Is horsemeat illegal in Scotland and if so, why?

[McDink]

Originally Posted by bell-the-cat

I'm rather worried about the character of a person who would think that eating horsemeat was actually "illegal". But I suppose that is what happens to people after living through 8 or so years of Blairite totalitarianism - everything must be illegal unless it is expressly permitted.

IT'S AN odd thing 'the law'. Does it come in the form of a 'phone book', which we all possess and can easily be consulted if we ever find ourselves in self-doubt? Just ask the Pitcairn Islanders. I'm sure they will happily answer..

However, please prove me wrong on your above conclusion, for I have yet to find a national importer or UK supplier (nevermind a gastronome restaurant), that is willing to serve up horsemeat.

[bell-the-cat]

Originally Posted by McDink

PLEASE prove me wrong, for I have yet to find a national importer or UK supplier (nevermind a gastronome restaurant), that is willing to serve up horsemeat.

Trot (or canter) around to the darker (as in veiled) corners of Glasgow or London and I'm sure you could find it - along with other illegally-imported exotica like monkey brains or fried locusts. Ahh, the delights of an open-door policy on immigration.

[kathyv]

To my thinking and I am sure this is true for many, eating horse meat is liken to eating the family pet. Whereas cattle, hogs and chickens are raised for a consumer market and common as well as acceptable in many people's minds.

How do you feel on the consumption of goats? These more 'ethnic' foods are semi-available in the US, in certain cultural pockets, but you can't go to the neighborhood restaurant and get goat steak or horse meat stew. Around here though you CAN get buffalo steak and even an emu burger. We're a cultural pocket in that respect.

I think if you want a food you love that isn't available in your area, go to the place you can get it and have it! I can not get really good Shortbread here, I can order it over the 'net, from an overseas site, the same with York chocolate, it's not available here. We have good stuff sure, but it's different. My solution, order it for myself and pay the postage or go there and get it!

If we could all get the exact same food everywhere we lived, there would be no diversity in the world. . .

If you are missing a horse meat dinner, go to France and order one. Have a nice vacation while you are there and plan another trip soon, it will give you something to look forward to!

(Or go order the quarter pounder form McD! Oh, no, sorry, that would be worm wouldn't it

[Celyn]

Originally Posted by McDink

I'M COOL with that and I appreciate and respect that you have made that choice in life. Long may your choice bring you what you wish for in your world.

However, you also have to respect (and i'm sure you do) that others have the choice to eat whatever they wish and at this precise moment, I would love to try horsemeat, yet I find myself in front of policiticians who tell me what I can and cannot eat on the basis of ethics, rather than my own self-conscience. Why should this be the case?

Actually, although it is none of my business, it is my impression that Babz's need for a vegetarian diet is a matter of health, and I am quite certain she does indeed respect others' choices in the matter. I rather think that most days would find our Babz quite happily cooking meat for dinner for Mr. Babz, so, just in case you are looking for a PETA-type position against which to argue, it aint Babz you're looking for, babe, (to paraphrase that nice old senior citizen Mr. Zimmerman).

I don't know where you live, McDink, but if it is Scotland, or any other part of the U.K., then I really do not think that horse meat is illegal. Not easily available, due to market forces, there being not much consumer demand and all that, but not, I think, illegal.

If you live in the U.S.A., then I have a vague idea that they have been looking at making it illegal over there. Not sure if the bill got through the Senate yet, though. I did only a quick Google about it, and that was actually quite fun – oh, not that I am particularly bothered about whether U.S.A.-ians eat horses or not, but because it turned up this lovely little remark.

Join with me in merry laughter at this one:

"We don't allow horse meat to be eaten in this country," said Representative Mark Foley (R-Florida). "To allow shipment of meat overseas is a bit hypocritical."

from: Article Detail - Science News - QJ.NET


Isn't that just beautiful fun? Yes, indeedy, I bet Mark Foley does know a thing or two about hypocrisy.

If eating horse meat is indeed illegal wherever you live, well, maybe KathyV is right - save up your pennies, and go for a visit to France, Belgium, Germany, wherever. All right, you might be sad that you cannot just pop out for a ShergarBurger takeaway, but at least it is an excuse for a nice holiday (or vacation, if you do live in the U.S.A. or Canada).

And just for KathyV - for shame! I'm shocked at you mentioning the vile rumour that McDonalds' burgers are made of worm-meat. Truly shocked! We all know that worm meat would be too expensive, and would cut into the profits. Urban Legends Reference Pages: Horrors (McSquirmies)

Nah, the only people who like a diet of worms would have to be Lutheran.

Must go - I haven't eaten dinner yet and it's taking a silly long time to cook. I had thought that if I bought a pretty young labrador puppy for dinner, it would be tender and cook quite quickly, but, sadly no. Next time, I should marinade it overnight first.

Oh well, I live and learn.

[pogofish]

Horsemeat is not illegal in the UK per se, however there is little if any consumption due to cultural/historic/licencing reasons & a longstanding taboo that has been around since medieval times.

These days, any slaughterhouse wanting to produce Horsemeat itself & any new products containing horsemeat would be unlikley to get a licence to sell for human consumption in the UK, which rules-out widespread sale. Traditiona/established products/imports get their licence grandfathered-in, pending final approval by the FSA, sometime. Which is actually a bit of a problem just now as many imported meat products - especially the finest salamis, do contain a certain amount of horsemeat. As much as one-third for some brands. The FSA is currently doing an ostritch over this.

The (tiny) specialist/exotic butchery market can probably still sell it tho & as a buisness, it is by no means illegal, so long as they can prove the provenance of their meat/satisfy H&H/H&S regs. Specific regs vary on species.

Intrestingly, consumption of Horsemeat in its core-market has plummeted recently, especially in France. It seems the lure of the burger/processed meat product is getting to them too. However, the UK still sends anything up to 10,000 horses a year to the continent for meat slaughter. Sadly, this fall isn't reflected everywhere. In Japan, horsemeat consumption is rising steadilly. Maybe this will wean them off whales?

[kathyv]

I imagine Foley's remarks were in fact an attempt to lead the heard in an attempt for bleeding hearts to 'Save the Nobel Mustang' and we all now know he is the biggest horse's fanny grazing in the field. I think he was trying to save his butt, divert attention and gather the PETA favors available to democratic predators!

There is a large dog food market in the US for horses, seems a much kinder end to the "Nobel Mustang" to me than shooting it and leaving it for the crows or having it die a lingering death due to over grazing, disease or injury. (and sorry to say I have known many of the 'Nobel Mustang' that needed to end up fed to the crows) And canner prices aren't that bad, sometimes better than the live market.

And Celyn, you know what the Navajo remark is? "Dig deep, puppy in the bottom of pot"

AHHH! Cultural foods are fascinating!

There is the local chocolate addiction to consider as well. . .

HAVE A GOOD DINNER ALL!

[Babz]

Originally Posted by McDink

I'M COOL with that and I appreciate and respect that you have made that choice in life.
Long may your choice bring you what you wish for in your world.

However, you also have to respect (and i'm sure you do) that others have the choice to eat
whatever they wish and at this precise moment, I would love to try horsemeat, yet I
find myself in front of policiticians who tell me what I can and cannot eat on the basis of
ethics, rather than my own self-conscience. Why should this be the case?

If I could I would eat meat but alas I cannot for health reasons, as the only vegetarian in the family
I do lot of meat cooking for everyone else(Celyn was right in her thinking !!)

I have to say I would not relish the idea of cooking horse but each to their own I say !!