DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 198 Original 2019 Regular Session Gisclair
Abstract: Requires food service establishments serving imported crawfish to inform patrons of the
country of origin of the crawfish and provides that failure to comply with the requirement
is a violation of the state sanitary code.
Proposed law declares that La. consumers have the right to know if crawfish imported from a foreign
country is being served in a food service establishment, as the consumption of such crawfish may
pose a health risk.
Proposed law provides that for purposes of proposed law, "food service establishment" means an
establishment that prepares food for human consumption, either for individual service or for a group
of people, whether consumption is on or off the premises and regardless of whether there is a charge
for the food; but shall not include any of the following: Private homes where food is prepared or
served for individual family consumption, private clubs where food is prepared and served
exclusively for member consumption, religious or charitable food sales, any establishment that heats
or prepares boudin or sausage for personal consumption, a bar or lounge that serves beverages only,
temporary and seasonal establishments, bed and breakfast operations, nursing facilities, or public,
private, or parochial schools.
Proposed law requires all food service establishments that use a menu as a standard business practice
and sell or provide cooked or prepared crawfish that originate from a foreign country to display on
all menus the country of origin of such crawfish in letters no smaller than one-half inch in size, in
English, immediately adjacent to the menu listing of crawfish being sold. Provides that in lieu of
this requirement, the notice may be paper-clipped to the menu, or be explained orally to patrons by
food service establishment staff.
Proposed law requires all food service establishments that do not use a menu as a standard business
practice and sell or provide cooked or prepared crawfish that originate outside of the U.S. to display
on a sign posted at the main entrance to the establishment that certain crawfish being served within
originate from a foreign country. Stipulates that each sign shall be at least 18 inches tall, 18 inches
wide, written in English in letters not less than two inches in size, and placed in an open area and in
a conspicuous position not less than 36 inches from the floor so that it is visible to all patrons.
Provides that in lieu of this requirement, the notice may be explained orally to patrons by food
service establishment staff.
Proposed law provides that any violation of proposed law shall constitute a violation of the state
sanitary code. Proposed law requires the La. Department of Health to promulgate all such administrative rules as
are necessary to enforce the provisions of proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 40:5.5.4)