of the notice, the business could be fined up to $5,000 per violation.Those businesses that do not sell force-fed livers will not be impacted by the ban.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does the ordinance envision banning all foie gras?

The ordinance targets force-fed foie gras. However, since most foie gras currently sold is force-fed, the presumption is that any foie gras offered for sale is a force-fed product. The onus is on the business selling the product to rebut this presumption by producing documentary evidence that this is not the case.

2. Why does the city want to pass this ban?

As explained in detail in the text of the proposed ordinance, in addition to the force-feeding of ducks and geese being inhumane and cruel, it also contributes to environmental degradation and increases the risk of infections and zoonotic diseases.

As the Impact Statement explains: “Because of the constant abuse they suffer, ducks and geese on factory foie gras farms have weakened immune systems. This makes them especially susceptible to avian influenza (bird flu). Bird flu is a zoonotic disease that can spread to humans. The foie gras industry also produces many environmental hazards, including: wasting large amounts of water and energy, polluting air and waterways with manure and slaughter waste, and threatening wild endangered species.”

3. Would Portland, Oregon be the first city to enact such a ban?

Oregon law recognizes all animals as sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, stress, and fear. The proposed ordinance is consistent with that recognition, and a ban would not be unprecedented. California, as well as the cities of Pittsburgh, PA, and Brookline, MA, have enacted force-fed foie gras bans. New York City and Chicago also passed this type of ban, but in both cities, the measures were eventually overturned. A ballot initiative campaign is currently underway in Washington D.C to prohibit the production and sale of force-fed foie gras. There are at least 20 other countries around the world that ban the sale and production of force-fed foie gras.

4. Isn’t the ban simply performative or symbolic?

As long as the product remains on the market, ducks and geese will continue to be force-fed to produce foie gras and risks to public health and the environment will continue. This ban is an opportunity for the city of Portland to send the message that it cares about the treatment of animals and that people can enjoy a luxurious meal without forcing animals to endure cruel practices.

5. What is the current status of the ban?

Although the measure failed to make it out of the Arts and Economy Committee, it can still be brought before the full council for a vote if four out of twelve councillors demand it get a full council hearing. Counselor Mitch Green, who co-authored the proposed ordinance, has pledged to pursue it. The ultimate fate of the proposed ban remains to be seen, but in the meantime consumers can contact their local representatives to support the ban and, of course, they can always choose compassion by not purchasing force-fed foie gras.

Hira Jaleel is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS). She served as Animal Law Teaching Fellow at CALS since August of 2022, as well as served as an Adjunct Professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, teaching Aquatic Animal Law and co-teaching Food Law with Professor Pamela Frasch. She is also an Animal Law LLM (’20, Pakistan) of Lewis & Clark Law School. Hira’s research and scholarship focus on international animal law, industrial animal agriculture law, food law, and aquatic animal law, with extensive publications on animal law developments in South Asia.

Frannie von Friedeberg (2L) is a second-year law student at Lewis & Clark Law School. She holds a master’s degree in animal science and is interested in studying the intersection of international and animal law. She is co-director of the Lewis & Clark Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter, and serves as a CALS law clerk through the Law Scholars for Change Program.

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) was founded in 2008 with a mission to educate the next generation of animal law advocates and advance animal protection through the law. With vision and bold risk-taking, CALS has since developed into a world-renowned animal law epicenter. In addition to JD study, CALS offers an advanced degree program in-person and online. CALS’ Alumni-in-Action from more than 30 countries are making a difference for animals around the world. CALS is a self-funded Center within the law school operating under the Lewis & Clark College 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and is able to provide these educational opportunities through donations and grants.