Portland bans sale of force-fed foie gras

By AI, Created 5:41 AM UTC, June 05, 2026, /AGP/ – Portland City Council voted 7-5 to prohibit the sale and provision of force-fed foie gras in restaurants, retailers and food service establishments. Businesses will have 180 days to comply, putting Portland among a small group of U.S. cities that have moved to restrict the product.

Why it matters: - Portland becomes one of the latest U.S. cities to restrict foie gras sales, joining New York City, Pittsburgh and Brookline, Massachusetts. - The ordinance targets a product produced through force-feeding, a practice animal advocates have campaigned against for years. - Colorado State University’s Animal-Human Policy Center found that 81% of Portland residents support a citywide ban on foie gras made using force-feeding. - The same research found 85% of Oregonians support a statewide ban.

What happened: - Portland City Council voted 7-5 to pass Ordinance 2026-149 on June 5, 2026. - The ordinance prohibits the sale and provision of force-fed foie gras in Portland restaurants, retailers and food service establishments. - The measure does not restrict possession, consumption or online sales. - Businesses that still sell or serve foie gras will have 180 days after the ordinance takes effect to remove it from menus and shelves.

The details: - Enforcement will use a complaint-based process. - The city will start with written notice before issuing fines. - Fines may range from $1,000 to $5,000 per violation. - Pro-Animal Oregon organized in support of the ban for more than two years. - Animal advocates have pushed city leaders to act on the issue for at least five years. - Portland activists have protested restaurants serving foie gras for more than two decades. - Pro-Animal Oregon thanked council co-sponsors Mitch Green, Jamie Dunphy, Tiffany Koyama Lane and Angelita Morillo. - The group also thanked volunteers and residents who testified, organized and contacted council offices.

Between the lines: - Council members rejected the framing that the measure was mainly about personal food choice. - The debate centered on animal treatment before the product reaches consumers. - The 7-5 vote suggests the issue had support, but not unanimity, inside the council. - The public polling cited by advocates likely strengthened the case for local action. - Sam Schillinger, campaign director of Pro-Animal Oregon, said the vote removes a product of “deliberate and extreme cruelty” from Portland’s marketplace. - Eva Hamer, executive director of Pro-Animal Oregon, said Portland’s vote reflects a city that leads with its values. - Councilor Angelita Morillo said foie gras is a practice that does not need to exist. - Councilor Candace Avalos said community requests for a reasonable solution can lead to action.

What’s next: - Portland businesses covered by the ordinance will need to adjust menus and inventory within 180 days of the law taking effect. - Enforcement will begin with complaints and written notice before fines are considered. - The ordinance may add momentum to broader efforts to limit force-fed foie gras sales in other cities and potentially at the state level. - Pro-Animal Oregon says it will continue work on humane and responsible animal protection policies across Oregon.