Shanghai diners pay 138 RMB for 'foie gras' burgers but get duck liver. Restaurants use vague 'fat liver' labels to avoid disclosure. Consumer fraud risk fines over 50,000 RMB. Know your rights before ordering.
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Is Your 138 RMB "Foie Gras" Burger a Lie? Chinese Consumers Feel Cheated.
You order a 138 RMB "foie gras" burger. The menu says foie gras. The staff says foie gras. But the packaging in the kitchen? It says duck liver.
Here's the catch: In French, foie gras simply means "fat liver" – it can come from either goose or duck. But in China, it's almost always translated as "鹅肝" (goose liver), which has led many diners to assume they're paying for the more prized version.
A recent investigation by local media found that several popular restaurants in Shanghai are selling duck liver while charging goose liver prices – or using vague terms like "fat liver" to avoid telling customers what's really on their plate.
"It's foie gras" – but the box said duck
At a burger joint in Xuhui, a reporter ordered the "black truffle foie gras" burger. Staff confirmed it was foie gras. But when asked to see the packaging, it clearly read "duck fat liver."
Earlier this year, regulators had already told the restaurant to fix its menu. The restaurant swapped "foie gras" for "fat liver" – a vague term that doesn't specify goose or duck. But staff still told customers it was "foie gras," the more familiar term, knowing full well that most customers assume that means goose.
Goose vs duck: a 100 RMB question
Why not just call it duck liver? Because money.
On e‑commerce platforms, 500g of goose liver costs 115–200 RMB. Duck liver? 70–121 RMB. That's a significant markup – and customers are paying for the more expensive option without knowing they're getting the cheaper one.
"Fat liver" – a convenient loophole
It's not just burger joints. Some Japanese restaurants sell "foie gras sushi" made from processed goose liver paste mixed with wine and other ingredients – not the real thing. When asked, staff often dodge the question.
Legal experts say using duck liver to replace goose liver without disclosure is consumer fraud. Using vague terms like "fat liver" to hide the truth also violates consumers' right to know. Fines can exceed 50,000 RMB – and in serious cases, criminal charges may apply.
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What consumers are saying
Online, reactions are fierce:
“I'm paying for goose liver, not duck. That's straight-up fraud.”
“If it says ‘fat liver,’ it's definitely not goose. Any place using real goose liver would make sure you know.”
“This is everywhere. I'd guess 70% of restaurants selling ‘foie gras’ are actually using duck.”
Some said they'd actually accept duck liver or processed goose liver if it were clearly labeled – they just don't want to be overcharged for something cheaper.
If you're dining out in Shanghai, it might be worth asking: "Is this really foie gras?"
Source: 新民晚报
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