Portland Foie Gras Ban Fails in Committee, But Fight Continues

Proposal to prohibit sale of force-fed poultry livers in city restaurants falls short, but supporters vow to bring it to full council

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A proposal to ban the sale of foie gras, the French delicacy made from the livers of force-fed waterfowl, failed to advance out of a Portland City Council committee on Tuesday. The measure, introduced by Council President Jamie Dunphy and Councilor Mitch Green, would have fined restaurants and businesses up to $5,000 for selling or even giving away foie gras produced through forced feeding. While the committee vote was 3-2 against the ban, supporters say they plan to bring the issue to the full city council in the future.

Why it matters

Animal rights activists have long targeted foie gras production as an extreme form of animal cruelty, with a tube or other device typically inserted into the bird's esophagus to force-feed it until the liver swells to many times its normal size. The proposed Portland ban is part of a broader effort to outlaw the sale of force-fed poultry products, following similar bans in California, Pittsburgh, Brookline, and New York City.

The details

The Portland proposal would have prohibited the sale of all "force-fed poultry products," though some restaurants argued that the foie gras they source is from certified organic farms that do not use the most extreme force-feeding methods. Supporters of the ban, led by the animal rights group Pro Animal Oregon, argued that any forced feeding is unacceptable cruelty, while opponents said the issue is not worth the council's time compared to more pressing problems like homelessness.

  • The proposal was introduced in the council's Arts and Economy Committee on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
  • The committee voted 3-2 against advancing the ban.

The players

Jamie Dunphy

Portland City Council President, who introduced the foie gras ban proposal.

Mitch Green

Portland City Councilor, who co-introduced the foie gras ban proposal.

Olivia Clark

Portland City Council Vice President, who expressed concerns about restricting consumer choice in comments that drew strong reactions.

Andrew Fortang

Owner of two Portland French restaurants, Le Pigeon and Canard, who spoke against the proposed ban.

Sam Schillinger

Representative of Pro Animal Oregon, an animal rights group supporting the foie gras ban.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What exactly is foie gras? French for 'fatty liver.' It's the diseased liver of a goose — or in the U.S., a duck — who's been force-fed until their liver swells up to 10 times its normal size. It's typically served as a luxury product at French and upscale restaurants with a hefty price tag. So why should Portland ban the sale of foie gras? For starters, force feeding is one of the most extreme forms of animal cruelty.”

— Sam Schillinger, Representative, Pro Animal Oregon

“A ban on foie gras would be performative action, making no substantive change for the environment or animal welfare in Portland or in the United States of America. The question also needs to be asked: How would this ban help Portland? Anyone that does not want to eat foie gras or see foie gras can use their choice to avoid it and to not frequent in the businesses that sell it. Their lives are unchanged either way. Folks that want to eat it are having their choice taken away.”

— Andrew Fortang, Portland French Restaurant Owner

“We talked about choice — choices we make. To me, as a woman, this is very akin to the abortion debate. I'm very pro-choice; if you don't believe in something, then don't force my behavior, truly.”

— Olivia Clark, Portland City Council Vice President

What’s next

Councilor Mitch Green said he plans to introduce the foie gras ban proposal directly to the full Portland City Council at some point in the future, bypassing the committee process. He would need four city councilors to support that move, which could be possible given his membership in the council's progressive caucus.

The takeaway

The failure of the foie gras ban in committee highlights the ongoing debate over animal welfare, consumer choice, and the role of government regulation. While animal rights activists will continue to push for a citywide prohibition, opponents argue that the issue is not a priority compared to more pressing social challenges facing Portland. The path forward remains uncertain, but the fight over foie gras in the city is far from over.