Force-feeding of geese and ducks for foie gras production causes severe suffering. The practice is banned in many countries and faces growing consumer opposition.
Foie gras production causes severe welfare harm through a process that transforms a normal, healthy animal into one with a pathologically enlarged, diseased liver. The force-feeding process itself involves restraint and tube insertion that birds consistently try to avoid - their avoidance behavior is direct evidence of its aversive nature. The enlarged liver causes cascading physiological problems: organ compression reduces respiratory capacity, liver dysfunction affects metabolism, and birds near slaughter weight show labored breathing and reduced mobility. The welfare case against foie gras is among the clearest in food production - deliberate pathological transformation of a healthy animal through a repeatedly aversive procedure for a luxury product represents indefensible welfare harm.