Butchering of deer closes restaurant

TheLancinator · 10-28-2008, 12:03 AM

Butchering of deer closes restaurant
By Maki Becker, The Buffalo News

A Chinese restaurant in the Town of Hamburg was shut down by the Erie County Health Department Friday after an inspector found employees butchering a deer inside.

Officials don’t know whether the dead deer at China King, 5999 South Park Ave., had been hunted or if it was road kill.

“From our standpoint, it doesn’t matter,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony J. Billittier IV. “They can’t do what we think they did.”

Billittier said that there is no reason to believe that the deer meat made its way into any of the dishes served at China King.

“I don’t think they were far enough along,” Billittier said. “They were in the butchering process. They didn’t get to the meat yet.”

Butchering an animal inside a restaurant is against the law in New York State for sanitary reasons. Diseases such as E. coli can be spread through unsafe butchering.

“In general, you can’t have a dead animal in a food services establishment,” Billittier said.

In addition, it’s illegal to sell meat that hasn’t been prepared by a licensed butcher, he said.

“What were they going to do with the meat?” Billittier wondered. “I don’t think we’ll ever really know the answer to that.”

The bizarre discovery was made after a tipster called the Health Department late Friday morning.

A health inspector was quickly sent to the restaurant and saw the dead deer being butchered. The inspector also discovered a cooling unit at the restaurant was not at the proper temperature.

The restaurant was immediately closed down. A hearing on the matter is expected to be held early next week.

The owners, identified in records as John Zhang and Wei Zhen Ma, could not be reached to comment Friday.

**Harpoon** · 10-28-2008, 12:13 AM

Ever been to bass pro shops Lance?

TheLancinator · 10-28-2008, 12:16 AM

No...and we have a huge one out here that opened about 18 months ago...

**Harpoon** · 10-28-2008, 12:17 AM

They have a restaurant in there that serves alligator, and venison and all kinds of stuff.. Im gonna check it out...

oh yeah.. my point... Every bit of the meat is properly processed.. They wont accept a deer a hunter drags up there behind their truck.. It's professionally farmed ..

TheLancinator · 10-28-2008, 12:23 AM

I think I'd be leery of deer in a Chinese restaurant in any form

Magnum, NY · 10-28-2008, 12:35 AM

Imagine what else they've done that to in that joint. German Shepard anyone? Any pet shops got discounts in the area?

Magnum

Legmann · 10-28-2008, 01:01 AM

Butchering a deer is illegal in a restaurant? If it's a Chinese restaurant, don't they already have exemptions for cats and dogs?

AnthemZ · 10-28-2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpoon

Ever been to bass pro shops Lance?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLancinator

No...and we have a huge one out here that opened about 18 months ago...

They opened one in Ontario California, after I moved. When I flew back to visit and was driving by it, I was stunned at the size of that place!! As you drive by on the 15 Frwy, it's the size of a mall on it's own!

Everything you see is the Shop!

**Harpoon** · 10-28-2008, 01:22 AM

You ought to see that funkin place... its pretty neat...

10-28-2008, 12:03 AM	#1
TheLancinator I love Post Icons Join Date: Jul 2006 Tournaments Won: 2 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 119,462 Thanks: 83 Thanked 875 Times in 613 Posts	Butchering of deer closes restaurant Butchering of deer closes restaurant By Maki Becker, The Buffalo News A Chinese restaurant in the Town of Hamburg was shut down by the Erie County Health Department Friday after an inspector found employees butchering a deer inside. Officials don’t know whether the dead deer at China King, 5999 South Park Ave., had been hunted or if it was road kill. “From our standpoint, it doesn’t matter,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony J. Billittier IV. “They can’t do what we think they did.” Billittier said that there is no reason to believe that the deer meat made its way into any of the dishes served at China King. “I don’t think they were far enough along,” Billittier said. “They were in the butchering process. They didn’t get to the meat yet.” Butchering an animal inside a restaurant is against the law in New York State for sanitary reasons. Diseases such as E. coli can be spread through unsafe butchering. “In general, you can’t have a dead animal in a food services establishment,” Billittier said. In addition, it’s illegal to sell meat that hasn’t been prepared by a licensed butcher, he said. “What were they going to do with the meat?” Billittier wondered. “I don’t think we’ll ever really know the answer to that.” The bizarre discovery was made after a tipster called the Health Department late Friday morning. A health inspector was quickly sent to the restaurant and saw the dead deer being butchered. The inspector also discovered a cooling unit at the restaurant was not at the proper temperature. The restaurant was immediately closed down. A hearing on the matter is expected to be held early next week. The owners, identified in records as John Zhang and Wei Zhen Ma, could not be reached to comment Friday. __________________

10-28-2008, 12:13 AM	#2
Harpoon Sailing the seas of Cheese Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 36,485 Thanks: 46 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Ever been to bass pro shops Lance? __________________ .

10-28-2008, 12:16 AM	#3
TheLancinator I love Post Icons Join Date: Jul 2006 Tournaments Won: 2 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 119,462 Thanks: 83 Thanked 875 Times in 613 Posts	No...and we have a huge one out here that opened about 18 months ago... __________________

10-28-2008, 12:17 AM	#4
Harpoon Sailing the seas of Cheese Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 36,485 Thanks: 46 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	They have a restaurant in there that serves alligator, and venison and all kinds of stuff.. Im gonna check it out... oh yeah.. my point... Every bit of the meat is properly processed.. They wont accept a deer a hunter drags up there behind their truck.. It's professionally farmed .. __________________ .

10-28-2008, 12:23 AM	#5
TheLancinator I love Post Icons Join Date: Jul 2006 Tournaments Won: 2 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 119,462 Thanks: 83 Thanked 875 Times in 613 Posts	I think I'd be leery of deer in a Chinese restaurant in any form __________________

10-28-2008, 12:35 AM	#6
Magnum, NY Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Imagine what else they've done that to in that joint. German Shepard anyone? Any pet shops got discounts in the area? Magnum __________________ "Hi guys."

10-28-2008, 01:01 AM	#7
Legmann Let it snow! Yeah, right. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 33,527 Thanks: 298 Thanked 740 Times in 374 Posts	Butchering a deer is illegal in a restaurant? If it's a Chinese restaurant, don't they already have exemptions for cats and dogs? __________________

10-28-2008, 01:22 AM	#9
Harpoon Sailing the seas of Cheese Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Down by the river Posts: 36,485 Thanks: 46 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	You ought to see that funkin place... its pretty neat... __________________ .

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