An Animal Outlook investigation has uncovered that Wild Fork Foods, a subsidiary of meat industry giant JBS, is openly selling foie gras in all 11 of their Southern California locations, in apparent violation of California law that explicitly prohibits such sales.
Our investigator documented evidence of illegal foie gras sales across Southern California, from Valencia to Encinitas, revealing not just legal violations but an attempt to profit from an exceptionally cruel product.
The Investigation
On July 21, 2025, an Animal Outlook investigator visited all 11 Wild Fork Foods locations in Southern California and documented:
- Foie gras products openly displayed for sale in every location
- Products sourced from La Belle Farm in New York
- Direct confirmation of foie gras sales through receipts, video footage, and staff conversations
This systematic sale of foie gras appears to directly violate California Health and Safety Code Section 25982, which clearly prohibits selling products resulting from force-feeding birds to enlarge their livers.
Cruel Production Methods
Foie gras production epitomizes animal cruelty in food production. The process requires:
- Force-feeding ducks and geese through tubes forcibly inserted down their throats
- Multiple painful feedings daily for weeks
- Causing livers to swell up to ten times their normal size
- Inducing hepatic lipidosis—a disease state rather than a natural condition
Birds subjected to this process can suffer from:
- Torn esophagi and throat injuries
- Fungal infections
- Severe respiratory distress
- Inability to stand or move normally
- Premature death from organ rupture or failure
Beyond the physical trauma, these naturally social waterfowl are typically confined in pens, unable to express natural behaviors like swimming or flying.
Misleading Claims
Despite the inherently cruel nature of foie gras production, Wild Fork Foods markets these products with misleading "humanely raised" claims. La Belle Farm in upstate New York, the source of Wild Fork's foie gras, is well-known for its defense of force-feeding practices and has spoken openly about these methods for years.
One Wild Fork Foods employee claimed the company had secured a "special permit" to sell foie gras in California. Our legal review indicates no such permits exist, suggesting store staff may be misinformed about the legality of these sales.
Corporate Pattern of Violations
This apparent disregard for California law is consistent with the troubled history of Wild Fork Foods' parent company, JBS:
- Alleged involvement in Amazon deforestation
- Multiple corruption scandals
- History of apparent regulatory violations
- Questionable business practices
Now, JBS appears to be extending this pattern of regulatory disregard into their Wild Fork Foods venture, profiting from an exceptionally cruel product that California lawmakers have specifically banned due to animal welfare concerns.
Legal Action
Animal Outlook is submitting formal complaints to local law enforcement regarding these apparent violations.
Take Action
You can help end this cruel practice by:
- Contacting Wild Fork Foods to express your concern about their illegal foie gras sales
- Sharing this investigation with friends and family
- Supporting our legal efforts to hold Wild Fork Foods accountable
- Taking our VegPledge to help end animal suffering
Investigation Photos
