Sure, we know that foie gras is harmful to ducks and geese: pumping massive quantities of corn mush (20-30% of their normal body weight) down the birds' throats several times a day with metal tubes eventually causes a disease called "hepatic lipidosis." This swells their livers up to ten times their normal size, turning them into almost 100% fat, just so farmers can harvest them for a lucrative industry that caters to the ultra-rich. But a new study indicates that foie gras may also be harmful to human health. Researchers have recently found evidence that foie gras consumption may transmit a type of amyloid found in rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis, which can cause organ failure and ultimately death.

Ground Zero for the foie gras controversy continues to be centered in Chicago, where the city council voted to officially outlaw the deadly delicacy by an overwhelming margin, effective in April 2006. It's here in the Windy City that two Aldermen who originally voted in favor of the historic ordinance prohibiting the sale of the product have since flip-flopped on their position, and have been pushing a measure to repeal the ban.

But dedicated animal advocates refuse to let this victory be stolen away. A coalition of animal protection organizations, including IDA have been lobbying Chicago aldermen to keep the ban in place. IDA's Connie Durkee is also in Chicago this week gathering petition signatures in support of the ban.

Meanwhile, Mayor Richard Daley and other opponents of Chicago's foie gras ban continue to pull political strings to get the ordinance repealed, making it necessary for compassionate Chicagoans to let their leaders know that they are proud to live in the first U.S. city to outlaw foie gras. Residents of Philadelphia and San Diego are also making good headway toward banning foie gras in their cities, as well.

What You Can Do:

- Join with others in your community to hold peaceful protests outside of restaurants that serve foie gras, and conduct outreach to diners respectfully explaining how this "delicacy of despair" harms ducks and geese. Learn which restaurants in your area serve foie gras and how you can take action to convince them that the public wants them to stop.

- Chicago residents: Sign IDA's online petition to preserve Chicago's historic ordinance prohibiting the sale of foie gras and defeat the misguided attempt to repeal the ban. Also contact your alderman in support of the ban and ask your friends and family to do so, as well.

- Bills to ban foie gras are pending in several states right now. If you are a resident of one of these states, contact your elected officials and ask them to support efforts to outlaw foie gras. If you live in a state where a ban has not been introduced, please contact banfoiegras@idausa.org for information on how to get your legislators to introduce a ban.