Farmed Goose Welfare: Foie Gras and Standard Production

Goose farming raises welfare issues ranging from the extreme suffering caused by foie gras production through to routine management practices in standard farming.

Key Facts

Foie gras production involves force-feeding geese via tube to produce a pathologically enlarged liver
Force-feeding causes oesophageal injury, liver disease, respiratory compromise and distress in affected birds
Foie gras production is banned in over 20 countries including the UK and Germany on welfare grounds
Standard goose farming for meat and feathers also raises welfare concerns around housing, transport and slaughter
Live plucking of down from geese for feathers causes significant acute pain and is banned in some countries
Responsible down certification schemes require humane plucking from already-slaughtered birds

Welfare Considerations

Goose welfare spans a wide spectrum from the extreme, deliberate suffering of foie gras force-feeding to more moderate welfare compromises in standard production. Foie gras represents one of the clearest cases of deliberate welfare abuse for aesthetic product qualities — the enlarged liver is not nutritionally unique, only texturally different. Consumer and legislative action has made meaningful progress in restricting this practice, but global trade means enforcement challenges remain for countries that ban production but permit importation.

What You Can Do

Never purchase or order foie gras — its production causes extreme and documented animal suffering
Advocate for import bans on foie gras in countries that ban its production
Choose goose down products certified by responsible down standards excluding live plucking
Support geese welfare standards in farming beyond foie gras, including housing and slaughter
Educate others about the welfare implications of foie gras to reduce demand