No tales about tails’ origin
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Restaurants would have to be open about the country of origin of crawfish and shrimp they use under a bill that cleared a House panel Tuesday.
“They cannot misrepresent,” said Rep. Fred Mills Jr., D-St. Martinville.
“This is such an important bill for the consumer. We in Louisiana want to preserve our industry. This is an excellent way to make sure that a Louisiana product is protected,” he said.
HB266 started out requiring restaurants to display on their menus or signs the origin of the country of imported crawfish.
The revised legislation would require restaurants to be truthful when a customer asks about the origin of crawfish and shrimp or when they advertise. Violators would face fines.
Mills said the compromise is a good one for restaurants as well as for the Louisiana industry that needs protection.
The Louisiana Restaurant Association withdrew its objection to the measure.
“The public should have the right to know what they are eating, without question,” restaurant lobbyist Jim Funk told the House Commerce Committee.
If a customer asks whether crawfish or shrimp being used in a restaurant is Chinese or from Louisiana, the restaurant owner or manager would be responsible for telling the truth, Mills said.
If they are posting a sign that proclaims Louisiana crawfish and someone gets sick and the checking determines it was Chinese crawfish, the restaurant owner or manager could face fines, he said.
Under HB266, a first offense would be subject to a $50 fine; a second offense, $250 and a third offense, $500.
The bill goes to the House floor for debate.
“They cannot misrepresent,” said Rep. Fred Mills Jr., D-St. Martinville.
“This is such an important bill for the consumer. We in Louisiana want to preserve our industry. This is an excellent way to make sure that a Louisiana product is protected,” he said.
HB266 started out requiring restaurants to display on their menus or signs the origin of the country of imported crawfish.
The revised legislation would require restaurants to be truthful when a customer asks about the origin of crawfish and shrimp or when they advertise. Violators would face fines.
Mills said the compromise is a good one for restaurants as well as for the Louisiana industry that needs protection.
The Louisiana Restaurant Association withdrew its objection to the measure.
“The public should have the right to know what they are eating, without question,” restaurant lobbyist Jim Funk told the House Commerce Committee.
If a customer asks whether crawfish or shrimp being used in a restaurant is Chinese or from Louisiana, the restaurant owner or manager would be responsible for telling the truth, Mills said.
If they are posting a sign that proclaims Louisiana crawfish and someone gets sick and the checking determines it was Chinese crawfish, the restaurant owner or manager could face fines, he said.
Under HB266, a first offense would be subject to a $50 fine; a second offense, $250 and a third offense, $500.
The bill goes to the House floor for debate.
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