Court Clears Way for NYC Foie Gras Ban, But Obstacles Remain
Photo by Animal Equality
The 2019 ban on the sale of foie gras in New York City was overturned by the New York State Supreme Court on June 21, 2024, as UPC reported in Fall 2024 Poultry Press. On March 12, 2026, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that New York City’s foie gras ban can take effect, rejecting arguments from foie gras producers and restaurants who claimed the city did not have authority to prohibit the sale of products made through force-feeding birds. The court found that the city is allowed to regulate products connected to animal cruelty, clearing a major legal obstacle to the ban.
This is encouraging news, but obstacles remain before the ban can take
effect. The March 12, 2026, Gothamist article,
New York court clears way for NYC foie gras ban to take effect, reports:
But the ban may not take effect immediately. A spokesperson for the New York City Law Department said the state could still seek permission to appeal the ruling to the Court of Appeals.
The spokesperson also said the city is currently subject to an injunction in a separate lawsuit brought by foie gras producers that prevents enforcement of the law until there is a “final, nonappealable” order in the case against the state.
Thursday’s court ruling is a “historic victory for animals,” said Allie Taylor, who heads Voters For Animal Rights, which helped lobby for the ban’s original passage seven years ago.
“Today’s ruling not only upholds the city’s ability to make decisions in the best interest of its residents, human and nonhuman alike, but also shows the power of citizens coming together for justice and compassion,” she said. “This is a momentous step forward in creating a kinder, more humane world and it proves that meaningful change is possible when people refuse to accept cruelty as the status quo.”
What Can I Do?
Help restaurants in NYC (and everywhere!) reduce their dependence
on animal cruelty.
Order
and distribute copies of our new handout,
“Ask
Restaurants to Switch to Vegan Faux Gras,” which exposes the cruelty
behind foie gras and offers a vegan faux gras recipe as a solution. This
handout is great to use for leafleting in front of restaurants that serve
foie gras or just sharing with your local chef. To find foie gras
restaurants in your area, just type “foie gras restaurant near me” in your
favorite internet search engine.
