It’s not actually illegal as such to sell horse meat as a product for human consumption in the UK. The issue is that consumers have been misled as to what the product contains and it wasn’t listed on the label.
Horse meat is actually rather healthy: it’s low in fat and has quite a ‘gamey’ flavour, adding an element of luxury. As a nutritionist, I should be an advocate, right? I don’t have an issue with horse meat consumption per se. My concerns with this latest underhand action to try to save money and con consumers is more to do with animal welfare, or lack thereof.
I admit I have a soft spot for horses, having been actively involved in the equestrian world for many years, so I understand my opinion may appear bias. However, I still think I’m in a position to be able to point out a few issues that have been less exposed over the last week or so.
As I said, horse consumption isn’t illegal in the UK. The export of live horses for slaughter, however, is illegal in the UK. As with most things that are continuing to take place despite legislation that opposes it, underhand practice must be taking place in order to hide the activity from the authorities.
According to the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT), every year, 100,000 horses are transported in horrific conditions across Europe for the purpose of slaughter. The terrible conditions endured during these long journeys often mean that horses travel for long periods of time without rest, food or water, suffer from disease, dehydration, exhaustion and injury. If live transport of horses for meat has been carried out illegally, the process will be unauthorised and unchecked, with no means of which to protect the welfare of the horse.
This exposé has not only revealed a lack of monitoring in the food supply chain, but consumers have been misled, retailers have been lied to, human health has been put at risk and horses have suffered in order to save a buck or two.
“@foodbev: Horse meat: What’s the big deal? ow.ly/hxcgT @rebeccafoodbev” absolutely correct! The labelling is the issue — Anthony Sargent (@anthonysargent) February 8, 2013
“@foodbev: Horse meat: What’s the big deal? ow.ly/hxcgT @rebeccafoodbev” absolutely correct! The labelling is the issue
— Anthony Sargent (@anthonysargent) February 8, 2013
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