Goose welfare in conventional production raises significant concerns, with foie gras production through force-feeding representing one of farming's most contentious welfare issues.
Foie gras production sits at the extreme end of farming welfare concerns. The force-feeding process — inserting a tube into the esophagus and mechanically pumping feed directly into the crop several times daily — causes physical discomfort and psychological stress. The resulting liver enlargement represents a pathological state. Birds at peak production may have difficulty walking due to abdominal enlargement. Even standard goose farming without force-feeding raises welfare concerns: geese are social, spatially complex animals with high behavioral needs poorly met in conventional production. Consumer boycotts, retail bans, and production bans have reduced foie gras availability significantly, but production continues in France, where it carries cultural significance that complicates welfare reform.