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Dumb Customer Freaks Out Over Supermarket Selling Frozen Raccoon
The latest in cultural panic comes to us this week from Temple City, where a supermarket has pulled frozen raccoons from their shelves after a complaint from a customer who's not used to seeing meat with the head still on.
The Los Angeles County Health Department paid the Metro Supermarket a visit on Tuesday after customer Christina Dow made the grim discovery that they sold whole frozen raccoons for $9.99 per pound. She even shot a video she uploaded to YouTube where she freaks out and calls the supermarket "this sick-ass fuckin' store":
"The way it's packaged in the store it's so real and it's so fresh. You don't see chickens with blood all over them, with their expression and tongue hanging out," she explained to CBS 2, never before realizing that meat came from animals that were once living. Employees told the news station that raccoon is considered a delicacy in China, though they are likely referring to raccoon dogs, which are native to Asia and might be better known to Americans as tanookis. Yes, the same animal that Mario can dress up as in Super Mario Bros. 3.
For those interested in trying out raccoon meat, Exotic Meat Market would be a good source while Metro Supermarket remains under investigation—although their raccoon meat is a little pricier than $9.99 a pound. Serious Eats has a good guide for skinning and preparing it. "Once you put those sweet potatoes around him, and you parboil him, and you bake himlet me tell you, you have a good eat there." Mmmmm.
As horrifying as the sight of frozen raccoons could be to naive customers, the health department says that it may be perfectly legal, depending on its source. The Metro Supermarket says it has sold the meat for years but never had a problem until Christina Dow freaked out because it was her first time in an ethnic supermarket. Next time go to Ralphs, lady.
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