Is horsemeat illegal in Scotland and if so, why?

[McDink]

INTERESTING that horsemeat is considered 'taboo' in this country. We consider frying up some bacon and stuffing it into a roll, or ordering a medium fillet steak in your favourite restaurant, a very common part of breakfast and dinner in our western society, yet Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others would up in arms at the prospect. So why is horsemeat considered to be different? Given that it is slightly sweet, tender, lower in fat, higher in protein and has about 40% fewer calories than even the leanest beef, you'd think it would be high up on the list of foodstuffs in our ever increasing girth of society.

[Polwarth]

Originally Posted by McDink

INTERESTING that horsemeat is considered 'taboo' in this country. We consider frying up some bacon and stuffing it into a roll, or ordering a medium fillet steak in your favourite restaurant, a very common part of breakfast and dinner in our western society, yet Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others would up in arms at the prospect. So why is horsemeat considered to be different? Given that it is slightly sweet, tender, lower in fat, higher in protein and has about 40% fewer calories than even the leanest beef, you'd think it would be high up on the list of foodstuffs in our ever increasing girth of society.

I suspect it is because it has never been part of our diet. Now, Belgium or France? I used go horseriding a lot as a youngster, which probably makes me anti any horse dish as an adult - and I also kept rabbits when a young child, so I could never bring myself to eat them either.

I'll stick to venison rather than cheval.

[McDink]

YOUR right, they do keep horses in Belgium and France as working animals, as well as pets which have long since become domesticated (to a certain extent), yet the meat over their is regarded as a highly prized food. Why should a matter of miles over sea, mean a vast difference in food ethics and why should I be stopped from eating what i like?

[Polwarth]

Originally Posted by McDink

YOUR right, they do keep horses in Belgium and France as working animals, as well as pets which have long since become domesticated (to a certain extent), yet the meat over their is regarded as a highly prized food. Why should a matter of miles over sea, mean a vast difference in food ethics and why should I be stopped from eating what i like?

Well, I suppose if it isn't illegal (and I don't know if it IS) - it goes something like this: first find your horse... then find a butcher willing to turn it into acceptable steaks, leg cuts etc.......?

[Babz]

Thank goodness I am a vegetarian !!

[bell-the-cat]

Originally Posted by McDink

YOUR right, they do keep horses in Belgium and France as working animals, as well as pets which have long since become domesticated (to a certain extent), yet the meat over their is regarded as a highly prized food. Why should a matter of miles over sea, mean a vast difference in food ethics and why should I be stopped from eating what i like?

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.

Horsemeat isn't eaten here, but is on the continent because, for most of its history, the peoples of mainland Europe has suffered from food shortages or famine. For that reason all sorts of stuff has been eaten there that would never have been considered edible in Britain - and to make it all palatable they covered it up with sauces, or chucked it all into stews.

[McDink]

Originally Posted by Babz

Thank goodness I am a vegetarian !!

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?