Nearly 2 tonnes of mussels were thrown in front of the prefecture in Lille.

-

M.Libert / 20 Minutes

And where is the moulaga?

This Monday morning, in front of the prefecture of the North, in Lille.

With the help of some employees of his restaurant, Chicory, Arnaud Meunier dumped nearly two tons of mussels under the windows of the prefect.

A commando action to protest against the decree imposing a midnight closure of bars and restaurants as part of the measures taken to fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

But this mess of unexpired food is not to everyone's liking.

Nearly 2 tonnes of mussels were thrown in front of the prefecture in Lille.

- M.Libert / 20 Minutes

Friday, at the end of the day, the prefect of the North, Michel Lalande, published a decree prohibiting restaurants, bars and other businesses from remaining open after midnight during the clearance sale weekend.

A text published at the last minute that left Arnaud Meunier speechless, owner since December 2019 of the iconic Lille restaurant la Chicorée.

"I bought the establishment because it is the only one open every day, 24 hours a day. At night, we make between 15 and 20% of our turnover," he explains.

"The prefect could have anticipated"

The problem is that the boss had already bought his merchandise and hired staff taking into account this night of clearance sale.

“Usually, we make 12 tonnes for the clearance sale.

There, we had expected that there would be fewer people and ordered only half.

The prefect could have anticipated and we would have ordered even fewer molds, ”he laments.

Suddenly, what he did not manage to sell over the weekend was promptly dumped in front of the prefecture under the eyes of a marauding Secours populaire who distributed food to the homeless.

What a great example of respect for living things.

2 tons of living beings used as vulgar protest signs, well, we did not leave the hostel ...

- Around the fire (@autourdufeu) September 7, 2020

If the message is heard, it is the gesture that goes very badly.

On social networks, many Internet users are protesting about this waste of unexpired food.

“The method can be discussed but what to think of that of the prefecture which warns traders an hour before?

», Wonders Adeline.

“2 tons of mussels that could have been offered to the most deprived…”, notes Marianne.

"I understand his anger, but the gesture is absurd, dissonant in this period of crisis which is hitting the French,"

Vanessa Duhamel, elected Modem at Lille town hall

, told

20 Minutes

.

However, Arnaud Meunier insists: “It does not make me happy to throw food.

We didn't put that aside on purpose, ”he says.

Moreover, there were still a few trays of shellfish left in the Chicorée refrigerators since, this Monday noon, it was an unlimited mussels and chips operation.

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  • Coronavirus

  • Food waste

  • Clearance sale

  • Lille

  • Restaurant