In the upcoming November elections, residents of Washington, D.C., and Denver will vote on ballot measures that could prohibit the sale of foie gras in local restaurants and grocery stores. Foie gras, a French term meaning "fatty liver," is a luxury food product derived from the livers of ducks or geese. The production process, known as gavage, involves force-feeding the birds a corn-based slurry through a metal tube multiple times a day during the final weeks of their lives.

Proponents of the bans argue that the practice is inhumane, as it causes the birds' livers to expand to six to ten times their natural size. While the provided report focuses on the animal welfare concerns associated with the production method, it does not detail the arguments from industry representatives or restaurant associations that typically oppose such bans. The outcome of these votes will determine if these two major U.S. cities join a growing list of jurisdictions that have restricted or banned the product due to ethical concerns regarding animal treatment.