horsemeat - is it good to eat?

Hello Dear CombedaleRoad! I am a Vet by profession and as a technical person I really don't see anything wrong in having horse meat. Many people in various countries they consume horse meat on regular basis as this is a common feature for them. In the countries where Horse meat consumption is not accepted, I think this is just because of the taboo, attached to it. Scientifically speaking horse is also an herbivorous animal like cattle and the meat is very much edible. In countries like India and other countries where Hinduism is practiced consumption of beef is a Taboo and it is strictly prohibited. Though Hindus may have Pork and other meats but when it comes to beef, there is a big 'No' from them! Similarly no Muslim would eat Pork as it is not acceptable in their religion. Thus in nut shell it is the social taboo and the beliefs which makes such situations in the society. Availability of plenty of the food material and conserving certain species of the animals by some group of people can also be another reason for such selective meat consumption. I personally feel that most of the Aryans, who were Hindus, were having cattle as the main source of lively hood and they used to rear these animals for milk and other uses like draught purpose. Since they wanted to preserve these animals they have imposed a ban on consumption of beef and they have given the cattle a status of the 'God'. In Hindus cow is considered 'Holy' and is worshipped, so consumption of beef is out of question in that religion. Similarly I think in most of the European countries horses were mainly used for the purpose of transportation and they were having a major role to play in battles then, they were not allowed to kill for food! But with the changing times, things are also getting changed and consumption of meat is now official in US as the President has allowed the horse slaughter now and many slaughter houses in US are functional now after several years! Thus in conclusion, I don't think there is nothing wrong in consumption of horse meat scientifically and it is similar to any meat obtained from any other herbivorous animal with slight natural variation! Thanks a lot for the discussion, I liked participating in it!

I knoat the are many peopln different countrie who ejyng eating horsemeat. It is said to be tasty tender and delicious. I can't see myself enjoying eating horsemeat. Maybe because a horse is such a beautiful animal that many people sport with and ride. I could not be comfortable with it myself.

Well, first of all it is wrong for any person to sell meat as beef when it contains any other meat (up to 29% of horse meat and not insignificant amounts of pork as well, if we are to believe the reports). Apologies and reparation were very much in order for that reason, if for no other. There are strong feelings against eating horse meat in Britain. I believe that the reasons for this have been forgotten by many people but that it is in their culture and upbringing, nevertheless. I think that the taboo has its roots in early, pre-Christian society when the horse seems to have been revered as a sacred animal or even as a god, somewhat in the way that cows are revered in parts of India today. I have never (as far as I know) eaten horse meat but I read that it is 'slightly sweet, tender, low in fat and high in protein'. It used to be a major source of protein in Paleolithic times since wild horses were prolific and easier and less dangerous to hunt than many other animals. We do not, it seems, mind feeding horse meat to our dogs. At least, hounds are often fed the meat of hunters and other horses who have had to be destroyed.

In China, Chinese are known to eat almost everything and horse meat is not excluded. But, we don't eat them en masse being that it is very expensive to breed and not forgetting that horses are being more respected for their contributions. However, our country have been popularizing donkey meat and if you do come to China especially the northern regions starting from the capital, Beijing I would encourage you to try it. I hope that you will not feel disgusted here because in our Chinese culture everything that is edible has benefits to a person's health well being. I had eaten horse meat before and the texture is relatively close to that of a prime beef steak. It is no wonder why it is easily passed off as beef in Europe where there's a food fraud case happening now. I would not have any issue with this if the meat is obtained legally and in accordance to health law restrictions. However, I have come to learn that these meats have been passed off and sold as beef which is illegal. It is reported that Romania have been slaughtering horses for their meat which is fraudulently sold off in Europe as beef. Even more shocking is that in Italy these horse meat have made their way to their famous Italian restaurants where the meat is being used for the most popular Italian dish - Lasagne, which makes me wonder if the meat is being used for their pastas' meat sauce. Now, this where I find it to be unacceptable and disgusting - food fraud.

It believe it is one of the animals we are not suppose to eat as it is written in the Bible

Oh I cannot accept horse meat at all. For me it's not about the religion or tradition, it's just horses are our friends. Like dogs, cats, pigeons and so on. I cannot eat any of those animals' meat. If I ate it, I'd think myself being immoral.

When you think of a Sunday roast, you think of lamb, beef, pork and chicken/turkey, you don't think of roast horse! I question what meat some fast food chains put into their burgers, and whether it really is beef. I don't like beef full stop to be honest and I certainly don't eat food from fast food establishments. I think there is a negative stigma attached to horses, which is weird, because you'd think lamb would be frowned upon, after all seeing all those cute little lambs frolicking about in the countryside and yet that is what we are eating. I think horsemeat gets bad press and you know the press and media are heavily influencing on our choices we make.

I haven't eaten the horse meat before.But I think it is also a kind of meat even though it is not a very common meat. But it is eatable and there is nothing wrong to eat it. Long time ago in the old ages people will eat the horse meat, especially in the battles which there was no more food.

I don't know. Horses hold just as a good a place in life on the farm as cows do. Is it because they carry man and race? Weird. I have never had any. There is also rumors that chinese restaurants use cat meat. We don't like to hear about that do we? Weird how peoples thinking is over such things.

What a terrible discussion! Eating horse meat is not right! Horses are our friends,family,companions and helped build the USA! Wild horses are now being round up and some are ending up at slaughter horses! We don't have slaughter plants for horses right now and I hope we never do again! So horses that owners don't want some horses end up being sent over to Canada and Mexico and are slaughtered!! I owned a horse for almost 27 years and still help out at the stable where he lived and is buried!! Horses are sweet,loving and beautiful animals! We need to stop the plans to stop horse slaughter in the US and stop horses to be shipped to be slaughtered in Mexicao and Canada! This is what I want to see happen!

Probably comes from the days when people kept horses as pets. I've never had a pet horse before, so I personally wouldn't be bothered by the idea of eating horsemeat. In fact, it sounds quite nourishing.

Richard III seems to have been very keen on it. Well, thanks to Tesco, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II will not have any need to emulate him.

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Aint bad meat

I do not like the idea of eating either horse, dog or kangaroo meat, although I gladly eat beef, pork and chicken. I don't know, perhaps it is that those animals are too lively and can be pets, I'm not sure, really! Hypocrisy, perhaps?

eww.i wouldn't know on that one. i had heard it was quite the opposite in texture tho-rather tough. athletic animals are usually that way due to use of muscles.they must have prepared it a certain way to make it tender.

I believe that it is the affection we Americans have for our horses. It's like eating a cat or a dog, which is common in some countries, or so I'm told.

I think it is because we see horses as pets. Eating a cow steak would be just as repugnant in India as eating horse is to us Anglos. That being said, I hate to admit, but horse is delicious. There was a hamburger place in Sacramento that got caught mixing horse with beef in it's hamburgers. Just about everyone said they were the best fast food burgers in town. Even had McDonald's beat. Really meat is meat. Is horse really any different than cow? Both are mammals who nurse and love their children.

I never tried to eat this kind of meat. I had acquainted a Japanese friend, they do eat in raw. They will just chopped the meat and pounded to become refines. Then it is ready to have the meal, dip into a chili condiments for a great meal.

Yes i believe horse meet is good because they are feed in good and healthy enviroments which conducive so i would eat it unlike donkeys