New York City is considering banning sales of foie gras, which has been dismissed by critics as an "anti-snob" move.

The New York City Council is currently considering legislation that would ban sales of force-fed birds as well as all forms of the rich delicacy made from their engorged livers in the city's restaurants.

The bill, which more than half the Council has already backed, could be put forward for a vote in the autumn and would see fines of up to $1,000 (£820) or a year in prison for those who break the ban.

The city's mayor and Democratic presidential candidate, Bill De Blasio, has also voiced support for the proposal's intent.

If successful, the legislation would effectively ban sales of the luxury food item from one of the country's largest markets for the product.

Foie gras is often made by duck and geese having tubes inserted into their throats, forcing them to consume far more grain than they would naturally eat and fattening their livers by up to 10 times their normal size.

One of the bill's advocates, the New York State Humane Association, said the life cycle of American foie gras ducks are "short and agonising in the final weeks".