Taco Bell joins Europe's Horse Meat Parade...

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:02pm

You could have grandstand seats for this year's Triple Crown and Breeder's Cup races and still not see as much horse as what's passing through Europe's food supply right now.

and this is disturbing:

Meanwhile, the The New York Times reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is about to approve a horse-slaughtering plant in New Mexico, despite objections from President Barack Obama's administration and the Humane Society.

Once approved, it will be the first time horse meat suitable for human consumption has been produced here since 2007...

I had no idea horse meat "suitable for human consumption had been produced in the U.S. prior to 2007.

I think I'm going to become a vegetarian. GROSS.
Mr. Ed Tacos and Burritos

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:05pm

I really don't get it. Why is horse so much worse that chicken or cow?

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:09pm

In reality, it's not.

But they're pretty, so how could we!?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:13pm

It isn't. You eat meat or you don't. It should be disclosed, of course (I'm no fan of mystery meat), but if you want to eat horse, deer, duck dog, frog, whatever - what of it?

What makes horses so much more unworthy of eating than cow?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:17pm

I don't think it's a matter of horses being "unworthy". It's just that in American culture horses are not considered a delicacy. Also when you consider that consumers buying hamburgers, beef tacos or burritos are expecting BEEF not horse meat. So when it's found out the meat used and consumed wasn't beef it's downright deceptive.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:17pm

I can only assume its because Americans, in general, don't eat horse. We don't raise it to be eaten. Horses are raised for entertainment, gaming, and glue. Cows and pigs are raised to be eaten.

I don't see anything wrong with eating horse, as long as I know I'm eating horse.

And I love frog legs. Yum!

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:19pm

"Horses are raised for entertainment, gaming, and glue."

Which, to me, are far more troublesome reasons for raising horses than for meat.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:22pm

We all know what happens when a horse can't race anymore. They're put down without another word.

Who wouldn't want to bite into a blue ribbon steak?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:44pm

I want a Rafalca Burger!

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:54pm

Tempting!

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 3:29pm

Aren't the gorgeous creatures (horses) mostly muscle? Gorgeous muscles. I can't imagine them having tasty soft meat. But anyway, once this horrendous change takes place, I hope it will be possible to know if you're going to be eating it.

[artscallion]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 3:35pm

Jane, muscle is what meat is. The general rule is that the further from the head you go, the more tender the meat. So hindquarter muscles, which are the most used, are the most tender.

I personally don't have a problem with eating horse or any animal. I'd even eat cat or dog. But I do think disclosure is absolutely necessary in any food.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 3:38pm

Thanks for that info, scallion. It's hard to understand though, when I compare the appearances of horses and cows!

[artscallion]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 3:54pm

Agreed. Cows seem so much squishier! I don't specifically know that horse or cow is more or less tender than the other as I've never had horse. I just know that meat is muscle and the other rule. But horse could be tougher for other reasons.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 4:01pm

The horse's diet will affect how he tastes. If it's a cleaner diet of grass or grain, it'll taste differently than if the horse eats, I dunno, another horse. I personally love deer, so I'm interested in what horses taste like.

[artscallion]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 4:06pm

Plus, I'd guess that cows probably have more fat in between the muscle. So that adds to the tasty factor too. Though I've had ostrich which is VERY lean. And that was delicious! So you never know.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 7:36pm

Willllllllllllllllllbur

I draw the line at eating armadillos

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 5:19am

Horse was knowingly consumed in the UK until Anna Sewell wrote the first book to project human thoughts and feelings on to an animal. If Black Beauty had been about a pig we'd all be kosher/halal.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 5:19am

I have never eaten a kebab in my life nor trusted processed minced beef. They neither look nor taste like what they are supposed to be. Horse meat is the tip of the iceberg - it wouldn't surprise me if American hospitals were taking backhanders for supplying discarded foreskins into the European food chain.



Updated On: 3/2/13 at 05:19 AM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 8:49am

" Also when you consider that consumers buying hamburgers, beef tacos or burritos are expecting BEEF not horse meat. So when it's found out the meat used and consumed wasn't beef it's downright deceptive."

I know. That's why, in my post you responded to, the third sentence was " It should be disclosed, of course (I'm no fan of mystery meat), but if you want to eat horse, deer, duck dog, frog, whatever - what of it?". My use of the word "unworthy' was confusing, though. Sorry about that.

My point was, if you're eating meat (and I do, on occasion, especially when I hunt, which is not often), you're killing an animal to eat its flesh. What difference does it make what the animal looks like? I do agree on full disclosure of exactly what you're eating, even plants. All Monsanto products should be clearly marked.

Banned actually, but failing that, clearly marked.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 1:21pm

I don't know...........my sister has 2 horses and they are pets for her. That sort of discourages me from eating horse. I don't want to eat something that seems like a pet to me.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 1:27pm

Completely understandable. Dogs and cats aren't commonly eaten here but they are in other countries.

The difference is strictly emotional - and understandable.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 1:37pm

You're right - it's an emotional reason.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 1:38pm

They should ABSOLUTELY be clearly marked. Many are just responding to this with disgust and outrage. I have only eaten horse once, by accident, as it's called hamburger here and served in deli meat form. I assumed, wrongly, that it was beef. It tasted like beef, just quite lean. In retrospect, I reevaluated my attitude about it and no longer see a difference between that and any other animal, I guess. I personally don't want to eat it, but I see no problem with it being served and it doesn't outrage me. I wouldn't eat rabbit, dog or cat, either. As long as it's not an actual pet, I don't see the issue. Hell, I can't even bring myself to ear reindeer, due to the US Christmas traditions and it's sold here.

I would be a lot more concerned with harmful items not being labeled like Monsanto products and aspartame.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 1:42pm

"I would be a lot more concerned with harmful items not being labeled like Monsanto products and aspartame."

100% agree.