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Subscribe to RSSThe discovery of horse DNA in food products sold throughout Europe has set off a scandal, shaking confidence in Europe's food industry and angering consumers.
But believe it or not, it’s actually legal to slaughter horses for human consumption in the U.S. In November 2011, Congress quietly lifted a five-year ban on funding for horse processing inspections.
Since the ban was lifted, no horse slaughterhouses have successfully opened, according to Holly Hazard, a senior vice president at the Humane Society of the United States who tracks equine rights issues.
“We have yet to have a new [horse processing] facility open in this country,” Hazard said, adding that attempts to open slaughterhouses in New Mexico and Missouri last year were scrapped due to public outrage.
Related: 'Criminal conspiracy' blamed for European horse-in-burger scandal
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said that if a horse slaughtering plant were to open, the agency would perform inspections to ensure it complied with federal laws.
Before Congress defunded inspections in 2007, there were just three equine processing plants in the continental U.S. -- two in Texas, one in Illinois. All three facilities were shuttered when the slaughtering ban took effect, the Associated Press reported.
At the peak of their production powers, these slaughterhouses primarily exported horsemeat to Mexico and Canada for human consumption, Hazard said.
One advocate of selling horse meat said that the removal of the ban allows the horse processing industry to regain a foothold in the market.
"Eighty percent of a $102 billion-a-year industry was directly affected when they took slaughter away," said David Duquette, president of the United Horsemen, a group that lobbied to lift the ban.
Duquette added that there are ongoing efforts to revive the horse meat processing industry, but declined to provide additional information about those attempts.
Animal rights activists, meanwhile, are confident that widespread repulsion at the thought of eating horse meat will keep it out of the mainstream.
"There are certainly communities that have considered [reviving horse slaughtering]," said Nancy Perry, a senior vice president at the ASPCA. But the vast majority of Americans -- a staggering 80 percent, according to a recent ASPCA poll -- oppose the practice, Perry said.
'Companions and partners, not food'
Polling data and public opinion suggest it's highly unlikely horse meat will move to the center of American culinary culture. After all, they’re the stars of beloved children’s literature, Hollywood movies, and Wild West folklore.
“We believe horses are iconic figures in American culture,” Hazard said. “The vast majority of Americans think they’re companions and partners, not food.”
Hazard said she’s not aware of any attempts to introduce horse meat on restaurant menus. The one exception: a proposal, in September of last year, to serve Canadian-bred horse tartare -- also known as raw horse meat -- at a museum restaurant in New York City.
However, M. Wells Dinette's prospective menu item at MoMA PS1 was scuttled after animal rights activists and public health officials cried foul.
The restaurant’s chef and co-owner, Hugue Dufour, released a statement after the controversy subsided defending his exotic dish.
“We thought about serving it because we like to offer customers new things,” the statement said. “Whatever else horses are – draft animals, companions, transport – their meat is also delicious and affordable.”
Nevertheless, most Americans still consider horse meat off-limits, although that hasn't always been the case.
At the close of World War II, when beef was in short supply, many Americans got their protein boosts from horse meat. Republicans blamed the meat scarcity on President Truman, giving him the nickname “Horsemeat Harry.”
During the early 1970s, beef prices went through the roof, forcing cash-strapped shoppers to buy cheap horse meat instead. The custom was so common it showed up as a subplot on a 1973 episode of the sitcom “All in the Family.”
Harvard University’s Faculty Club reportedly served horse meat for more than 100 years before it dropped the menu item in the 1980s.
Related:
'Fraud on a massive scale': Europe's horse meat scandal keeps on growing
Leave a Comment:
I swear, we are so screwed up!! Yes, horse meat, totally ok. Let's eat the dogs, and cats while we are at it. Horses are loving, intelligent, and majestic friends. I can't believe we are actually having this conversation.
Horses are as intelligent as slugs .... do something good with them...dinner.
When times get tough the tough eat horse,dog,cat,wallpaper...etc
Anything for the almighty $$
Yes, anything goes.
Horse Stew
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Ingredients:
Preparation:
Lardoon the meat with the lard and slivers of carrots. Dice the other vegetables and put them with the meat and the spices except the paprika in a bowl; pour the wine over everything, cover and marinate in the refrigerator for three days, turning the meat occasionally.
Pat the meat dry (reserve the vegetables and the marinade), flour it, and brown it in the oil, in a pot over a brisk flame. Add the vegetables, and when they've cooked for a few minutes, pour the marinade over the meat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about three hours. Once the meat is done, remove it to a platter and blend the sauce.
Return the sauce to the fire, thicken it with the butter-flour ball, and season it to taste with paprika. Pour the sauce over the meat and serve, with polenta and the side dishes you prefer
You can flavor anything to taste any way you want. Maybe you are ignorant of the facts behind the use and care of U.S. horses and the severe health issues presented by commercially slaughtered horse meat.
Google my name, jama.jamanetwork articleid=347845, manesandtailsorganization captive_bolt.htm, HorseActivist and kaufmanzoning for more information.
Karin - who gives a crap, people have been eating the damn things as well as dogs, cats and rats for years and suffer no worse for it than eating any other animal......whats for dinner.
Pastissada
Another traditional Italian recipe from the Verona area.
2 pounds horse meat
2 ounces lard or porkback fat
2-3 carrots, cut into slivers
2 sticks celery, diced
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves
a dozen coriander seeds
1 bay leaf
1 clove garlic
1 bottle Italian red wine
flour, enough to brown the meat with
¼ cup olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. butter kneaded into enough flour to make a small ball
paprika to taste
Slather the meat with the lard and slivers of carrots. Dice the other vegetables and put them, with the meat and spices (except the paprika) in a bowl. Pour the wine over everything, then cover and marinate in the refrigerator for three days, turning the meat occasionally.
Pat the meat dry with paper towel (keep the vegetables and the marinade), flour it, and brown it in the oil over a brisk flame. Add the vegetables. When they've cooked for a few minutes, pour the marinade over the meat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about three hours. Once the meat is done, remove it to a platter saving the sauce that has been formed with the marinade.
Return the sauce to the fire, thicken it with the butter-flour ball, and season it to taste with paprika. Pour the sauce over the meat, and serve with a good traditional side dish.
You can flavor anything to taste any way you want. Maybe you are ignorant of the facts behind the use and care of U.S. horses and the severe health issues presented by commercially slaughtered horse meat.
Google my name, jama.jamanetwork articleid=347845, manesandtailsorganization captive_bolt.htm, HorseActivist and kaufmanzoning for more information.
Sauerbraten (Sour Roast)
Practically a German sacrament
2-½ lbs. horse meat roast
4 strips bacon (optional)
soup vegetables: carrot, celery, leek (optional), parsley root (optional), onion (optional)
1 cup red wine vinegar
1 pint red wine (optional)
1 garlic clove
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp. juniper berries
3 allspice corns and/or cloves
3 peppercorns
1 thyme branch
¼ cup pork lard
1 Tbsp. flour (optional)
½ cup raisins
salt
pepper
maple syrup (to taste)
Vigorously rub the roast with the bacon. Clean and wash the vegetables and cut them into pieces. Bring the vinegar to boil with some water or stock, then let it cool down a bit and add the meat, garlic, spices, and the vegetables. Let it marinade in a closed bowl for several days (but at least 24 hours) in a cool place.
Remove the horse meat from the marinade and roast it in the lard. Then slowly add the marinade, together with the vegetables and the spices. Braise it in the oven for 2 to 2½ hours at 350 degrees. Remove the bay leaves, the cloves and the juniper berries from the gravy. Strain the gravy, and perhaps thicken it with some flour. Add the raisins and season it with salt, pepper, and maple syrup. Serves 4.
Izamyt - you must be one fat tub of lard! In every disgusting recipe you post there is lard, fat, bacon, porkback fat.........YUK.. Who in their right mind would even want to put that disgusting, unhealthy crap in their bodies!! Hope you live real close to a hospital.
Horses are being slaughtered today in both Mexico and Canada. We lost at least one Kentucky Derby winner to slaughter to either Japan or Europe. Can you imagine what it is like for these pampered, loved companions and athletes to go to the slaughter house? Watch the undercover PETA video if you think you can stomach watching the horses screaming and being killed. If/when, we begin slaughtering horses again in the US, it will be time to declare ourselves a completely uncivilized country. I would no more eat horsemeat than attempt to fly to the moon on a pair of homemade wings!
and just how to you think or picture pigs, fish, chickens, turkeys and cattle livestock are slaughtered? You think they are given drugs to ease the pain or what? And as far as that goes, you really have no clue what is in the hamburger you purchase do you? No you don't. You go by what is susposed to be there or what is said to be in there. lol
If they don't want to go to the slaughterhouse, maybe they should try a little harder to run faster.
It is about time we did something useful with horses...whats for dinner. PETA is a bone head brainless bunch of useless people.
For myself, I will no longer use the phrase "So hungry I could eat a horse".
You could say "hungry enough to eat the crotch out of a sore eyed cat" or "hungry as an Ethiopian"
Use this one. "I am so hungry I could suck pus from a dead bears ass".
I knew when Obama lifted the ban on horse slaughtering that our food chain would not be safe. I imagine there is already horse meat in the majority of our ground beef too.
You need to blame your congress on that one, not your president. And I agree when it comes down to it, there is no telling what all is really in the ground beef. they could take 100 pounds of beef, add a cat, dog, possum, rat, racoon or part of a horse or what ever they wanted and we would never know.
Obama was the one that signed it....without that it would not be legal.
you really don't know much about your government do you. Congress can do and will do what they what and they do not need the presidents approval. Congress is the one that lifted the ban
Obviously more than you do. On November 18, 2011 Obama signed the bill making it legal to slaughter horses for human consumption. Doesn't matter what crap the Senate came up with....he did not have to sign it but he did so therefore the blame goes to him.
Instead of posting lame comments maybe you need to read some more. Congress already passed it, so he signed it. Even if he didn't sign it and disagreed with them, congress, with a 2/3rds vote can over ride the President and pass it anyways. So if you are the Pres and knowing that congress will do it anyways, you will sign it instead of looking like an idot when they over ride you and do it anyways.
No way I'll eat a horse. Being from New Mexico many of us own horses that become "family". I have two now that I rescued because they are old. They will die. I will bury them. But no one will eat them. Until then they have two good meals a day, fresh water always, room to roam, and a herd to roam with.
We have a huge excess of horses. Partly due to good breeding, good vet care, high quality feed and of course, thanks to the horse racing industry, over breeding. I used to be an avid fan of horse raceing. No more. I'm boycotting the horse races.
Recently, near the Texas/New Mexico line, an illeagle race track was found. Nearby were carcasses of horses that were killed because they were not winners and couldn't be sold.
Well there are a lot of them you can save...have a go at it.
Understand one thing people,,, when you buy ground beef and it says made with 100% ground beef,,, it could be a 1/4 horse, 1/8 cat, 1/8 dog, 1/8 possum, 1/8 rat and 1/4 ground beef. So in fact when they say made with 100% ground beef, it is true,,,, for that 1/4 is 100% ground beef.
Even with the USDA seal you still never can depend on what it actually in the package. I remember one report a few years ago where they analyzed a package of ground beef and found fecal matter and hair. The USDA's excuse was that they did not have enough inspectors to check every slaughter house. I imagine the industry knows exactly where the inspectors are going to be so who knows what goes on.
The government is turning Liberal. Liberalism is home to animal rights extremists. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if there were extremists working as inspectors and either passing up opportunities to make the meat safe, or purposely contaminating it so they can say "meat is dirty and you shouldn't eat it". The more liberals that endd up in charge of things, the more likely we are to see extremists put in positions that could harm the public for their cause. Extremists are delusional and would have no problem seeing a human being die to further their cause. Hell, they make no qualms about humans being the problem.
It could be as not a fact...and you know this how?
Whats not killing is fattening and variety is the spice of life.
For those of you that have "been around" horses and claim that they are "smart" and make for a "gentle, harmless" companion animal, you're a little off-base. I too have "been around" horses all of my life, and live on a horse farm with a quarantine facility, where my wife and family own 35 quarter horses and ship horses around the world. We also show Western Pleasure and host pleasure and running events at our farms arena (I'd like to ride and show in English events, but the stretchy pants aren't very flattering to my backside)!
Anyway, the older horses, along with some younger horses, can have a sweet disposition. That said, a horse (especially a stallion) can seriously hurt or even kill you if you let your guard down for one second. Horses, like humans, have their own unique personalities, and I put them in the same category as I do politicians--I don't trust them for one minute!
I'm a horse lover through and through, and consider many of the horses we own as pets. However, I'm a firm proponent of horse slaughtering. The equine market is extremely soft, and I've seen horses bought at auction for less than what it costs to register them with AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association). Contrary to what some posters have said, horses are expensive when taken care of properly (farrier fees, vet fees, feed, hay, medication, etc.). I've known quite a few families who didn't exactly know what they were getting themselves into with the purchase of a horse (or horses). A lot of times, it seems the notoriety of owning a horse soon wears off, or the kids they bought the horses for lose interest in riding, and the horse suffers in the end. I'd much rather see a horse humanely slaughtered and put to good use than to see them starving to death, suffering and wasting away to nothing in misery.
As far as a menu item goes, perhaps my vision is a little skewed as I've lived in many areas outside of the U.S. (I spent quite a bit of time in the military), but I'm not at all opposed to eating horse meat. While travelling or living abroad, I've eaten just about everything there is to eat, stopping short with an offer of eating balut when I was living in the Philippines (if you've never heard of balut, look it up on Wiki). To sum it up, I have two words of advice to people when dining out: never ask what you're eating, and never ever, under any circumstances, look in the kitchen, and you'll be fine!
Chemical euthanasia is and has always been the humane option. Stop trying to justify huge suffering and unaccountability for the profit of a few. You obviously do not know how to train a horse or handle one if you are making so many "bad" horses. Horses are very much like dogs, a product of their handling and experiences.
It costs less than one month's feed and board to humanely euthanize a horse. How can you say creating a new market where horses will be factory farmed and raised specifically for human consumption is the answer to people who cannot take care of their horses because of the sorry state of our economy? You are talking about apples and oranges.
Unfortunately, commercial horse slaughter cannot ever be made humane. If it could, then the animal welfare advocates and the general public would not be so up in arms over this issue. Tell Sue Wallis to make her "new method" public instead of trying to build thick walls and Ag Gag her opposition---you will get the same response I and many others have, silence... Nothing, absolutely nothing can change with this horrid "industry."
Head-shot slaughter is the worst possible end of life experience for horses, or any animal. You are what you eat. If you want to be a tortured animal, eat a tortured animal.
Horse meat eaters say, "gut Cancer here I come!"
Karen
They have been eating the damn things for years along with cow, goat, sheep, pig, dog, cat and rat and there is no difference. You folks make a mountain out of a mole hill, if you like them so much go save them all at your own expense otherwise do something useful with them....what for dinner.
“We thought about serving it because we like to offer customers new things,” the statement said. “Whatever else horses are – draft animals, companions, transport – their meat is also delicious and affordable.”
What's next?? What if Human Meat (flesh) tasted delicious and was affordable - would they serve that too, as something NEW for their customer's to try? This is a sick world we are living in. Where is the line drawn?
In some cultures cannibalism is an acceptable practice. So, I guess the answer is each person must draw their own moral line.
Horse meat is yummy....just saying, I have ate it before at a resteraunt. Man would eat a dog if they had too, so don't pretend to be all shocked and surprised.
I don't ride a cow and herd horses. It's the other way around. Horses are pets and partners in work and play. That's why we are hesitant to eat them. If push came to shove I would eat your horse!
I hope they never open up any slaughterhouses in the US. Horses are one of the most beautiful creatures you'll ever see. Some of the people posting recipes are just plain sick in my book. What's next, eating eagles, wolves, bears? I find this appalling to say the least. Man is slowly destroying this world, one day at a time.
veteran
Bears are often eaten. Tastes like pork.
The Hindu worship cows. They believe eating them is a crime against God. What's the difference?
@ sjacobs123
That's my opinion and im sticking to it. India worships rats. Are you going to eat those too?
Veteran,
You are welcome to your opinion. It is not your right to judge others.
@ sjacob123
My opinion is how i feel. You can eat anything you like.
Eat dogs not those parasite infected hogs.
shallow
Cook it well. No trichinosis that way.
The general public needs to be educated as to why equine slaughter and consumption of horse meat is completely unacceptable: (1) unless specifically raised for meat, all horses have been exposed to numerous compounds (e.g., phenylbutazone) which are approved for common veterinary use in equines, but which are highly toxic and/or carcinogenic in humans. These substances remain in the tissues. (2) The processing of horses is an economic and ecological disaster for the towns surrounding the slaughterhouses. There is ample evidence for this, too much to be repeated here. (3) In reality, very few people would even consider eating horse meat, for cultural reasons, the same way that we in the US do not eat canines. (4) Slaughter is NOT, I repeat NOT, humane euthanasia, and is NOT the answer to the unwanted horse population. It is a horrific and barbaric process. The only reason in favor of equine slaughter is that it provides a financial kickback to a limited few (Sue Wallis [R-WY], Syke McNeil [R-OK], but there are others). Please note these legislators have voted against the desires of their constituents, since over 80% of all Americans are vehemently opposed to equine slaughter.
or taken form the wild.
If that is true then we should start now to change the culture
What really needs to be considered in this issue is the serious risk to human health that is contained in commercially slaughtered horse meat. The levels of adrenaline and cortisol produced by equines are far, far greater than any legal levels found in any other meat harvested for human consumption. Horses are specifically bred for adrenaline production, not for human consumption.
The fatally flawed head-shot kill method (severe head trauma) used in all commercial horse slaughter ensures that all of the adrenaline and cortisol that can possibly be produced by the animal is delivered throughout the flesh post shot. This is evidenced to any layman by the pulsing of the animal. In commercial beef production they call this “dark cutting” and the meat is not (supposed to be) legally approved for human consumption. Adrenaline and cortisol consumption by humans causes Colorectal and other forms of cancer.
It is not just the existence of prohibited medications and other man-made substances in the meat that is illegal---it is the abundance of naturally occurring hormones and steroids that make horse meat more carcinogenic than any other commercially slaughtered meat.
The way I understand the Horse slaughter is this. These animals are wild horses. There are a lot of wild horses running around. Never been in a pen. You can adopt one if you like. they have those every so often. The ones that arent adopted are sold for kill animals. This is probably why they changed the law on the slaughter for meat of these animals. Feral horses are apparently a problem in some places.
No, unfortunately, that is not the case. Google "horse slaughter" and you can learn a lot. Most of the horses are healthy, young and trained. Kill buyers get them from auctions and trailer them to the slaughterhouses. Our American Wild Mustangs are supposed to be protected. It is actually illegal to slaughter them but the government is not protecting them. The BLM has rounded up the majority of wild horses on the public lands. Corrupt government officials have even sold them by the hundreds for $10/head to their kill buyer buddies so they can make hefty profits. It really is sick. Google my name and you can learn more.
Karin, you obviously have an agenda on this issue. I don't put much faith in the views of people who are determined to make other people think their way. Personally, I don't eat horse. I do not care if other people eat it. It doesn't bother me at all. You don't have to eat horse or kill horses. You have no business telling anyone else what to do. you know, free country, free market and all that jazz. Things you will set aside to get your way. Most people are tired of the minority trying to tell the majority what to do. It happens way too much anymore.
citizen
You have it spot on. Karen's agenda is quite clear and she will see and preach only what supports her position never mind humans have been eating horses for a long long time.
Horses at one time in the past were more valuable for other things than food hence we have become accustomed not to eat them but they are no different than any other animals in the food chain...nothing special about them. I would rather save whales or dolphins anytime than horses that are becoming a nuisance.
Interesting the Humane Society is OK with horses being used in Westerns, but they sue Ringling Bros. for using elephants in their show. Just an observation.
Pony Balony
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Except the water, leave this to cover the mixture.
Cover with 1 cup of water.
Put bowl in refrigerator for 24 hours.
It may get a brownish look to it but its ok.
Form into 2 rolls.
Preheat oven and bake at 350.
Bake on cake rack or cookie sheet so grease will drop off while baking.
Dont cover wihile Baking.
Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes.
Take out of oven and let cool.
They will look like little meatloafs but when they are cool they will cut just like bologna.
Instead of forming them with your hands into rolls you can put them into sausage casings. Then bake as directed.
If it is legal, tastes good and is priced right I'll eat it.
Spicy Horse Breakfast Sausage
This horse sausage works equally well as a fresh patty recipe too. You may even want to shape it into logs and freeze it. Then you can cut slices and fry it as needed.
When I do stuff this recipe, I like to use 29-32mm natural hog or collagen casings. You could also finish it in the smoker, but remember, if you do, add a level teaspoon of either Prague powder or Instacure for each 5 lbs. of meat used.
Don't keep this sausage in the fridge for more than a couple of days. It stores well in the freezer for at least 3 months, but that can be stretched considerably if you use a vacuum sealer.
Eating U.S. bred horse meat, not raised specifically for human consumption, can be hazardous to your health. Nearly all domestic horses used for work, sport or companionship have, at one time or another, been given the anti-inflammatory drug Phenylbutazone (otherwise known as "Bute"). While relatively safe for horses, this drug is a known carcinogen in humans. It is also something that once in the horse's system, stays there. To expect that the meat industry or the FDA can protect us from this contamination is fool hearty at a time when regulation enforcement is sketchy at best due to the expense of testing and the limited funding of regulatory and enforcement agencies.
As a rider/trainer who views horses as companions and partners, I would prefer not to eat my friends anymore than I would slaughter my dogs and cats for consumption. Nor would I wish to dine upon any animal who has been raised to trust and interact closely with humans. However, I am a carnivore and do eat pigs and rabbits even though I know that these animals are also highly intelligent. There really is no justification for being selective about which creatures we include in our diets. So, I cannot fault others for having a taste for horse meat. I just hope that the per pound price does not increase enough to encourage a new age of horse rustling that might place more companion animals on the dinner table...for their sake and ours.
You are allowing your emotions to get the best of you but I have to give you credit, at least you are not vehemently imposing your will on others.
Best Horse Chili Recipe
2 lbs Ground horse 2 15oz cans Kidney Beans, drained
2 15 oz cans Black Beans, drained
2 15 oz cans Diced Tomatoes
2 medium Onions, chopped
1 medium Green Pepper, chopped
4 Garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon ground Cumin
2 tablespoons Chili Powder
1 tablespoon Hot Pepper Sauce
1 teaspoon Salt
Saute onions and garlic in a pan over medium heat. Add ground horse and brown. Add spices to mixture and transfer to crockpot. Place remaining ingredients in crockpot. Stir. Cook on low 8-10 hours, or high 4-6 hours. Enjoy!
I can not believe that these morons passed this bill. The work that went into having these slaughter houses closed was massive. Amazing how at one time horse stealing was a crime and the hanging tree was your fate. Now, horses are just a commodity and our government could care less. Without them, this country would not be where it is today since they were used in battle as well as working the land, delivering the mail, travel, etc.
I want every congressmen, senator, governor's, etc... name in print. They should all have to express their reasons for signing this bill. Also...let them ride in a slaughter truck with the horses, sit in a kill pen and be hung upside down and slit open while alive...and smell the blood from other horses as they die. If they can pass it, they should live it! This all just makes me sick. We are no better than a 3rd world country.
There is a wild horse problem. That is where these animals come from. They can be adopted by anyone who wants one. Feel free to adopt them all if you don't want them killed.
Since we don't use them in those ways anymore they can still be of great service to us....dinner. win win.