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They Eat Horses, Don’t They?Horsemeat is a delicacy in many countries, but not America |
Ask a restaurant if it serves horsemeat, and you might as well be asking if the chef’s sleeping with his sister.
“Oh, no, no, no,” says the receptionist at Café des Bruxelles, a Belgian restaurant in New York City. “It’s against the law in New York, isn’t it?”
It isn’t: Eating horsemeat in America is perfectly legal, according to Steven Cohen of the USDA’s food safety and inspection service. If it seems wrong, that’s not the law—that’s, well, you. But bear in mind that the Japanese and many Europeans eat all kinds of horse: horse sashimi in Japan; horse tartare or steak in Belgium; pastissada, or horsemeat stew, in Italy’s Veneto. Fears of mad cow disease in recent years prompted a spike in horsemeat prices in Germany and Italy.
If it seems wrong, that’s not the law—that’s, well, you.
Our taboo against horsemeat hasn’t stopped the industry from responding to this fondness for it elsewhere. Horses aren’t raised in the United States for domestic consumption, but upwards of 80,000 horses are slaughtered here each year for export. A bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (and pending in the Senate) would end that practice by banning all horse slaughtering, and transport for slaughtering, in America. The law says, in effect: Eating horsemeat is so repulsive that we’ll stop other people from doing it.
What’s behind such a visceral reaction?
Let’s start with where these controversial horse cuts come from: No horse in America is raised for meat. Horses are treated as either pets or work animals. If they’re working, it’s likely at a racetrack. That’s why the horse racing industry is the force behind the anti-slaughter legislation. “It’s a big issue,” says Ted McClelland, author of a book on the industry, Horseplayers: Life at the Track (Chicago Review Press, 2005). “It’s considered something that would give the industry a bad name. There is a feeling that the horse worked hard to entertain the public and should get a nice retirement—it shouldn’t be a piece of meat.” The industry has littered Congress and the media with polls finding that the vast majority of Americans oppose horse slaughtering. Their contention is that the affection Americans have for horses distinguishes those animals from meat animals like cows or pigs.
But does affection explain everything? After all, a lot of us have affection for bacon and Wilbur of Charlotte’s Web. Eating horse is often likened to eating a companion animal—”dog” is the first word on the lips of most ban supporters. But although a taboo against eating cats and dogs is widely shared, horsemeat is far more common. It’s true that the Anglophone countries of Britain, Australia, and the United States share a mysterious aversion to it. But in Canada, a country rarely considered exotic, you can get raw horse in Vancouver (at Yoshi’s, a Japanese restaurant), horse steak in Toronto (at the bistro La Palette), and horse anything in Quebec—even a fast-food chain, the Belgian Frite Alors, sells horse tartare. (Horse is free of tuberculosis and tapeworms, and thus safer than beef to eat raw.)
If Americans make a sentimental exception for horses, that isn’t more ethical, says Jay Weinstein, the author of The Ethical Gourmet (Broadway, 2006). “Horses are beautiful creatures, but there’s beauty in so many animals and that’s not really a just criteria,” he says. “If you’re going to eat meat, you can’t pick and choose which animals you’re going to eat and which ones you’re not.” For him, livestock for food and livestock repurposed for food are ethically one and the same.
Weinstein would argue that our get-out-of-dinner card for horses isn’t moral or consistent. It’s simply cultural. But why? “Eating it goes against the cowboy mythology,” says Rob Walsh, the restaurant critic for the Houston Press and a self-described “culinary thrill seeker.” Walsh is working on The Texas Cowboy Cookbook, and he suspects that cowboys and the role that horses played in the nation’s history might be behind the taboo. Inversely, he also thinks that’s why Europeans do eat horse: “The cowboy culture came from Spain in the 11th century. In Europe, the vast majority never rode horses.” That’s why, say, Slovenians are able to swallow foal carpaccio: horses didn’t show up in their third-grade history textbooks. Walsh may have an explanation, but he doesn’t really understand it himself. “It never ceases to amaze me that Texans love venison sausage but are appalled by horse sausage.” (Yes, he’s had horse before—in France. His verdict? “It was delicious.”)
No matter how tasty the salami di cavallo was, a lot of Americans would still consider that a nasty practical joke. I asked the butcher at Mitsuwa Market, a massive Japanese supermarket outside Chicago, if he ever had any he could sell. Although the Japanese have no aversion to eating horse, he seemed to suspect a prank. “Uh, what do you want it for?” he said. Well, to cook it, I said.
Pause.
“What sort of cook are you?”
Strange, I accidentally stumbled on this article right after eating horsemeat fondue. I felt the tiniest bit uneasy about it, but it seems silly for anyone who eats cows, pigs or other cuddly creatures to get riled up over eating equines.
my foray into cooking horsemeat:
http://www.project-me.com/2006/11/all...
It seems really disgusting to me to eat horses and I am NOT American. I wonder if people who eat horses would ever considering either dogs or cats - probably not. Although I myself am vegetarian and thus would never even think of trying this kind of meat I really cannot understand why some people have no ethical concerns eating their pets. I wish more people knew how intensive animal husbandry works as I would bet this would make them more conscious of what they eat and what kind of suffering their daily meal caused beforehand.
When I was a child I was told that people in France ate horse and I was horrified. Later, as an adult, I lived in Japan and was served basashi (horse sashimi) at a banquet. I was still horrified, but as the guest of honor I had to eat it--it was the local speciality and would have been rude not to. I have to tell you--it was delicious. Finely textured and silky.
Ethically, I don't see the difference between consuming horse, cow, cat, dog, or chicken meat. Eating meat requires killing a living creature. Whether that living creature is a common household pet or livestock risen for slaughter should make no difference--you're ending a life regardless.
With that said, I'm sure many Americans would have reservations about eating a type of animal that was once a past pet. That seems natural. Personally, I'd love to try horse, and I'd be interested in trying cat and dog. The reason I haven't cut in line at the stable is that I don't imagine that horse (and cat and dog for that matter) would taste all that good. I'd suspect that horse meat would be considerably tough and lacking flavor. Looks like I'll have to add salami di cavallo to my list.
I think some of it can be attributed to grace that horses possess in addition to the fact that they are not raised for food. I used to ride for several years and I do find the thought highly disturbing. I was dining with coworkers in Switzerland and I think one of them did order foal but it was in German so I can't be sure. I was just horrified. Though if this passes, I'm not sure what will happen to all of the foals that are the "by products" of the creation of hormonal medications like Premarin, yes, the name is an abbreviation of pregnant mare urine.
I find most of the livestock industry to be lacking in any respect for the animals and I've been in the process of removing meat from my diet, though I do love a good steak from time to time!
I live in Italy and I LOVE cavallo. Hell, I even eat bistecca di cavallo. I go to a wonderful restaurant where they special order it for me when they know it won't be on the menu. If it was easier to get, I would replace beef with it all the time. Such an exquisite taste! Don't knock it until you have tried it, and if you haven't tried it, you are missing out...
Selling horse meat is illegal in California. A result of the nexus of the beautiful horse people in SoCal and the Proposition process. Glue is out, also. In fact, horses can only be used for recreational purposes.
Having had cheval in France, I've decided it's a meat. Cat, dog, grass cutter (big Ghanain rodent like capibara in Argentina) WTH ... maybe some reservations when it comes to primates...
I am curious, myself! Our family raised both registered Angus (pasture-grazed) as well as quarter horses. I think people assume that somehow the life of an Angus is not valuable, in a moral sense, when compared with that of an Appaloosa. If intelligence, or lack thereof, is the criteria for what animals we are supposed to consume, I would have to admit that some of the canines and felines I have met don't have much on the ball compared with many bovines.
I may give capibara a try, but I have to find one first!
I have eaten horse in Canada, Dog in Viet Nam(They only like white dogs) and the only cat I have consumed has been mountain lion and bobcat, both of which are very good (white meat somewhat like dry chicken breast) but I would assume house cat would be similar. I grew up in the country and if we raised it, shot it or caught it we ate it!
I grew up on weekly horse steaks in Belgium. It was considered healthier than beef and it's sweeter as well.
Opponents should consider that the slaughter value of a horse actually make the farm use of horses economically feasible in some communities (Denmark e.g.). In other words, by having the added bonus of the price of the meat, many farmers can afford to use a horse on their farm in stead of a tractor.
Lived in Japan, fell in love with raw horsemeat sashimi (basashi); a rich flavorful meat eaten in small quantities with a raw quail egg and grated garlic dip. Going back soon and it’s on the top of my to eat list.
I'll pay good cash money for fresh, fatted cadavers. Love a nice juicy humansteak cooking on the grill! Anybody have a recently deceased loved one they'd like to cash in on? I'm sure if they really loved you they would want to help you make the rent this month, so please don't feel the least bit uneasy about the transaction. After all, it's only a cultural taboo right?
I own a horse and while I realize, on an intellectual and logical level, that eating cheval would be no different than eating beef, pork, or chicken, there's simply something disquieting about it. I love my horse - he's the sweetest creature in the world - and I couldn't fathom eating horse meat.
One of the more reasonable arguments against horse meat is that the horses that go to slaughter are often retired race horses (I believe there was even one that was a Kentucky Derby winner), and it seems like a rather cruel fate. Additionally, the horses that go to slaughter have had ample human contact (far more than your average cow, pig, or chicken raised for meat), similar to a dog or cat, and at every step at the slaughterhouse, they look to the humans there, hardly expecting to be killed by handlers that once fed and cared for them dearly. It's like the ultimate betrayal.
Feed an American kid a bit of My Little Pony and I can almost guarantee you will soon see that kid become a lifelong vegetarian.
Some of you might be interested in this discussion:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/364398
I've known horses, and I've eaten horses. Mmmmm.
US horses are not raised for human consumption. It amazes me that people who rave about horsemeat either have no clue or don't care that they are probably consuming US thoroughbreds or standardbreds just off the track whose carcasses are laced with phenylbutazone, a known carcinogen that is the most commonly used equine anti-inflammatory; horses take phenylbutazone like we take Advil. Nor do those who eat horse meat know or care that many of the most commonly used equine medicines of all types are labeled with conspicuous disclaimers reading "NOT TO BE USED ON HORSES INTENDED FOR USE AS FOOD." Horsemeat is toxic stuff. Don't believe me? Try Googling "drugs in horsemeat" and see what comes up. Peruse the Drugs in Horsemeat section of the FlyingFilly website. Read the stories on the subject by the Niagara Falls Reporter's John Hanchette. It is beyond me how anyone who educates themselves about what's in US horsemeat could ever see it as an edible -- much less HEALTHY -- alternative to meat of animals raised for food.
I have no qualms about eating horse meat or any other critter that's not threatened.
Horse's are one of the most expensive and wasteful pets you can own and the sanctimoniousness of their owners is second only to vegans and other assorted environgelicals.
You don't like my eating habits, fine; just keep your indignation to yourself..
Bet you're fun at a party.
Yeah, I love to run around telling everyone how to eat and how bad their selections are.
Wanna hook up sometime?
You can call me sanctimonious, environgelical, or whatever you want, but I find it truly bizarre that people choose to ignore what is really in the meat of US horses. I point out that horsemeat is full of known carcinogens that are absolutely banned in animals raised to be eaten -- regardless of how you feel about eating horse meat, that's a just a fact -- and you respond with name calling, inaccurate assumptions, & basically say shut up & go away. Call me stupid, or whatever you want, but I think that's weird. But, hey, don't pay any attention to me -- if you're happy, knock yourself out. Next time, try sprinkling some lawn chemicals on it -- that just may make the top of your to eat list too.
I can tell you what's wrong with eating horsemeat. A large portion of the world's horsemeat comes from two slaughterhouses in America, and I grew up in the same city as one of them. Around the area, there was a constant problem of horse rustling. Yes, rustlers, just like in the Old West. A good amount of the animals being eaten are indeed people's beloved pets that were stolen from rural neighborhoods and sold to these abattoirs, where the management does not tend to check into the animal's ownership, just pays cash and hauls it away. It's one thing to raise animals for food under proper government regulation. It's another to steal other people's property and sell it under little oversight, especially something cherished as a pet and family member.
For me, as a horse person, the same taboo that forbids consuming cats and dogs is at work with horses: These are animals that we've domesticated and formed a special bond with. Eating them is like eating your children. I will not do it, and find it repugnant.
I would not eat Cats or Dogs because I know what is in the food they eat. The meat would be so dirty. You do not eat pig if it is dirty meat. That is why you can not feed pig moldy food. And to feed Cats and Dogs food that was good. It would be to high to buy it unless you were rich.
Horses were eaten by cowboys. Do you think when their horse broke it leg. They would shot it. And then go eat the cow they could sell for money.
It is like people just saying that china people just eat dogs. They eat the extra dogs. They use dogs to help with work.
Like we had horses to town and to work. If your horse broke down and you did not have a lot of money. Would eat the horse. I have meet people raised on farms that did not do as well. They hardly got to eat meat because the need the money so bad. They would eat down cows.
My grandparents did well and would never eat a down cow. They always had food. And good food.
Eat turnups 3 times a day. For a week to learn why they would eat what others would not.
What would you do if these countries would not sell us stuff we wanted.
And I was raise to be nice. So when I heard that this countries did not like us. I know why now!!! If they are so rude here. I bet you they are just as rude over there.
People in the USA are eating dogs, cats and horse. Like they are dog fighting. And selling drugs. If you do not catch them you can not stop them.
There really is little difference between beef and horse. There is a big difference between horse and dog (herbivore vs. carnivore). Horses are beautiful and graceful, yes, but so are deer. Venison, anyone? Well before horsemeat, I would suspect. And they indeed spend quite a bit of time engaged in human contact. So do pigs, which are also a damn sight more intelligent than horses. To exclusively ban horsemeat, especially on ethical grounds, is quite the act of hypocrisy, don't you think?
growing up spending so much time on my uncle's and cousin's horse farms, riding and grooming the animals and falling in love with them, I've always been a little squeamish about trying horse.
Now, after reading this, I'm thinking this trip to France in November might be a good time to try it.
I grew up showing horses competitvely at an international level. AND I'm a vegetarian. So to me horsemeat is just the same as cow, or deer, or whatever. I have two problems with horsemeat:
1) as others have said, I've seen what Americans make horses consume. It's not all hay and grain and grass. In some European/Asian countries what is sold as "Young American Mustang Meat" is in reality racehorse meat that has been pumped full of God-knows-what. Steroids, tranqs, cocaine, painkillers, hormones - things that humans who even HANDLE it to administer to a horse, need to wear thick gloves. If you eat it, make sure it's not from U.S. slaughter houses. If they can't give you that answer, don't eat it.
2) The slaughter method is horrible in the US. I think it's worse for horses because they are often raised as pets, but maybe not. I read about horse slaughter, not cow slaughter (don't eat them anyway) - but the "bolt to the skull" to knock them out is rarely effective on the first try and the pain, suffering and fear these animals go through is unthinkable. I wish a well-placed bullet would work the same purpose, as is used at zoos and fox hunting clubs.
My SO is a meat eater and world traveler. I tell him the same thing - try it, you won't offend me. But make damn sure you know its origin.
It baffles me that so many people don't care that we raise our horses to trust us and then feel it's ok to betray them, by sending them to a barbaric death.
Horses are not raised for food.
And to the person in Italy eating horse meat, if she/he is Catholic they should know that eating horse meat is against the Catholic religion. Pope Gregory banned it.
Horse slaughter will be banned in the United States in the near future, and I guess that will help you all so that you won't be consuming all those carcinogens any longer.
I would never eat an animal I considered a pet: horse, cat, dog, but then again, I don't eat beef, pig, lamb or veal either. I'm almost a vegetarian and the more I work on ending horse slaughter, the quicker I will get there. It has certainly opened my eyes.
Not mentioned but a quick google search turned up that aversion to horsemeat is not necessarily an American oddity but an Anglo-Saxon one as well. Is horse eaten traditionally in Australia, SA or any other Rule Britannia places?
The story actually says "It’s true that the Anglophone countries of Britain, Australia, and the United States share a mysterious aversion to it." But Canada is pro-horse.
How long I've waited to see this topic on Chowhound. The mere though of horse meat sets my taste buds a gallop! I have enjoyed horse meat in its many vessels and will continue to eat it until my blood stops flowing. In fact, in Slovenia, horse meat is often suggested by nutritionists and doctors alike given its high iron content and relative ease of digestibility. The Slovene consumption of horse meat is mostly likely derived from the Illyrian provinces which were once settled on its current western border. It has reached all corners of the country's collective palate, however, and appears to satisfy as a main dish as well as a weekend afternoon snack (see the Hot Horse "horseburger" stands in Ljubljana's Tivoli Park - serving horse burgers from 11 AM to 7 AM (that's right...a 4 hour pause last time I checked). Grilled steaks, thin filets pressure cooked with Serbian Alma peppers, a lightly salted Mache salad and a deep, dark red wine - consider yourself changed. It's pretty much pointless to argue whether or not something should be banned based on preference...wouldn't the fit freak community long ago have banned Batali's uso di grasso crudo? wooden chopsticks that may likely carry contaminents? Give it up. If you choose to buy your food from a metal shelf that is packaged in plastic, cardboard, glue, and inks, please let me dive into my horse steak once we convince the powers that be that if they can make fruit into a roll-up using metal machinery and still call it safe to eat, then surely we can find ways to kill and butcher yet another specie of animal in a safe manner as well. Dober Tek!
What a flowery conundrum we American's have in that we can to pick and choose everything we eat to the point of not eating things that don't make us vomit, then feel superior about it. I won't begrudge your decision to not eat meat if you promise not to get all sactimonious about it.
Half the things I eat and drink and do are carcinogenic. The moment I start worrying about it is the moment I stop enjoying life. I'd rather die happy than live scared.
Finally, we just got back from a trip that included Venice and can say that we enjoyed sampling horse sausage and char-grilled horse steak at Mercato Rialto. One of the funny photos we returned with was a of a butcher shop that simply had a horses head painted on the window to let you know what was to be found within.
I think some epicureans would stew or barbeque their own mother if they felt they would get a self satisfying meal from the exercise.
In my mind I have always replaced the dog with the horse as" MAN'S BEST FRIEND". (no disrespect for the dog)
Transportation, farm work, entertainment (races), companionship
Horse power........
the horse has historically bean the best friend of North Americans
in their early development of the continent.
Shall we reward them for their devoted efforts by devouring them?
I believe many North Americans have similar feelings of respect
and appreciation for the deeds of these gentle, magnificent animals whether it's at the conscious or unconscious level and that is why their consumption is not an option.
well i think it is sick ok i dont eat any meat its all gross to know that that was a poor animal o so big f ing woope if ppl who eat cow say its bad to eat horse well those ppl are whirt there is a hug difcens betteewn the tow ok frist of all cows you do not bond with like a horse and they dont have the same beauty or anyting like that and second horse are to be in a stabel not on your fing tabel i mean grow up and see your all grecks and how the heck can you eat meat and live with your slef its beond me oh and ps im from france and suck at spelling
Yeah I heard about that horse burger place in Ljubljana too! Eek!
Look...
http://www.viatribe.com/venue/224-Hot...
I recently relocated from the US to the Netherlands, where it's common to add ground horse meat to snacks such as fried meatballs. Yet it's not as popular as in France, where there are many specialized horse butchers.
http://dlatman.com/2009/01/24/stuff-d...
The fellow who said Americans never had to eat horse is quite wrong.During the second World War, horse was often the only meat available at markets.The beef was sent to the boys over seas,and of course the politicians had beef and anything else they wanted,but we were rationed.Nothing changed there,O'bummer eats $100 a pound Kobi in the white house.But back to the point.We ate and I love it,I prefer it to beef as i do raw tuna.Do gooders should mind their own freakin business.
I believe that there is another reason that the taboo against eating horsemeat is not too different than the thought that you would consider eating your child. There has been a unique and special bond between humans and horses that dates to the beginning of time. It could be easily argued that the horse has been the single most important animal in the development of civilization. This unique bond defines human history. It spans thousands and thousands of years and almost every civilization. Quite simply without the benefit of the horse, we humans might still be crawling in the mud. It is my belieft that this fact gives humans an unspoken physic debt to the horse.
to fatha_francis:
I guess that you don't mind at all what you eat or how much suffering it might cause. Take a look at the FOIA's from the United States horse slaughter plants: http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/foiaphot...
Enjoy your suffering.
Sounds like we need a purveyor of horse meat that's organic, free range, sustainable, etc. Hopefully, for those who want to try it, someone will attempt to meet (meat?) the demand. I've seen posts from people seeking horse fat for fries.
I've eaten horse meat on one occasion. A burger. The blend had a lot of fat in it but the flavor wasn't strong, like it sometimes is with beef. It was juicy and delicious. My father tells me that in the early seventies, you could get horse steaks in the faculty dining room at Harvard.
I've also had dog and kangaroo. The next time I'm in China, I'll try to get more dog. I've only had it twice and it's been in mystery meat form -- no mention of cut. The kangaroo was in the form of a steak, but covered with a cloying berry sauce that hid the flavor of the meat itself.
Are squirrels raised for meat commercially? Er, Perhaps that should be another topic.
You are what you eat.
I was raised in a Dutch family and sliced smoked horse meat or "paarderookvlees" was a real delicacy on open-faced sandwiches when I was growing up. It was sliced thinly like Westfalian or Prosciutto ham. It had a sweetish flavour, very lean, sometimes wth a faint irridescent tinge.
I can buy it locally here in Ontario in the Dutch stores but find the local product to be very heavily smoked, which tends to mask the horsey character of the meat.
I would like to raise this subject: I am dutch and my parents both grew up on farms and i was born there. All animals on the farm were there to support the family to live. We had horses, cows, chicken and dogs and cats. All including the my parents pulled their weight to survive.
And when a cow was at its end it was killed. Instantaneous dead, same with horse dog or chicken
Yet, for the animals that we knew that worked with us their service to the family had not ended. cause we slaughtered them and your thier flesh to support us. That may sound harsh, but on the otherside, we never got to eat before all the animals were taking care of. That is nurtured, rubbed down, get their medicine etc.
so to us it was never a means of eating them as a downcasting thing, but respecting them for their continued service.
Which seems quite different from, for instance eating bunny rabbits, who have no usefulness to a family, but as a cuddly toy for the little ones, but i don't hear anyone being agitated about eating those.
Also i remember how the native americans, indians, didn't have qualms about eating horses.
Also the reason for Americans not eating horses because it's culturaly decided strikes me as odd, cause all non-native americans stem from either europe, asia or africa, and i never heard (or read) of any of those continents discriminating against eating horse.