Horse Meat

**Angel** · 17-Jan-13, 21:41

Not sure what all the fuss is about horse meat. If you eat meat, what is the difference. Why just pick on the cows and pigs. Is it because we see the horse as a useful tool to be exploited in other ways racing, working etc. including the pet scenario. Is it because we get emotionally attached to horses because some people find them beautiful, elegant even. What about Deer... (Bambi) What about Rabbit.. (Thumper)... Then there is the Chicken... Turkey, Duck.

Where and how do we draw these lines of acceptability in what to eat?

Angel...

**Alrock** · 17-Jan-13, 21:47

There shouldn't be any lines.... If you want to eat it then you should be allowed to eat it....

**Dialyser** · 17-Jan-13, 21:47

I don't think that there is anything wrong with eating horse meat.
What I do think is wrong about the recent burger story, is the fact that it wasn't made clear to people what they were buying and were therefore unable to make an informed choice.

**changilass** · 17-Jan-13, 21:48

I'll try owt once, if I like it I'll have it again, if not then I just don't get it again.

Ostritch, crocodile, kangaroo, frogs legs are just a few that I tried and loved. Really didnae like baby octopus though.

**Rheghead** · 17-Jan-13, 21:57

I wonder what Tesco will eventually do with all those burgers? I read there were 10 million now going to be thrown away yet they are ok to eat. A bit of a waste when folks are starving.

**shazzap** · 17-Jan-13, 22:14

I would'nt want to eat Horse. That is my choice. If you buy Beef Burgers, that is what you should get. Not a bit of Horse or Pig, thrown in for good measure.

**linda.borgie** · 17-Jan-13, 22:22

Originally Posted by Rheghead

I wonder what Tesco will eventually do with all those burgers? I read there were 10 million now going to be thrown away yet they are ok to eat. A bit of a waste when folks are starving.

Any idea where they are throwing them away as my dogs aint fussy

**Ballymore** · 17-Jan-13, 22:22

In Sweden you can buy horsemeat called "hamburgarekött" - it's smoked sliced horsemeat usually bought pre-packed like ham or salami here. It is delicious, specially in a dark rye sandwich with horseradish (that is an unintended pun!). In Denmark I bought minced horsemeat that I made into a delicious chill-con-carne. What went wrong here was that people thought it was pure beef they were buying, not contaminated with horsemeat or pork.
I must add that I've had horses myself and really enjoyed being with them just as much as I enjoy bringing up my pet lambs and calves that later go to slaughter.

Yes, Angel - Where and how do we draw these lines of acceptability in what to eat? It is a personal choice but as a consumer/shopper we need to know 100% what we are buying.

**Angel** · 17-Jan-13, 22:50

I understand the 'need to know' thing. What I am trying to establish is why is horsemeat so very different in so many peoples eyes. Why do they see the animal different?

Angel

**Dadie** · 17-Jan-13, 23:05

Its about choice...and the fact the true ingredients were not mentioned.
You choose what you want to eat....i.e. if I want to eat beef and buy a pack stating 100% beef it ought to be beef in the packet.
Sometimes its about religion ...no pork ...has to be halal etc..
I have eaten ostrich, venison, reindeer, rabbit, snake, smoked eel and croc but that was by choice not by sneaking in ingredients without my knowledge!
There was an outrage a while back about zebu .........
Saying that my parents are quite happy with mutton being goat where they are!

**mi16** · 18-Jan-13, 00:00

Horse Meat is called beef also.Therefore no one was lying

**Corrie 3** · 17-Jan-13, 23:49

Originally Posted by Rheghead

I wonder what Tesco will eventually do with all those burgers?

As they look and taste like plastic I would turn them into "My little Pony's" ready in time for next Christmas presents!!

C3.

**Shaggy** · 17-Jan-13, 23:56

Originally Posted by Corrie 3

As they look and taste like plastic I would turn them into "My little Pony's" ready in time for next Christmas presents!!

C3.

Wouldn't surprise me if they were repackaged and shipped out to a country with people who will happily eat horse meat

**_Ju_** · 22-Jan-13, 17:26

Originally Posted by Angel

Not sure what all the fuss is about horse meat. If you eat meat, what is the difference.

Angel...

You are missing the point: you would not pay the same price for lamb and ewe. You pay for beef, you are entitled to beef. If you want to buy a mixtuire of beef and horse, the price has to reflect this. You are also entiled to know exactly what you are eating.
As for the samples that did not have overt ammounts of horse flesh mixed into their burger, but were "only" tainted with horse DNA and pork DNA, these reflect the cleaning practices - or more accuratly, the absence of cleaning- very important in terms of meat. In a food factory, no proper clean up between different production lines means that cleanliness will be, as a rule, bad.

**Rheghead** · 22-Jan-13, 17:36

Originally Posted by _Ju_

You are missing the point: you would not pay the same price for lamb and ewe. You pay for beef, you are entitled to beef.

Yes agreed, but misleading labels or mixing stuff without our knowedge in burgers is nothing new. If it had been chicken or pork mixed in with the beef then this story wouldn't have been of major interest.

**Retread** · 23-Jan-13, 11:22

I bought one of these last week .. http://www.shotdeadinthehead.com/val...hirt-mens.html

Went into my local Tesco wearing it yesterday. Much fun.

**_Ju_** · 29-Jan-13, 12:51

Misleading labels or mixing "stuff" into food and not including it on the label is and has been illegal for a very long time. Packaged foods have to have complete labels. The only exception being seasonings that are less than 2% and then only if they are not allergens. Not listing ingredients or substituting ( as what seems to have happened with the 30% horse/beef burgers) is fraud. Confidence in a food business is very easily destroyed so these large companies are usually careful. My best guess is that this business will loose contracts and close very quickly.