GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 335 2019 Regular Session Gisclair
PUBLIC HEALTH: Requires food service establishments serving imported crawfish
or shrimp to inform patrons that the seafood is of foreign origin.
DIGEST
Proposed law declares that La. 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.
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 or shrimp that originate outside of
the U.S. to 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. Proposed law provides that in lieu of this
requirement, the notice shall be paper-clipped to the menu in the same manner as is required
on the menu.
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 or shrimp that originate
outside of the U.S. to 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. Stipulates that each sign shall be at least 18 inches tall, 18 inches wide, written in
English in letters not less than one inch 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.
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.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 40:5.5.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the engrossed bill
1. Requires notice of crawfish or shrimp being imported in letters no smaller
than the same size, font, and shade as the product being offered to be printed
directly onto the menu.
Page 1 of 2
Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. 2. Requires notice of crawfish or shrimp being imported in letters no smaller
than the same size, font, and shade as the product being offered to be paper-
clipped to a menu if not printed directly onto the menu.
3. Removes option to orally explain to patrons the country of origin of crawfish
or shrimp sold or provided by the restaurant.
4. Changes sign letter size requirement from two inches to no smaller than the
same size, font, and shade as the product being offered.
5. Makes effective upon signature of the governor.
Page 2 of 2
Prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.