The Controversy Over World Cup "Lion Burgers"

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jun 23rd 2010 at 9:02PM

The controversy over the $21 "lion burger" being offered at Il Vinaio in Mesa, Arizona has reached a fever pitch. The Italian-style restaurant was selling the burgers of lion meat mixed with ground beef as a celebration for the World Cup. But once news got out about the unusual fare the restaurant was besieged with angry emails and protests. The owner said that the lions were raised at a free-range farm in Illinois that is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and that while lion meat is uncommon it is not illegal (turns out though that it's the FDA not the USDA that inspects lions bred for meat). Later investigations by the Chicago Tribune and other sources found that the source of the meat is Czimer's Game & Sea Foods an Illinois company that specializes in exotic and game meats including bear, camel and yes lion, selling African lion steaks for $19.95 a pound.

Richard Czimer, the company's owner, talked with CNNMoney.com and said that he gets the lion meat from a man who buys and sells animals for the skin and that the meat is essentially a byproduct. Czimer said he doesn't know where the other man gets the lion meat. Czimer doesn't have the best track record. In 2003, Chicago newspapers covered Czimer's conviction for selling meat from federally protected tigers and leopards. He had confessed to buying the carcasses of 16 tigers, four lions, two mountain lions and one liger that were skinned, butchered and sold as "lion meat." The African lion isn't a federally protected endangered species and does qualify as a game meat. Czimer's shop is officially registered with the FDA and has been inspected by state regulators.

Tags: czimers game and sea foods, exotic meat, Il Vinaio, lion burgers, south africa, world cup

Filed under: Dining

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

rufusmcbufus Jun 24th 2010 1:28AM

Second in the nation only to California, the Chicago area proves once again it is out to win the douchebag championships.

joel rambaud Jun 24th 2010 7:44AM

Yeah I think it's time California close her border with the rest of the US and everything outside of California will look like Detroit , time is over for California to support most of this Country , ever thought about it that way ..........

IamNero Jun 24th 2010 2:16PM

California support the rest of the country? Please. California can't even support itself, so that's ridiculous. Your deficit is bigger than Europe's and your ego's bigger than the world...Start supporting all those illegals you openly invite up, then talk...

rkj227 Jun 24th 2010 5:39PM

That's like me saying, everyone in your town is a f@@@ing moron because of you. IDIOT

Icehawk Jun 24th 2010 7:44AM

THE LION WOULD EAT YOU IF GIVEN THE CHANCE

Jan Jun 24th 2010 8:02AM

This is the most disgusting and despicable thing I have ever read and why a restaurant in Arizona serves up a dish containing the flesh of the most valued animals in Africa just totally boggles my mind and just proves that people are sick, sick, I don't care if they are raised in Illinois. What person would purchase and EAT this product knowing that it was once a graceful animal raised on a bush meat farm that is sanctioned by the FDA? How very cruel, I am surprized that animal welfare groups haven't tried to put a stop to this. If I could, I would carry a sign in front of this restaurant 24 hours a day. I am calling them today to protest. Better yet, let's all call them and crash their phone lines. Have to go heave now.

chrisflvs Jun 24th 2010 11:25AM

how is this the most despicable thing you have read??? You contradict yourself saying "bushmeat farms" Bushmeat is actually from a wild animal, not a farm raised animal, this is no different from any other meat. Do you think humans invented cows and that they werent derived from the wild?. Oh yeah, btw, these are not graceful lions. They are kept cooped up so they get nice, plump, and tasty. ;] Why dont you go bleed your heart out over the africans that kill wild monkeys and other animals that were actually graceful, not to mention endangered/threatened....

glad2b1also Jun 25th 2010 5:06PM

You eat what you want,,,,I eat what I want What right is it for you to tell me what I can do with my"MONEY".You sound like you are running for PRESIDENT....Get over it !

Aly Jun 25th 2010 12:29AM

seriously??? you obviously dont know anything about other cultures. if you eat cows you should also be considered despicable and all that bull crap that youre spewing out since cows are considered holy in the Hindu culture. if you think its so inhumane and what not then why dont you also stop shoving burgers and chicken in your face since those poor animals are also breed to be eaten???

Kelly Jun 25th 2010 12:46AM

I think this is pretty disgusting, too. The same people that would eat a lion are the same big, fat slobs that would eat a house cat (or anything else for that matter) if it was grilled and thrown in front of them. I, personally, am a vegetarian.

Kelly Jun 25th 2010 12:50AM

I think that this is pretty disgusting, too. These people are the same big, fat slobs that would eat a house cat (or anything else for that matter) if it were grilled up and placed in front of them. I, personally, am a vegetarian and do not eat the once-living flesh of anything!

Samantha Jun 25th 2010 2:30AM

Africans kill lions all the time. You may think they are graceful creatures but I'm sure the Africans being eaten by the lion doesn't have the same opinion.

Nancy Jun 25th 2010 6:04AM

There was a time when humans was part of the food chain, for all of us are animals, right now, we happen to be at the top of the chain. If you are a vegitarian, that is your choice, if not , that again is your choice.

Kent Jun 25th 2010 9:05PM

"If I could, I would carry a sign in front of this restaurant 24 hours a day."

You could, if you really felt as strongly about it as you claim. You won't however, just like every other bleeding heart who cries "Outrage!" and continues to sit at their computer desk until they find the next "most disgusting and despicable thing they have ever read."

ajschrod Jun 24th 2010 8:01AM

After learning the facts about it being legal "meat", where is the controversy? There really is only one legitimate no-no as far as this topic goes: no human meat--everything else is fair game. After all, Rush said so!

teri ells Jun 24th 2010 9:10PM

YOUuu BETCHA..HOW BOUT A NICE BOWL OF ARMADILLA STEW...MANY THINGS THAT ARE LEGAL ARE NOT NECESSARILY EXPEDIANT...POINT IN CASE...THE FCC HAS FOUND NOTHING PER SE "ILLEGAL" ABOUT AIRING RUSH LIMBAUGH...TERRY FROM TEJAS

Miller Jun 24th 2010 8:18AM

Who cares hell we eat cows, pigs, and chickens. I would like to try A lion steak. I wounder if it taste like chicken.

IamNero Jun 24th 2010 2:19PM

Why should a cow get eaten and a lion be spared? 'Cause they're cute?

WILL Jun 24th 2010 8:36AM

WTF? OVER

the stone roller Jun 24th 2010 9:09AM

Lion meat is unclean and therefore, unhealthy. If one has to eat meat, eat beef, chicken, turkey, or another of the clean animals fit for human consumption as listed in the Scriptures. However, make sure they were not treated with hormones, vaccines, or antibiotics. There are places that have these items.

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