After A California Supermarket is Caught Selling Raccoons As Food, Health Officials Crack Down

13 Feb, 2015 by Sierra Marlee

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Unfortunately, you read that correctly. A supermarket in LA county was discovered to be selling whole, frozen raccoons at $9.99/lb. I don’t know what the raccoon market looks like these days, but that seems expensive to me.

From wrbl.com:

The Health Department has taken action after a local supermarket’s frozen foods section featured an unusual item. Inspectors from the LA County Health Department visited the Metro Supermarket in Temple City on Tuesday, after being informed that the market was selling raccoons as food.

Employees at the market declined to appear on camera, but did show entire raccoons, frozen, bagged, and selling for $9.99 per pound. The employees say raccoon is considered a delicacy in China.

Customer Christina Dow was at the market, and upon seeing the frozen raccoons, filmed the scene on her cell phone. She shared the video on social media.

“The way it’s packaged in the store, it’s so real, and it’s so fresh, and you don’t see chickens with their feathers and blood all over them, and their expression, with their tongue hanging out,” Dow said.

Dow also went on to contact the LA County Health Department, who says that selling raccoons as food may indeed be perfectly legal, depending on the origins of the meat.

The market has ceased selling raccoons, since the department’s visit, until it and be reviewed and officially approved.

Okay guys, what do you think? I realize that it’s disgusting, but should it be illegal? Should the FDA develop regulations for dealing with raccoon meat?