Portland city councilors voted 7-5 Thursday to ban the sale of foie gras, a fatty liver dish traditionally made by force-feeding ducks or geese.

Under the policy, led by Councilor Mitch Green, any restaurant or store that sells foie gras could face up to $5,000 in fines.

The proposal was supported by animal rights activists, who have lobbied City Hall for decades to ban the controversial dish. Many of the advocates are also involved in the campaign to get a state ban on fishing and hunting on the ballot this November.

“This policy is practical, easy to implement and aligns with Portland’s values regarding humane treatment of animals and sustainable food systems,” said Hannah Truxell, an animal law attorney who testified before council about the issue in April.

Portland’s restaurateurs have been the most vocal opponents of this proposal, saying it punishes the city’s small, internationally-acclaimed fine dining industry.

“I think that we are missing the forest for the trees here, and that going after us and the farms that produce foie gras is performative at best,” said Gabriel Rucker, a renowned chef and owner of Le Pigeon, speaking before council in April.

Several councilors underscored this concern.

“I think this is a real slap in the face to the handful of restaurants in Portland that serve foie gras and that helped put us on the map as a culinary destination,” said Councilor Olivia Clark.

Others argued that the issue, which impacts roughly 10 Portland businesses, is not the best use of time for councilors facing budget cuts to public safety and homelessness.

Even councilors who support the foie gras ban agreed.

“I think we sometimes contribute to public frustration when we turn relatively straightforward decisions into political theater,” said Councilor Candace Avalos. “Portlanders want us to focus on the big issues — I agree. They also want us to be capable of making routine decisions responding to community concerns. For me this falls into that category.”

California and two U.S. cities — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Brookline, Massachusetts — have recently banned the sale of foie gras. New York City passed a foie gras ban in 2019, but enforcement was delayed by legal challenges until earlier this year.

Under the policy, an investigation into whether a Portland business is selling force-fed poultry would be driven by a public complaint. If the city confirms a shop is in violation, it could face between $1,000 and $5,000 per violation. A business can avoid fines if it stops selling foie gras within two weeks of receiving a warning.

Portland’s proposal was initially voted down by a council committee in January. But it was revived a few months later when Green found enough support from councilors outside of that committee to bring the policy to the full council.

The adopted policy is nearly identical to Green’s original proposal. After backlash from restaurants that serve foie gras, councilors agreed to give businesses 180 days to wipe the dish from their menus and grocery shelves — instead of the initial 60-day plan.

Councilor Eric Zimmerman proposed an amendment Thursday that would have the ban apply only to any new businesses that want to sell foie gras, effectively exempting existing restaurants from penalties.

“I don’t give a damn about foie gras,” said Zimmerman. “But I do — without cursing, give a darn about the role in which government plays.”

That idea failed to get enough councilors’ support.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/04/portland-approves-foie-gras-ban/