The production of foie gras involves the controversial force-feeding of birds with more food than they would eat in the wild, and more than they would voluntarily eat domestically. The feed, usually corn boiled with fat, deposits large amounts of fat in the liver, thereby producing the fatty consistency sought by some gastronomes.
Gavage feeding
Anti-foie gras protestors at the Hôtel Meurice, Paris
Foie gras ; French: [fwa ɡʁɑ], ) is a specialty food product made of the liver of a duck or goose. According to French law, foie gras is defined as the liver of a duck or goose fattened by gavage.
Foie gras with mustard seeds and green beans in duck jus
A mulard duck, the hybrid used most frequently for foie gras production
A bas relief depiction of overfeeding geese
Bartolomeo Scappi