The fight to ban the sale of foie gras in New York has made it to City Hall.

"It's a disgraceful act and it's unnecessary," Rebecca Milvich, and animal rights activist, said Tuesday. "If New York can do something about it, I'm all for it."

A bill that would prohibit the sale of the delicacy is being debated in the City Council. Violators could face fines of up to $1,000 and one year in prison.

"Animal rights and making sure that we have a cruelty-free New York City is definitely a priority of mine," says Manhattan councilwoman Carlina Rivera, who is the main sponsor of the bill.

Two farms specialize in the product in New York state. Videos online of one of them show the process of force-feeding ducks or geese with corn to fatten their livers, from which foie gras is made.

(An image from a video online showing a worker at a New York farm, which specializes in making foie gras, force-feeding a duck or a goose with corn to fatten their livers.)

"Cage-free foie gras that's raised by hand feeding, in a slow, methodical fashion with care, produces a top quality product," said Rich Bishop, former marketing director at Hudson Valley Foie Gras, one of the producers. "We will show anybody how it's done."

But where some see care, others see animal cruelty.

"They live this life of suffering and agony, all for a luxury item that none of us need, very few of us eat, and it's a thing of the past," said Michael Dolling from Tamerlaine Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Some farm workers warn of the potential consequences of banning this product.

(A duck farmer from upstate protests a proposed New York City bill to ban the sale of foie gras on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Juan Manuel Benítez/NY1.)

"It's hundreds and hundreds of families working in those places. I know many places in there, and it's not only the people — the towns," said Roberto Pinto, an employee at Hudson Valley Foie Gras.

This bill is part of a package of legislation that also includes a ban on declawing healthy cats and creating a department of animal welfare.

After a long legal battle, the sale and production of foie gras has been illegal in California since January. According to a recent poll, eight out of 10 New York City voters support banning its sale here in our city.

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