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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
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The All in the family show then showed how horse horsemeat is silently put in your face to decieve people to eat... Same as we see today with horsemeat being sold at walmarts and burger king.. There is NO DEMAND for horsemeat if it has to be sold to such places and NOT labeled correctly.
Again the public is fooled that horsemeat is safe and better for the horse.. Horse slaughter is merely a reward for criminals and irresponsible people..
As a horse owner myself I will never be fooled by pro slaughter bone heads who lie to profit off these horses.. They are NOT cared for humanely and the slaughter pipeline is not as well.
AG,Farm Bureau, USDA all know this and still support and allow this to be sold to other countries NOT caring that the drugs in horses may kill some family.. SHAME ON YOU ALL ..
Most of us can see what you obviously don't .... you are lying to yourself.
Your opinions are based solely on your love of horses. There are people and laws in this country that do not allow raising and consuming dogs and cats yet it is done else where with no problems. Some Jews, Seventh-Day Adventists, Muslims are repulsed by the eating of pigs. Some Muslims do not have dogs as pets because they are unclean ... why? That is how they were raised, it is a custom.
Your comments can be applied equally to others animals as well. While there are always some issues with safe food practices in general it is no more so with horse meat than it is with beef. Why should your opinions and practices be applied to others who don't feel the same way.
Obama had to sign it. No surprise coming from an international president who enjoys an occasional canine steak.
Brainless at best
How low are we willing to go in this country? How far are we willing to let our morality slip until we have no sense of decency at all. I'm afraid the answer to that question is already in sight. The morality of America can barely be recognized compared to the America of 50 to 60 years ago. Are you aware that we have slaughtered 54,559,615 innocent babies since 1973. Can you imagine the pain and suffering of the victims of partial birth abortions in the third tri-mester as doctors cut them to pieces and discard their broken and sliced up bodies in the operating room trash can. I once read an account of a woman who's job it was to clean up the operating room after an abortion. As she was cleaning she heard a noise coming from the trash. She investigated to find the source of the noise and found an aborted baby with two limbs sawed off, laying and dying in its own blood. I don't know how these so called doctors can close their eyes and sleep at night. We look at the slaughter of our children in our schools and wonder what kind of monster could do such a thing. The answer to our problems has been right in front of us all along but we are unwilling to recognize it. The answers name is Jesus. Jesus said "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, seek my face and pray, I will hear from heaven and heal their land." Its right there in black and white but we are not willing to pray to a God that we no longer believe in are we? Even our President made the statement that "We are no longer a Christian nation." Mr. President, I take issue with your statement and you are wrong. Are we so blind we cannot see the signs of the end right in front of our nose? We have gutless preachers preaching watered down sermons to spiritually dead congregations in our pulpits and even going with the flow that says homosexuality and gay marriage are OK. No, they're not OK. They are wrong, they are a sin and they are an abomination in the face of God. And NOW, we want to start the slaughter of our horses for food? Will man's best friend be next? I suggest we take a long hard look at our physical and spiritual condition and do whatever needs to be done to get us back on course. Of course, we're not willing to do that are we. After all, what will our friends and neighbors think? I don't give a rip what they think. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
You failed history 101 I bet.
So we had better morals when women had abortions in the back alleys?
So we had better morals when we had blacks as slaves?
So we had better morals when we used Peon Laws against blacks to keep them enslaved until the 40s?
So we had better morals when we were committing genocide against the American Indians?
So we had better morals when we failed to give equal rights to women?
So we had better morals when we took our differences out to the street with a 6 shooter?
Great Christian we had back then.... you need to get a check on reality and life. You are what is wrong with this country.
I have no problem with people eating any kind of meat. What's the difference between cattle, cats, pigs, frogs, horse, dogs, chicken and turtle?
The All in the Family epic then showed how to fool the people onto eating horsemeat as they are still doing oversea's at Walmart, Burger King and other places. Horse meat is NOT safe nor wanted by the Majority of Americans. There is NO DEMAND if you have to sneak it into the public as beef. Horse slaughter is merely a reward profit for criminals and irresponsible people who do NOT support or donate to any horse rescues. SHAME ON AG,USDA,Farm Bureau, AQHA and other non regulated organizations. They are the problems slaughter exists its NOT unwanted horses...
For more info visit Animals Angels.org, and Kaufmanzoning.net.
This is why I don't buy my meat anywhere they don't have a butcher on site. Yes it does cost a little more but I always get a better cut of meat.
I lived by and drove past the processing plant that was in Kaufman, TX where they processed horses and let me tell you how glad I was to see that shut down. You have never heard a more skin crawling sound than those horses made loaded into those pens prior to slaughter. I have been around cattle, goats, and chickens when they were slaughtered and I hunt pigs, deer, and other animals but I have only heard one sound that will compare with the one that those horses made and it is the fear when a pack of coyotes have a pet dog cornered. I know that if it came down to it I would kill and eat horse or mule if I had to but knowing how to hunt, track, and fish means, thank God, the chances are very slim that will happen.
Horses, pigs are quite noisy when they are bunched up together, they don't know what is about to happen to them while cows, sheep, goats are not as vocal. Zebras are quite noisy when a lion has them by the neck but the wilder-beast not so much... it is the nature of the beast, you are letting your emotions get the best of you.
I am conflicted about this whole issue. I haved owned and shown horses for over 35 years. I recently lost my OTTB. He would have been 31 next month and I had him for 20 years. I could NEVER imagine eating him. He was featured here on MSNBC after his horrific accident last summer. He has a face book page, Danny, the Miracle Unicorn Horse.
I agree that horse meat should be considered the same as chicken, cows, and pigs, but I don't like the cruel and inhumane manner in which they are loaded, transported and slaughtered. Personally, I would not choose to eat horse meat, but who am I to say what other people do?
The horse racing world is a HUGE part of the over popuation problem with horses. If the general public knew what went on behind the scenes of horse racing, you would to ban the sport.
Another huge problem (one I faced) is many people can no longer afford to keep their horses b/c of job loss. Average board at a nice farm is $400-600 per month. Lose your job and that becomes a hard bill to pay. So, you sell your horse at auction and it might end up at a slaughterhouse.
Bottom line, this is a touchy subject. I think horse slaughter is fine if the animals are humanely treated. Wouls I eat it? No, but you can if you want to.
PhilCommander - horse's are very intelligent -
With a brain the size of a walnut? Owned several – dumb as a box of rocks…
Mitch-2085600 - People don't have to eat meat at all –
Car-ni-vore…
Jennifer-757349 - So maybe we can start eating humans, there are a lot of dumb ones around! (Sarcasm)
Why sarcastic? Remember Soylent Green?
Oh_no - Phil - pigs are also very intelligent..
Oh no – of this you are very correct – and tasty too…
LOL! Very good
All this crap about horses being intelligent or special, they only taste special, eat um up yum.
We don't eat cat or dog and slaughtering them is not legal.....Neither should horses be slaughtered or eaten here in the US.....They carried us and fought our wars here....They carry police officers, rangers, and rescue teams....They are beautiful, regal beasts and deserve our respect.....
I have never tasted horse meat, but my mother, who lived through the Great Depression, remembered that they used to hand out big cans of it with the other commodities. She said it was delicious. Of course, when you're really hungry, I suppose anything would taste good. If people wish to eat horse, they should be allowed to, as long as the disposal of the animals is done humanely. After all, many people still eat dogs and cats.
I must be a member of the 20% that believe that horse is just another hooved animal that could be bred to be a food source. Though I think we should leave the wild one's alone, unless they need to be culled or they will suffer.
My cash strapped single Mom served horse to us kids in the 70's and we liked it, except for my sister who was one of the 80%ers. To me it tasted like deer, but not as gamey.
Why? What is good for moose and deer is good for horse.
The very idea of slaughtering horses for meat is barbaric. Horses are not livestock. Horses are companion animals. Furthermore, it astounds me that almost nobody takes into the consideration the fact that most horse meat is tainted with bute and other medications, especially off-the-track race horses. Those that endorse horse slaughter are ignorant to the facts, or just don't care. It's a money maker, and that's all they care about. If most people realized what these animals go through from the start of their journey on the jam- packed trucks, to the end of the line before being hung up and butchered alive, they too would be turned off by the very thought of eating horse meat simply because of the horrific suffering these precious creatures endure just to put meat on the plates of the ignorant. Watch a couple of videos and see what really goes on. There is no such thing as humane slaughtering of horses. The captive bolt that is used does not kill the horse, all it does is stun them, or knock them out. From there, they are hoisted by one leg, and then the sick bastards go at it and butcher them alive.
Then you have the scumbags who run and work at illegal slaughter houses, and Florida has a ton of them, that steal horses right out of their pastures, tie them to a tree or a telephone pole, and slaughter them right there on a street or in the woods, while the colt stands there and watches his mother being butchered alive. You've got a complete moron in the White House that puts his signature on anything that will generate rounds of applause, including endorsing horse slaughter. Had it not been for this cretin, slaughter in the U.S. would not be going on right now.
You have people posting horses on Craig’s List, FREE HORSE TO GOOD HOME. Kill buyers are licking their chops when they read those posts, just waiting for their chance to go and b.s. the horses’ owner, promising the horse will have a good home, then they haul them to a location where they get their money from another kill buyer, who then hauls them to a slaughter house. To anyone that eats horse meat, think about all of this, and then choke on it.
I have known people with companion pigs, cattle and even chicken. If you don't want to eat an animal, don't give it a name. My dogs are my children, but if I go to a restaurant that serves canine steak, sure I'll eat it.
Wilburrrrr!!!!
hmm, well cindy I have news for you, as a matter of fact horses are indeed officially designated as "livestock" by the USDA. They quit officially doing a yearly census on them sometime around 1956 since mechanised farming was so widespread by then they thought it a waste of time to do a census anymore on the dwindling number of draft horses still on working on farms at that time. Which, by the way, made up the bulk of horses in the country prior to that date, not riding horses and certainly not "companion animals".
Couldn't it be said that domesticated meat animals are "less intelligent" because they have been raised to be that way?
If one were to imprison a human in a small pin and not provide it with any education or ability to experience the world beyond the cage then it will probably be very unintelligent as well.
People need to make these choices with their brains not their hearts.
Redheeler, if you want to eat tainted meat, do it, by all means.
When it comes to eating, I prefer the Biblical teachings. The creator is far more intelligent than the created.
“We believe horses are iconic figures in American culture,” Hazard said. “The vast majority of Americans think they’re companions and partners, not food.”
In other words. its all in your mind. The meat isn't any worse for you than beef and pork especially bacon and sausages are higher in fat by a landslide. Its all about pets and movies, we've seen cattle as food for centurys, even our movies say so, too bad for them, since horses are just as big and have as much meat...its all public opinion, let the animal advocates try and save beef cattle from slaughter, they'll get stoned.
Meat is meat to a human that is starving. Dog, cat, cow, pig or horse. The Asians have been eating cats, dogs for thousands of years. So have many in Europe, even though they try to say otherwise. People from the U.S. drive to Canada to buy horse meat steaks. So this report to state that Americans do not eat horse meat is wrong. We do, just not as much as other meats.
Anyone who thinks cows and pigs are not intelligent have never lived on or raised cattle or pigs on a farm or ranch. Yet billions of burgers, steaks, chops, sausages, bacon are somehow OK because we have always accepted that mentality. Horses may look prettier, but they are no more intelligent than the cow, pig, dog, or cat.
So ya, getting up on their "high horses" in Europe is nothing but grand standing for a lot of counties. I understand the reason because they were buying something other than what they paid for, but beyond that, lots of horse meat available to anyone who wants to eat it.
When the liberl haters thought they were "saving the nobel" horse they had no idea the pain and suffering they would bring to the horse population.
As with most liberal city folks they only have there city mentality to guide them with out any experience in the real world. In closing the slaughter houses there was no where to get ride of a "rank" (mean) horse. There was no where to get rid of a old horse that was suffering or a sick horse. The slaughter houses offered a way to dispose of these animals and use there meat as a way to offset the cost of disposing of them. (real world) there would not be any profit in raising a horse for slaughter as it does for cattle. But the liberals who live in the city have some pre defined notion of what a horse is and only in there imagination the see the wild horse running thru a field of floweres, mane blowing in the wind.
I am not anti horse and have several, i ride and backback with them all over the country. The are smart and i have learned to trust there instincts while in the back country. (that is forest with no access roads and hiking trails for the city people)
This argument is what is wrong with the country now, with such concentrations of populations in the cities where people are confined to a couple of square miles or less for most of there lives it makes the spreading of misinformation and lies of the liberals cheap to do. The "feel good" policies and rederick usually have the opposite effect that they wanted. This horse meat fisasico was one of them~
Horse meat is yummy...better than cow.
Horses are smart animals? That's laughable. They are as stupid as cattle. It's just unfortunate that their meat doesn't taste better. I'd love to have a big horsey rack of ribs or a nice T-bone. You guys sound like a bunch of lame cat lovers!!
Horses are no more smarter than slugs, give me a chimp or a dolphin any day ...oh I would eat them too. Got to try horse meat someday.
People will gladly snarf it down thinking it's beef until someone tells them.
It's animal meat, it doesn't matter.
It all taste like chicken I am sure.