§5.5.4. Imported crawfish and shrimp; notice to patrons of food service establishments required

            A. As reflected in Act No. 330 of the 2009 Regular Session of the Legislature, this state recognizes that serious risks to public health may be posed by antibiotics, radiation, and numerous toxins found in seafood products, including but not limited to crawfish and shrimp, that originate outside of the United States. It remains the intent of the legislature to protect Louisiana consumers from potentially harmful chemicals and residues in seafood products that are imported from foreign countries and sold or served in food service establishments in this state. Therefore, the legislature declares that Louisiana consumers have the right to know if crawfish or shrimp imported from a foreign country is being served in a food service establishment, as the consumption of such seafood may pose a health risk. 

            B.(1) Any food service establishment that uses a menu as a standard business practice and sells or provides cooked or prepared crawfish or shrimp that originate outside of the United States shall display on all menus the country of origin of such crawfish or shrimp, or denote that the crawfish or shrimp are imported, in letters no smaller than the same size, font, and shade as the product being offered, immediately adjacent to the menu listing of the seafood item being sold. In lieu of this requirement, the notice shall be paper-clipped to the menu, with the same location, size, font, and shade restrictions required when the notice is listed directly on the menu.

            (2) Any food service establishment that does not use a menu as a standard business practice and sells or provides cooked or prepared crawfish or shrimp that originate outside of the United States shall display on a sign posted at the main entrance to the establishment that certain crawfish or shrimp, as applicable, being served within originate from a foreign country. Each sign shall be at least eighteen inches tall and eighteen inches wide and shall be written in the English language in letters not less than one inch in size. The sign shall be placed in an open area and in a conspicuous position not less than thirty-six inches from the floor so that it is visible to all patrons.

            C. Any violation of this Section shall constitute a violation of the state sanitary code.

            D. The Louisiana Department of Health shall promulgate all such rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary to enforce the provisions of this Section.

            E. For purposes of this Section, "food service establishment" shall have the meaning ascribed in R.S. 40:5.5.

            Acts 2019, No. 372, §1, eff. June 19, 2019.