Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Several studies have been conducted by Daniel Guémené, PHD, Director of Research and Senior Scientist at the French National Institute of Agronomic Research, and have shown that the techniques used in foie gras production do not cause stress or anxiety to the animals. In addition, his studies have found that the effects of foie gras production are reversible and do not cause disease in the animals.

Here are a few facts about foie gras production which I recieved from Artisan Farmers Alliance (for more, see LegalFoieGras):

- Ducks lack a gag reflex. Their esophagi have an insenitive lining, allowing them to swallow large fish and other prey. This allows for the insertion of a feeding tube which does not cause pain.

- In nature, ducks fatten their livers for energy, prior to migration, and the effect is reversible.

- Independent veterinarians and scientists have concluded that the hand-feeding of ducks for foie gras causes no harm to them.

- American foie gras is raised on small-scale sustainable farms using artisal methods. (As other comments have pointed out, this makes foie gras an easy target for animal extremists.)

- A misinformation campaign orchestrated by extremists is confusing the public with falsehoods and misrepresentation about foie gras.

The organizations attacking foie gras really are trying for TOTAL ANIMAL LIBERATION. That means no meat at all, no fish tanks, no seeing eye dogs. The elimination of foie gras is one step toward their extremist, minority, and very well-funded mission.