In California, the consumption of horse meat is restricted by the penal code. The characterization of human behavior as „criminal” means that a crime carries the most severe public moral sanction. This is quite incongruous because other morally questionable business activities, such as the massive film industry, estimated at between $9 billion and $13 billion per year, are not subject to government regulatory scrutiny (31). In 732 AD, Pope Gregory III began a concerted effort to stop the ritual consumption of horse meat in pagan practices. In some countries, the effects of this ban by the Roman Catholic Church have continued and prejudice over horsemeat has shifted from taboos on avoidance to disgust. [42] In a study by Fred Simoons, avoiding horsemeat in American culture is less likely because of persistent feelings about Gregory`s prohibition than because of a lack of knowledge of meat compared to traditional offerings. [45] In other parts of the world, horsemeat is stigmatized as something the poor eat and is seen as a cheap substitute for other meats such as pork and beef. Horse meat may be consumed without the consumer`s knowledge as a result of accidental or fraudulent introduction of horsemeat into human consumption. A 2003 investigation by the Food Standards Agency found that some sausages, salami and similar products such as chorizo and pastrami sometimes contained horse meat without it being listed,[113] although required by law.
[114] In the 2013 horse meat scandal, several products were recalled from the shelves due to unlabelled horse meat in amounts up to 100% of the meat content. [115] Horsemeat is also much cheaper than beef, making it even more attractive to different countries. According to Brandon Gaille, the world auction price for horsemeat is $1,200 per tonne, while beef is $5,300 per tonne. However, this does not prevent Western countries from refusing to eat horse meat. Beef eaters in Britain and Europe were horrified to learn that some of the beef in their food is actually horse meat. Countries where horsemeat is not normally available include the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland, Australia, South Africa and Brazil. Food laws also prohibit the consumption of horse meat in observant countries such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Jewish people. The argument, articulated by apologists for the ban on the slaughter of horses and reflected in the mainstream media, focuses on the claim that the slaughter of horses is de facto cruelty to animals (13). However, the welfare of slaughter horses in the abattoir has been protected in the United States by the same veterinary infrastructure and safety precautions that ensure the humane slaughter of beef cattle and pigs. In addition, specific legislation protecting the transport of beef horses has been in force in the United States since 1996 (14), which was expanded in 2001 (15); a provision which is not extended to other food-producing animals.
State laws on the subject can change quickly, so it`s important that you take a look at the latest rules and regulations in your area to see whether or not you`re allowed to consume horse meat. Horse meat is an important part of the culinary traditions of many countries, especially in Eurasia. The eight countries that consume the most horsemeat consume about 4.3 million horses per year. For most of humanity`s existence, wild horses have been hunted as a source of protein. [1] [2] There is a misconception that horses are generally slaughtered for animal feed. In many countries, such as the United States, horse meat was banned in pet food in the 1970s. American horsemeat is considered a delicacy in Europe and Japan, and its cost is equivalent to that of veal,[30] so it would be prohibitive for animal feed in many countries. [31] Killing animals for food has long been identified as a moral issue influencing food choices (16). In the past, food choices or specific aversion to food were motivated by religious, health or moral concerns.
Horse meat is widely used in non-English-speaking countries. In liberal democracies, entrepreneurs are generally free to sell any type of food they want, provided that a food product does not come from an endangered species and is not harmful to human health, that there is a market for it, and that manufacturers comply with existing hygiene and food safety regulations. An example of a new product is crocodile meat (17). Horsemeat has been the subject of several high-profile incidents in recent years. Four years ago, it was discovered in Europe that meatballs contained horse DNA, triggering a huge public relations crisis for the Swedish furniture company, which runs cafes. („Ikea meatballs? That`s not the case,” Australian columnist Martin McKenzie-Murray tweeted.) In May, Pittsburgh`s Cure restaurant, whose chef Justin Severino has been a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards Best Chef for the past four years, was reprimanded by the USDA for serving horses on a tasting menu. The horse tartare was part of a joint dinner with a Toronto chef, and Severino said the traditional Quebec dish comes from a horse farm in Alberta, where horse meat is legal. According to the Toronto Sun, Canada is a world leader in horse meat production. These draft horse breeds usually ripen early, are economical to feed and have a high yield of meat, making them ideal for slaughter.
While thoroughbreds and warm-blooded animals are usually never bred for meat, they can also end up in slaughterhouses. In Iceland, horse meat is both minced and eaten in the form of steak, which is also used in stews and fondue and is valued for its strong taste. It plays a special role in the culture and history of the island. The Icelandic people would have been reluctant to embrace Christianity for some time, mainly because of the issue of abstention from horse meat, after Pope Gregory III banned the consumption of horse meat in 732 AD, as it was an important part of many pagan rites and sacrifices in Northern Europe. The consumption of horse meat was banned when pagan Nordic Icelanders finally adopted Christianity in 1000 AD/Our era. The ban became so entrenched that most people would not handle horse meat, let alone consume it. Even during the severe famines of the 18th century, most people did not eat horse meat, and those who did were flogged. In 1757, prohibition was decriminalized, but the general aversion to horsemeat continued well into the 19th century, perhaps longer, and its consumption was often seen as an indication of poverty.