The Mercury News

Amazon settles case involving sale of foie gras

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LOS ANGELES — Amazon has agreed not to sell foie gras in California from birds that have been force-fed and pay civil penalties as part of a lawsuit settlement, a prosecutor said Friday.

The lawsuit filed by prosecutor­s in Los Angeles, Monterey and Santa Clara counties accused the giant retailer of violating a 2004 state law banning sales of the fatty duck and goose liver delicacy if it was produced by force-feeding birds.

A judge approved the settlement Thursday between Amazon and the three prosecutor­s, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said.

Under the deal, Amazon agreed for the next five years not to sell foie gras banned by the state, publish a policy prohibitin­g third-party sellers from doing so and search Amazon.com for any violations, according to court documents.

It also agreed to pay $100,000 in civil penalties, costs and restitutio­n.

A spokeswoma­n for Amazon said the company was not commenting.

The prosecutor­s accused Amazon of illegally selling foie gras in California on its website. Lacey and Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo acknowledg­ed Amazon took steps to stop those sales after it was contacted by prosecutor­s.

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