Foie gras production involves force-feeding ducks and geese to massively enlarge their livers. The welfare science is unambiguous; many countries have banned the practice while it continues in others under cultural protection.
Foie gras production causes clear and severe welfare harm that the scientific literature has addressed conclusively. Forced-feeding through gavage causes throat injuries from repeated tube insertion. Rapid liver enlargement causes pain, difficulty breathing from pressure on the respiratory system, and difficulty walking. Ducks and geese approach the feeding tube with aversion behaviours demonstrating negative conditioning to the procedure. The liver pathology of foie gras is an induced disease state causing suffering throughout the fattening period. The existence of natural fattening alternatives producing premium fatty liver without force-feeding demonstrates that the welfare costs of conventional foie gras are not inevitable. Cultural protection of practices causing documented severe suffering represents an ongoing welfare challenge in jurisdictions maintaining production.