British city bans sale of foie gras

YORK, England, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- York has become the first British city to ban the sale of foie gras following demonstrations against the controversial delicacy by animal activists.

The Daily Mail reported Saturday that after the York Action For Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Europe staged demonstrations in the British city this week, its city council voted to stop all future sales of culinary product.

Foie gras is a flattened form of a duck or goose's liver that has long been a delicacy in many parts of Britain and elsewhere. The animals are typically force-fed as part of an effort to enlarge their livers, method found abominable by animal activists.

York Councilor Paul Blanchard said during Thursday's meeting that by banning the controversial culinary treat, York could help spur a nationwide effort against foie gras.

"The process which leads to the production of foie gras is cruel and should be banned," he said. "It is so cruel it is banned in 15 countries."

"This motion will be a start and it will raise awareness of this intolerable cruelty," he added. "This could genuinely be the end for foie gras in this country."