Ethical foie gras can cost as much as $100.00 lb to $200.00 lb or over $200.00 for a small jar of around 180 grams.
Ethical foie gras is more expensive due to the alternative methods of production which prioritize animal welfare.
There are some cruelty free foie gras available that doesn't involve the force feeding of the ducks or geese and the geese and ducks are taken care of in a natural and sustainable way.
A producer of natural and more ethical foie gras is Eduardo Sousa, who raise their ducks and geese on pasture and allow them to naturally fatten up their livers by eating a diet of figs, acorns, nuts and olives which is similar to how wild birds would eat.
The birds at Eduardo Sousa are not forced fed and are raised in a more natural and ethical foie gras although it's more expensive and the production is limited.
The controversy with foie gras that foie gras production involves cruel treatment, animal suffering, health concerns in humans and also ethical issues.
Creating foie gras involves force feeding of ducks as well as geese to enlarge their livers.
These practices are strongly condemned by animal rights and animal welfare groups as they cite inhumane treatment and cruel conditions for the ducks and geese.
Also people who support production of foie gras often also emphasize it's culinary value as well as cultural significance as a delicacy.
Although the primary concern over foie gras production is the force feeding or gavage process of the ducks and geese, where tubes are actually inserted into the ducks and geese throats in order to pump large amounts of food into he ducks and geese stomachs.
As a result of this force feeding of the ducks and geese it can result in a range of health issues for the ducks and geese, including damage to the liver, impaired mobility as well as increased susceptibility to disease.
Some people also argue that the process causes significant pain as well as distress to the ducks and geese, who are also often confined and also subjected to these types of unnatural feeding practices.
And studies also suggest that human consumption of foie gras can even potentially result in health problems in humans like secondary amyloidosis.
And many people also find that practice of force feeding of the ducks and geese inherently unethical, regardless of whether it can be proven or not to cause any significant harm to the ducks and geese.