Chicago’s City Council put out a hit on foie gras Wednesday. The expensive fatty liver that’s produced at the expense of force-feeding ducks and geese now has less than 90 days left in Windy City restaurants and markets.
The unanimous vote makes Chicago the first city in the nation to outlaw foie gras.
The Sun-Times serves up two sides of poultry-organ politics:
"We have children getting killed by gang leaders and dope dealers. We have real issues here in this city. And we’re dealing with foie gras? Let’s get some priorities. Our priorities should be children, the quality of education. It should be seniors. We should worry about the gas price. We should worry about the global economy."
– Chicago Mayor Richard Daley
"It’s not going to cost the taxpayers a single nickel. It’s not taking away any funds from any other city services or human service programs. It’s simply outlawing the product of a cruel and inhumane practice. That’s all it does."
– Chicago Alderman Joe Moore
Chicago celeb chef Charlie Trotter stopped serving foie gras and 100 Illinois restaurants have pleged the same, the newspaper notes. California, the United Kingdom, Israel and others have approved foie gras crackdowns, too.
But if everyone jumped off the Sears Tower, would you?
“What’s going on in Chicago? No smoking, no foie gras and then what else — no sex?” asked one chef, whose $15 offal appetizer will soon be forbidden foie gras.
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