A Louisiana restaurant is under fire after roadkill was found in the freezer. Despite the discovery, owners claim that they never meant to serve the animals to diners there.
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According to KALB, a social media post launched a police investigation into the Pineville restaurant China Queen. Someone claimed they saw staff skinning a dead animal behind the restaurant. Police investigated the restaurant and found a deer carcass in the freezer.
"The individual stated he located the deer along a roadside at approximately 10:00 a.m. that morning. And believed it to be roadkill from a vehicle strike the previous night. He further stated the meat was intended for use in soup. However, officers on scene were unable to determine whether the meat was intended for personal consumption or for service to restaurant patrons," authorities said.
"While the consumption of deer is common in Louisiana, state law prohibits the possession of roadkill without prior authorization from law enforcement. Additionally, improper handling and storage of wild game can pose serious public health risks due to rapid bacterial growth," the PPD spokesperson also added.
Roadkill in Louisiana Restaurant
Following the discovery, the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries launched investigations into the restaurant.
"The Pineville Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety of our citizens and visitors. We will continue to assist both agencies as needed throughout the course of their investigations," said the PPD spokesperson.
Following the incident, the Chinese restaurant shared a statement taped to the door of their establishment. They said that the situation was misinterpreted.
"The item involved was never intended to be served to customers, but it was improperly stored," they said. "It has been fully cleaned and sanitized. We are cooperating with health authorities and have corrected our procedures to ensure this does not happen again. Thank you for your understanding."
Meanwhile, Louisiana law finds harvesting roadkill to be illegal.
"Illegal possession of a deer, which would be possession of roadkill, essentially, is a class four violation in Louisiana," Bradley Breland, a permits coordinator for the LDWF, explained to KALB. "Class four violations can have a fine from $400 to $950 [and] up to 120 days in prison, or both."
