Brazil Just Banned Foie Gras Entirely. Now France Is Mad.

Brazil has become the first country in Latin America to ban the production, import, and sale of foie gras, a French delicacy made from the fattened liver of geese and ducks. The ban was approved unanimously by Congress, much to the delight of animal rights organizations like Animal Equality, who have long campaigned against the cruel force-feeding practices used to create foie gras.

However, France, a major producer of foie gras, is not pleased with the ban. French diplomats tried to stop the measure, arguing that foie gras production is not cruel, but ultimately Brazil stood firm. The ban comes at a time when a trade agreement between the European Union and several South American countries, including Brazil, went into effect, meaning France will no longer be able to export foie gras to Brazil. Animal Equality is now pushing for a federal ban on foie gras in the US, gathering over 442,300 signatures on a petition. While some states like California and New York have banned foie gras production and sale, loopholes still exist for importing the controversial product.