Foie Gras - Chicago

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Mayor Richard M. Daley says the city ordinance that banned foie gras is "the silliest ever passed," but powerful Ald. Ed Smith says he will leave his post as chairman of the Health Committee if the ban is repealed.

"My professionalism, my manhood, my integrity is at stake," said Ald. Smith (28th). "I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat meat. I don't eat duck or anything else."

Smith said the production of foie gras is a form of animal cruelty because it involves force-feeding ducks and geese. He threatened to quit as committee chairman if the ban is repealed.

But Mayor Daley says the ban needs to go.

"He's resigning because of foie gras," the mayor said. "It's going to come up again, this foie gras, is the silliest ordinance they've ever passed."

The City Council passed the foie gras ban in April 2006, and it took effect four months later. So far, only one citation has been reported. Doug Sohn, owner of Hot Doug's on the Northwest Side, pleaded guilty to using foie gras in March and was fined $250.

Ald. Joe Moore (49th) sponsored the ban on animal cruelty grounds. Foie gras is made from the livers of the force-fed water fowl.

Moore said he still has the votes to override a mayoral veto.

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_135093624.html