Last week, US District Judge Stephen Wilson of the Central District of California overturned a two-and-a-half-year-old ban on foie gras, reports Macro Insider. With this new ruling, Uni (sea urchin) will have to relinquish its short-lived title as the supreme culinary luxury in California.

The ban was imposed in July 2012 under a law made in 2004.

The news was welcomed by many chefs and restaurant-owners.

The latest decision stems from a lawsuit filed against California Attorney General, Kamala Harris, by foie gras producers in New York and Quebec, along with a California-based restaurant group, the day after the ban took effect.

The Supreme Court had declined to hear arguments that would have allowed the resumption of foie gras sales.

Animal rights groups expressed disappointment with the decision.

In a statement, Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States said: “California lawmakers conducted a serious-minded debate about farm animal welfare in 2004, passing a bill to phase out the cruel force-feeding of ducks and the sale of foie gras if it comes from that inhumane process. The state clearly has the right to ban the sale of the products of animal cruelty, and we expect the 9th Circuit will uphold this law, as it did in the previous round of litigation.

“Force feeding is not an ‘ingredient’ of foie gras since foie gras can be produced without resorting to such cruel methods. We are asking the California Attorney General to appeal the ruling.”