A local bar in Kankakee Illinois has been closed down by officials after roadkill was found in their beef jerky jars reports say.
Last week, customers dining at The Village Pub in Bradley , Il., reportedly spotted several dead deer, raccoons, opossums stuffed in the dumpster behind the establishment.
“It was really disturbing. There was actually a blood trail that they were mopping up behind the garbage can,” one customer told WGN “There was like a tail, and like a foot and leg sticking out of the dumpster.”
Environmental health inspector Paul Lawson was soon called in to verify this gruesome claim.
According to WGN, Lawson said that when he entered the bar, he stumbled upon “the craziest thing he’s ever seen.”
“Upon arrival, I confirmed they did have several different types of dried meat/jerky in the jars.
Lawson told WGN that they had sold the products to several of their patrons by the time he arrived, which raised “many health and illness” concerns.
Officials say the restaurant owner admitted to bringing the meat in to the bar which had allegedly been roadkill found along Interstate 57.
The bar was immediately shut down and the owner was cited for having unapproved meat for sale.
“They said they didn’t know that they weren’t allowed to,” Lawson said, adding that he was concerned this may not have been the first time that the bar has brought roadkill onto its premises.
According to WGN, the owner of the bar told Lawson that they had intended “to take the meat home and hadn’t planned to serve it to any customers.”
But this was little consolation to some patrons.
“I don’t think I’ll ever drink or gamble here ever again,” said one customer who says she was at the bar when the roadkill jerky was brought in.
Lawson said the bar will be allowed to reopen after an inspection proves that it has been completely cleaned and sanitized, WGN reports.
Though some customers of this local bar were thoroughly repulsed by the thought of roadkill jerky, dead animals peeled off the tarmac is the food of choice for some daring diners.
In the United States, it is legal in some states to harvest roadkill for personal use — whether that be for the dead animals’ pelt or for food.