In Mexico, chapulines, gusanos de maguey, and escamoles are a perfect addition to tacos. So when México en el Paladar, a Mexico City restaurant, sold tarantula tacos, it made sense. For $26, the eatery served up tacos topped with fresh avocado and a scorched Mexican red rump tarantula. But as of this week, Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente, the country’s federal environmental protection agency, has put a stop to this.
It turns out that the tarantulas the restaurant used are endangered. Reportedly, the agency investigated the restaurant after receiving a tip from someone who saw the México en el Paladar searing the tarantulas on Facebook videos, according to Munchies.
The restaurant has seen a deluge of criticism since news broke. So far, the company has merely said it will cease selling the tacos until it can prove it legally obtained the tarantulas. Before the incident, some questioned whether everything was on the up and up at the restaurant.