Force-feeding of geese and ducks to produce foie gras is banned in many countries based on welfare evidence, while the practice continues in France, Hungary, and a few other jurisdictions with significant cultural and economic dimensions.
Foie gras welfare evidence is among the clearest in farm animal welfare science: the induction of a pathological liver disease through repeated forced feeding involves documented physical harm (esophageal injury), documented behavioral aversion (birds moving away from feeding equipment and handlers), and the creation of a disease state that would cause physiological distress under natural conditions. The difficulty is that this clear evidence exists in tension with deeply embedded cultural traditions and significant economic interests, particularly in France. The welfare case for elimination of gavage-based foie gras production is well-established in the scientific literature and has driven legislative prohibition in the majority of countries that have reviewed the evidence. Consumer choice in markets that sell foie gras represents the most immediate lever for reducing production volume in jurisdictions where legislation has not acted.