August 8, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Southland chefs celebrate overturn on foie gras ban, animal rights activists livid

Foie gras was banned in 2012 because it involved the force-feeding of ducks. (Thinkstock)
Foie gras was banned in 2012 because it involved the force-feeding of ducks. (Thinkstock)

Chefs at French restaurants in the Southland and around the state today celebrated a federal court ruling that overturned California’s ban on the delicacy known as foie gras, but animal rights activists were livid.

The law banning the sale of foie gras — French for “fat liver” — and its byproducts went into effect in July 2012. A restaurant caught serving the gourmet item in California faced fines up to $1,000. The law bans force-feeding ducks or geese to make foie gras within California and bars sales of foie gras produced elsewhere if it’s made by force-feeding a bird to enlarge its liver beyond normal size.

In his ruling in Los Angeles Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson wrote that the law was unconstitutional because it interferes with the U.S. Poultry Products Inspections Act, a federal law that regulates poultry products and trumps state regulations.

A representative of state Attorney General Kamala Harris said her office is reviewing Wilson’s ruling. The state can seek a stay of the decision to keep the law intact while Harris appeals the ruling to the U.S. 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The foie gras ban was challenged by the Hot’s Restaurant Group, which includes Hot’s Cantina in Northridge, Four Daughters in Manhattan Beach and Hot’s Kitchen in Hermosa Beach; by Hudson Valley Foie Gras, a producer in New York; and by a group of Canadian farmers called Association des Eleveurs de Canards et d’Oies du Quebec.

Sean Chaney, chef-owner of Hot’s Kitchen in Hermosa Beach, said after the ruling that foie gras “will be back on the menu” today.

“It’s awesome,” Chaney said. “What a way to start the new year.”

Within hours of the ruling, chef Josiah Citrin at Melisse in Santa Monica sent an email to clients advising them that foie gras would be back on his menu as well.

“I am very excited to have some culinary freedom back and be able to use one of my favorite products again,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles chef Ludo Lefebvre of Trois Mec and Petit Trois is also planning on adding it to his menu, though perhaps not as quickly, according to The Times.

“First and foremost I am very happy for my guests. I know the people of California have missed their foie,” he told The Times. “Speaking as a French chef, it is an important ingredient and part of the legacy of French cooking, so I am thrilled to be able to add it to the menus of Petit Trois and Trois Mec.”

The animal rights movement expressed revulsion.

“Foie gras is French for ‘fatty liver’, and ‘fathead’ is the American word for the shameless chefs who actually need a law to make them stop serving the swollen, near-bursting organ of a cruelly force-fed bird,” said People for Ethical Treatment of Animals President Ingrid E. Newkirk in a statement.

“A line will be drawn in the sand outside any restaurant that goes back to serving this ‘torture in a tin,'” it added. “And whoever crosses that line identifies themselves with gluttony that cannot control itself even to the point of torturing animals.”

The Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Humane Society released a joint statement Wednesday vowing an appeal of the federal ruling.

“The state clearly has the right to ban the sale of the products of animal cruelty, and we expect the 9th Circuit will uphold this law, as it did in the previous round of litigation,” their statement said. “We are asking the California Attorney General to file an immediate appeal.”

Related Posts

Full Moon Frights at Cinespia: Vampires, Werewolves, and a Night Under the Stars

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Double Feature Coincides With Rare Celestial Triple Event Cinespia invites fans of horror comedy classics will gather under the glow...

Xenomorphs Hit Hollywood: FX Launches Global ‘Alien: Earth’ Hunt Ahead of Series Premiere

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Fans Can Track “Crash-Site” Crates in LA for Instant Prizes, Photo Ops, and Sweepstakes FX is bringing the world of...

Glorya Kaufman, Dance, Arts and Health Philanthropist Who Transformed L.A.’s Landscape, Dies at 95

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

From Culver City, Brentwood, UCLA, USC, and Downtown LA, Her Generosity was Legendary Glorya Kaufman, a transformative benefactor to the...

Overnight Lane Closures Set for I-405 Through Sepulveda Pass Next Week

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Caltrans to Close Multiple Northbound and Southbound Lanes Nightly  Caltrans will implement overnight lane closures along Interstate 405 in the...

Levain Bakery Lands in Beverly Hills with Cookies, Swag, and a Sweet Surprise

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Newest Location’s Debut Includes Limited-Edition Flavor, Early-Bird Giveaways Levain Bakery will mark the opening of its newest location in Beverly...

Bistro Blue’s One Night Only Seasonal Menu Pops Up at Little City Farms August 10

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Chef Kara Vorabutr’s Garden Dinner Promises to be a Seasonal Showstopper Bistro Blue, a pop-up concept by Chef Kara Vorabutr,...

Cardinale du Vin’s Weekend Izakaya Pop-Up Blends Thai Flavors and Japanese Dishes

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Three Nights Only: Thai-Japanese Fusion Menu Launched in Pico-Robertson Cardinale du Vin is unveiling a special izakaya-inspired menu this weekend,...

Santa Monica’s Chez Jay Celebrates 66 Years with Retro Bash by the Beach

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Landmark Restaurant Celebrates With Classic Cars, Live Music, Celebrity Lore One of Los Angeles County’s most storied restaurants will mark...

Film Review: Weapons

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

By Dolores Quintana You might be asking yourself what the film Weapons is about. Not to worry, writer and director...

Classic Rock Tribute Takes Center Stage at Beverly Hills Summer Series, Concerts on Canon

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rod Lightning and the Thunderbolts of Love Bring High-Energy Hits to the Stage The City of Beverly Hills continues its...

Trial Date Set for Alleged ‘Ketamine Queen’ in Matthew Perry’s Death

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Woman Accused in Matthew Perry’s Overdose to Face Jury The woman accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine that...

DUI Suspect Identified and Charged in Crash That Killed 9-Year-Old, Injured Brother

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

RV Driver to Face Serious Felony Charges After Striking Boys Riding E-Scooter The 46-year-old man who was allegedly driving under...

Late-Night Traffic Stop in L.A. Lands Rap Star Soulja Boy Back in Legal Spotlight

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rapper Taken Into Custody During Early Morning Traffic Stop Rapper Soulja Boy was taken into custody early Sunday after Los...

Deadly Crosswalk Hit and Run in West Adams, Victim Hit Multiple Times and Left to Die

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Police Seek Public Help to Identify Three Drivers Who Struck and Killed a Pedestrian  Detectives with the Los Angeles Police...

Brentwood Bookstore Welcomes a Hollywood Insider and Secret Service Agent for a Night of Noir

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Tinseltown Thrills Meet Real-Life Intrigue With Author of To Live and Die in LA Diesel, A Bookstore will host a...