PINEVILLE, La. (WKRC) – A Chinese restaurant was accused of keeping roadkill in a freezer near food intended for customers after a photo circulated online allegedly showing an employee skinning an animal.
According to a statement from the Pineville Police Department obtained by local outlet KALB, police investigated the China Queen restaurant after a photo was posted to Facebook by a customer who claimed that they saw an employee skinning a dead animal.
Officers searched the restaurant and allegedly discovered evidence that there was a dead deer being stored in the restaurant after it was discovered on the side of the road. Specifically, the dead deer was reportedly discovered in a freezer that also stored food intended for customers.
The investigation was then turned over to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Department of Health. Bradley Breland, the permit coordinator for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries noted that harvesting roadkill is illegal without the organization’s permission.
KALB reported that a paper was posted to China Queen’s front window following the incident that read:
“We apologize for the recent incident. The item involved was never intended to be served to customers, but it was improperly stored. It had 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.”
The outlet further reported that China Queen had repeatedly violated state health codes in the past, including violations discovered as recently as April 1, which were fixed by April 8.
Dining and Cooking