Chicago overturns ban on foie gras in restaurants

Wednesday's vote was led by Mayor Richard M. Daley, who called the ban the silliest ordinance the council had ever passed. The repeal measure passed by a vote of 37-6 with no debate, an about-face from the original ban, which passed in April 2006 by a vote of 48-1.

During Wednesday's vote, the ban's original sponsor, Alderman Joe Moore, shouted his objections.

"It was a statement against animal cruelty, pure and simple," Moore said about his original intent, after Wednesday's vote.

Of the council's decision to repeal, he said: "They used a little parliamentary procedure avoiding any public hearing and debate on the measure. I don't think that's very healthy for a democracy or very healthy for the city."

More than a dozen countries, mostly in Europe, have banned production of the delicacy. Similar measures have been considered in California, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvhzDNToS8AnEK9ObyZSJVhg47pQD90LNJBO0

Foie gras, to me, is a lot like fur. It's tough to make the cruelty for food argument, but this isn't food just like fur isn't a jacket material. It's a luxury, a delicacy. Cruelty for vanity.

No one needs this stuff. It's animal torture pure and simple.

I've never had it, which is surprising since my mom is French and used to cook and prepare French food all the time.