Foie Gras Ban?

[angelo04]

http://blog.dartagnan.com/2012/05/01/...

I don't eat it often and probably could care less if I had it again. But IMHO, certainly a slippery slope to to start banning certain foods.

[2roadsdiverge]

This ban shows a simple lack of understanding of basic economics. Foie gras won't go away. If it is banned in California, it will simply be sold somewhere else. Tyler Cowen has a great chapter on food boycotts in his book "An Economist Gets Lunch: New Rules for Everyday Foodies" (Dutton Adult, 2012).

"Boycotts work least well when the producer is making a lot of money on each unit of the good or service that is being sold. Look at it this way: Unless the boycott mobilizes most or all of the relevant consumers in the world, which is very hard to do, the profitable producer will keep on selling, even in light of the boycott."

What will happen in the short run is that producers will be unable to sell in their usual markets, and new markets will take a while to adjust to the excess supply. Excess supply means lower prices, which means more foie gras sold in new markets as it becomes affordable. And those markets will get a taste for it, which may actually increase production in the long run.

[mcf]

Is it a food ban as much as it's an animal protection regulation? Can't say I've paid close attention, but I've declined fois gras for years, and I'm in no way an animal rights activist.

[angelo04]

Sure the intention is animal protection. But misguided to say the least.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-02-1...

And why Foie Gras? Because it is a luxury item and hey let's stick it to those who can afford it? A slippery slope to begin traveling down.

[mcf]

It doesn't seem like a big risk to me.

[2roadsdiverge]

Classic example of the law of unintended consequences: "But the protesters' efforts are actually causing Brassel to sell more foie gras-customers have been requesting it, and he's added it to his tasting menu."

[cmvan]

One of our local Sonoma County chefs recently joked that now it's come down to "Foie Gras Speakeasy's"...

[Paprikaboy]

This has happened in London already.
It is not banned in the UK but the store Selfridges made a big show of banning it some years ago.
However if you asked the butcher for "French fillet" he would serve you foie gras under the counter.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddri...

[corvette johnny]

I just got back from cali and was there for 2 weeks. This was all over the news.

What they need to do is save the bluefin tuna and not worry about this BS.