Court Upholds California's Foie Gras Ban

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled California can keep in place its ban on selling foie gras.

A Los Angeles court will still hear the case against the ban, but in its decision Friday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals expressed doubt opponents of the law would be successful.

The appeals court upheld a lower court ruling maintaining the ban while the case plays out.

The law bars state farmers from force-feeding ducks with a tube, the procedure used to produce foie gras. It also bans sales of the delicacy.

The Legislature concluded tube-feeding ducks to engorge their livers is cruel.

Foie gras producers argue that the law illegally interferes with commerce and is too poorly written to be understood.

They plan to appeal Friday's ruling.

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