Five Issues to Consider Before Eating Foie Gras

It is worth mentioning that many people consider "gavage," the process of force-feeding the animal to enlarge its liver artificially, an unethical and cruel practice. There are many schools of thought on this issue, and it's worth noting that there are ethical producers and unethical producers for every kind of food available. In many gourmands' opinions, a happy animal is a tasty animal, so it stands to reason that a high-quality producer who is open with their processing policies is the best choice for those who choose to consume foie gras.

Foie gras is renowned for its smooth, creamy taste, but that luxury comes with a price. The fat content of fatty goose liver is a startling 86.1% because birds store excess fat in their livers. A one-ounce serving of foie gras contains 12 grams of fat and 42 milligrams of cholesterol. To put that in perspective, a 3.5-ounce hamburger at McDonald's contains 9 grams of fat and 25 milligrams of cholesterol.

Regular consumption may raise your risk of developing a variety of serious medical conditions. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a certain compound in goose or duck liver may trigger amyloidosis disease in genetically predisposed people. Alzheimer's, Huntingdon's disease, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis are all related to irregular amyloid protein buildup. Does this mean you'll get one of these conditions just by eating fatty poultry liver on your vacation to Paris? No, but your risk of developing the disease is higher if you already carry the genetic markers for amyloid-related disease and consume foie gras on a regular basis over a long period of time.

Many versions of foie gras are served cold or barely seared on the exterior and cool in the middle, leading to concern about food poisoning. In the early 1900's, it was thought that undercooked duck or goose livers were a high-risk food. The truth behind it is actually much more forgiving, because fat, which makes up the majority of foie gras, isn't as conducive to bacteria growth as other tissues. Nonetheless, don't eat undercooked pâté if you're pregnant or immune-compromised.

Technically, this one affects the health of your pocketbook. There's no way around it; at $50-60 per pound–the average price in most major metropolitan areas–foie gras can't be considered a budget-friendly food for most households.