City Councilmember Cindy Bass last week introduced a bill that would ban the sale of force-fed animal products in Philadelphia.

“Force-feeding animals to produce foie gras is an outdated and inhumane practice that does not reflect the values of our city,” Bass, who represents the 8th Councilmanic District, said in a news release. “Philadelphia has the opportunity to stand on the right side of history by rejecting this cruelty and joining a growing number of jurisdictions taking meaningful action.”

Similar legislation was passed in 2023 in Pittsburgh. Both efforts were spearheaded by Humane Action, a not-for-profit group involved in protecting animal welfare.

“After leading the charge to pass this groundbreaking policy in Pittsburgh, we are proud to bring this momentum to Philadelphia,” said Natalie Ahwesh, executive director of Humane Action Pennsylvania (HAP). “This legislation reflects a clear and growing consensus: Extreme animal cruelty has no place in our communities. Philadelphia now has the opportunity to join a movement that is redefining what humane, responsible food policy looks like.”

The most common force-fed animal product is foie gras, a luxury item made from the enlarged, fatty liver of ducks or geese. To produce foie gras, birds are subjected to a process known as gavage, in which tubes are inserted down their throats and large quantities of food are pumped into their stomachs multiple times a day. This causes their livers to swell up to 10 times their normal size, which HAP said leads to severe physical suffering, including organ damage, infections, and difficulty breathing and walking.

California has banned both the production and sale of foie gras produced through force-feeding, and additional locales — including New York City, and Brookline, Massachusetts — have adopted similar restrictions. Proposals are being considered in other jurisdictions, such as Portland, Oregon.