John Burton

John Burton is a California politician who served as Senate President Pro Tempore and became a pivotal figure in the foie gras industry through his authorship of landmark animal welfare legislation. Burton introduced SB 1520 in 2004, California's groundbreaking law that banned both the production and sale of foie gras from force-fed birds, making it the first legislation of its kind in the United States3714.

As the primary sponsor of the foie gras ban, Burton positioned himself as a champion of animal welfare, framing the legislation around cruelty concerns supported by undercover investigations440. He famously defended his bill with combative rhetoric, telling protesting chefs that he would "like to force-feed [them] oatmeal to see how they like it," highlighting the charged atmosphere surrounding the debate3. Burton characterized the ban as an opportunity for California to become a "leader in humane treatment" and later wrote an op-ed titled "Foie gras isn't forever" defending the legislation341.

Burton's influence extended beyond the initial passage of SB 1520. When Sonoma Foie Gras owner Guillermo Gonzalez later supported efforts to repeal the ban after initially accepting it, Burton publicly scolded him, asking "What happened to 'moral stature'?" in reference to Gonzalez's earlier promise to accept government findings on foie gras production methods37. The senator's work on foie gras regulation earned him national recognition from animal welfare organizations and established him as a significant political opponent of the industry37.

John Burton, a California state senator and Senate President Pro Tem, emerged as the primary legislative architect of the United States' first foie gras production ban through his authorship of SB 1520 in 20041437. Burton, described as a long-time animal advocate, introduced the legislation at the request of animal protection groups who had provided evidence of cruelty in foie gras production4041. He framed the issue as gratuitous cruelty, rallying fellow Democrats by positioning California as a leader in humane treatment of animals373.

Burton's approach to the foie gras debate was notably confrontational and generated significant public attention. During legislative hearings that included testimony from veterinarians on both sides, Burton famously declared he would "like to force-feed the protesting chefs oatmeal to see how they like it," demonstrating the charged atmosphere surrounding the bill3. He defended his legislation in a 2004 Los Angeles Times op-ed titled "Foie gras isn't forever," arguing that California was taking a stand for compassion41.

The senator played a central role in negotiating the legislative compromise that gave Sonoma Foie Gras, California's only producer, a seven-and-a-half-year phase-out period until 201241. Burton acknowledged activists' undercover footage as supporting evidence and essentially offered Sonoma Foie Gras a deal to stop fighting related lawsuits in exchange for the delayed implementation41. However, when Sonoma Foie Gras later supported efforts to repeal the ban in 2011-2012, Burton publicly criticized owner Guillermo Gonzalez for abandoning his earlier promise, asking "What happened to 'moral stature'?" in reference to Gonzalez's 2004 letter accepting the moral imperative to cease production if science and government found their methods inhumane37. Burton's successful legislation brought him national praise from animal welfare groups and established California as the first state to ban foie gras production37.

John Burton, a California state senator and Senate President Pro Tem, authored and championed SB 1520, the landmark 2004 legislation that banned foie gras production and sales in California 1437. Burton introduced the bill at the request of animal advocacy groups who provided evidence of cruelty in foie gras production 4041. As a long-time animal advocate, Burton framed foie gras as gratuitous cruelty to rally fellow Democrats, positioning California as a "leader in humane treatment" 337.

During the heated legislative debates, Burton made several memorable statements defending the ban. He famously said he would "like to force-feed the protesting chefs oatmeal to see how they like it," highlighting the charged atmosphere surrounding the bill 3. In a 2004 Los Angeles Times op-ed titled "Foie gras isn't forever," Burton defended his legislation by arguing that California was "simply taking a stand for compassion" 41. He also stated "We just don't want to be a part of torturing ducks and geese" 40.

Burton played a key role in negotiating the bill's seven-year implementation delay, offering Sonoma Foie Gras a compromise: stop fighting the related lawsuit in exchange for time to develop alternative production methods 41. However, when Sonoma Foie Gras later supported efforts to repeal the ban in 2011-2012 after previously promising to accept the law if science couldn't find humane alternatives, Burton publicly scolded owner Guillermo Gonzalez, asking "What happened to 'moral stature'?" in reference to Gonzalez's earlier written commitment 37. Burton's legislation became the first state-level foie gras ban in the United States and earned him national praise from animal welfare groups 37.

John Burton, California State Senator and Senate President Pro Tem, emerged as the leading political architect of the anti-foie gras movement in the United States through his authorship of SB 1520 in 20041437. Burton introduced this landmark legislation at the request of animal advocacy groups who provided him with undercover footage documenting what they characterized as cruelty in foie gras production4041.

Burton framed his opposition to foie gras in moral terms, arguing that California should take "a stand for compassion" and become a "leader in humane treatment"341. In a 2004 Los Angeles Times op-ed titled "Foie gras isn't forever," he defended the ban by positioning it as a matter of basic animal welfare41. His legislative approach was pragmatic—he rallied fellow Democrats by characterizing foie gras production as "gratuitous cruelty" while crafting a compromise that included a seven-year delay before implementation37.

Burton's rhetoric became notably combative during legislative hearings, particularly when facing opposition from chefs. In his most famous statement, he declared he would "like to force-feed the protesting chefs oatmeal to see how they like it," reflecting the charged atmosphere surrounding the debate3. This confrontational approach extended to his later interactions with Guillermo Gonzalez of Sonoma Foie Gras, whom Burton publicly criticized for abandoning his initial support for the ban, asking "What happened to 'moral stature'?" when Gonzalez later opposed the legislation37.

Burton's position remained consistent throughout the legislative process and subsequent legal challenges. He cited animal cruelty investigations as the primary evidence supporting his legislation and successfully built a coalition that included multiple animal protection groups beyond just PETA, lending broader political legitimacy to the effort41. His work on SB 1520 earned him national recognition from animal welfare organizations and established California's foie gras ban as a template for similar efforts in other jurisdictions37.