A Chinese restaurant in Pineville, Louisiana, is facing serious backlash after a bizarre and unsettling discovery: a deer carcass, reportedly found on the side of the road, was sitting inside the restaurant’s freezer.
The drama kicked off when a now-deleted Facebook post started circulating, accusing the Louisiana restaurant, China Queen, of skinning a dead animal behind the building. The post allegedly included a photo, which only fueled the outrage and curiosity online. From there, things escalated quickly, per PEOPLE.
Police were called in after receiving complaints tied to the post, and when officers showed up, they reportedly found a deer stored in the freezer alongside other food items. That’s when the situation went from strange to seriously concerning.
Louisiana Chinese Restaurant Confesses To Keeping Roadkill In Freezer
According to authorities, the person involved claimed the deer had been discovered earlier that morning on the roadside, likely hit by a car the night before. The explanation was that the meat was supposedly meant for soup. But here’s where things get murky: officials said they couldn’t confirm whether that meant for personal use or something that could’ve ended up on a customer’s plate.
And naturally, that uncertainty is exactly what has people talking. “So…what were they planning to do with it?” one person questioned, echoing what a lot of others are probably thinking. “Absolutely disgusting,” another reaction revealed.
To be fair, eating deer meat isn’t unusual in Louisiana. It’s actually pretty common. But there’s a major difference between properly sourced venison and picking up an animal off the side of the road. State law is clear: Collecting roadkill without permission isn’t allowed, and there are real health concerns involved too. Improper storage and handling of wild game can lead to rapid bacterial growth, which is obviously not something you want anywhere near your food.
Following the discovery, both the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries launched investigations into the situation. Meanwhile, police emphasized that they’re continuing to assist as needed, making it clear they’re taking the matter seriously.
‘Never Intended To Be Served To Customers’
As for the restaurant, they’ve tried to do some damage control. A handwritten notice posted on their door addressed the situation directly. “The item involved was never intended to be served to customers, but it was improperly stored,” the message read.
They also stated that everything has since been cleaned and sanitized, adding that they’re working with health officials and have made changes to prevent something like this from happening again. “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.”
Still, the incident has left a lingering cloud over the business, especially since it comes on the heels of a recent health inspection that flagged multiple “critical” violations earlier in the month. While those issues were reportedly corrected in a follow-up inspection, this latest situation isn’t exactly helping rebuild confidence.
And then there’s the legal side. Possessing roadkill without authorization can lead to fines ranging from $400 to $950, and even jail time. At the end of the day, this is the kind of story that sticks with people. And for now, the Louisiana restaurant is going to have a hard time shaking the image of what was found inside that freezer.
Sofia Bassett 
Emma Taylor 
Dylan Cook 
