BIRD FLU SAVAGES FOIE GRAS BUSINESS IN FRANCE: The H5N8 avian flu virus has forced French duck and foie gras producers to kill over three million poultry. Duck and goose liver pate is a gourmet food. It’s also a steady business. Almost 20 years ago I wrote a long column on disease threats to U.S. agriculture. There are a lot of them. Hoof and mouth disease (foot and mouth disease) worries U.S. cattle raisers, and for good reason.