Bucks Coal Fired Pizza in Palm Beach County briefly offered a novelty "Florida Man Pizza" topped with iguana meat after a cold snap stunned invasive iguanas. The stunt drew more than 1,500 calls, complaints and a health-department visit, so the restaurant paused the pie while officials review food-safety and regulatory questions. The owner says no live iguanas were killed for the dish; regulators and the FWC stress that safety protocols and permitting must be followed.
Florida Pizzeria Pauses Viral 'Florida Man Pizza' After Health-Department Review
Photo Credit: Instagram
Bucks Coal Fired Pizza in Palm Beach County briefly turned a cold-weather oddity into a viral novelty: a limited-time pie topped with iguana meat. The restaurant pulled the item from its menu after receiving complaints and a visit from the health department while officials and the owner sort out safety and regulatory questions.
What Happened
During a recent South Florida cold snap, invasive iguanas were left stunned and falling from trees. Trapper Ryan Izquierdo gathered some of the cold-stunned reptiles and supplied the meat for a novelty pie that the restaurant called the "Florida Man Pizza," CBS Miami reported.
Owner Response And Public Reaction
Owner Frankie Cecere said the stunt generated more than 1,500 phone calls — not all positive. Cecere told CBS Miami the restaurant received complaints and was visited by the health department, so it paused the pizza while officials review whether and how iguana meat can be served safely and legally.
"My buddy hit me up, and he was like, 'Hey, how do you feel about me bringing in some iguana meat and making iguana pizza?'" Cecere recalled. "My initial answer was, 'Absolutely.'"
Food-Safety And Regulatory Concerns
When restaurants offer unconventional ingredients, clear answers about sourcing, processing and food-safety protocols are essential. Even well-intentioned efforts can put patrons at risk if proper handling, inspection and permitting are not in place.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) notes that iguanas are an invasive species and has published guidance on the damage they can cause to infrastructure and native wildlife. The FWC also indicates that, under certain circumstances, iguanas may be humanely killed on private property.
Next Steps
For now, Bucks Coal Fired Pizza has paused the special while Cecere and local officials work through regulatory and public-health questions tied to serving iguana meat. If regulators approve the approach and safety standards are met, demand is likely to remain high: "It's highly sought after, apparently," Cecere told CBS Miami.
Note: The restaurant says it did not purchase or kill live iguanas for the dish and that the meat came from cold-stunned animals collected after the temperature drop.
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