Countryboy1

Following on from the discovery of horse meat in 'beef' burgers sold in the UK, I read this morning that according to Irish authorities, the horse meat has been imported from Holland & Spain.
I've never eaten horse (knowingly!) but have seen it on sale in supermarkets here. Has anyone eaten it and if so, what is your opinion on its taste & value?
Finally, I wonder if Spanish burgers on sale here may also contain some horse meat. Anyone know?

lynnxa

I don't know if burgers have horse meat in them - but a local restaurant does have horse on the menu


I have eaten horse many years ago in a casserole in France - I had no idea what it was until I had finished & I have to say it was delicious - texture similar to lean beef & slightly sweeter

I've never been able to bring myself to order it again though.............

Pocaloca

I haven't knowingly eaten it but I do know that a lot of beautiful Andaluz thoroughbreds are being sold for meat because their owners can't afford to keep them any more. Over 12,000 were slaughtered in Seville last year.

According to this article most of the meat is exported to France, Italy and Russia. It is eaten in parts of Catalonia and Cantabria but isn't popular in other parts of Spain.

Caballos sacrificados en el matadero de Mercasevilla

mikelincs

On the news last night they were saying that most of the meat had come from Poland. It now appears that we may have been eating horse for years as burgers like these have NEVER been tested for different meats. The FSA (Food Standards) are now getting all the flsak for NOT testing.

Dick Dasterdly

Already a thread on this in Siesta Time.

Nothing wrong with eating horse. I've had horse steaks here in Spain and really enjoyed them.

A little darker and more grainy than beef,but very tasty nevertheless.

I doubt if there is a single one amongst you, other than veggies who have never at any time knowingly or unknowingly, eaten horse meat in one form or another.

There are numerous miniature snacky type foods on the market which contain horsemeat but don't state it on the packet.

I believe the Belgiums eat most horsemeat per head of any country in Europe.

Also interesting to note that it isn't only Brits who are a bit sensitive about eating horse meat.

Over Europe as a whole it's about 50/50 between those who approve and those who dont.

Though broken down between sexes, it's two thirds of the guys in favour and two thirds of the women against, so little wonder that horsemeat is much cheaper than beef and various companies take advantage of this fact to include it in their products.

billgates

Come on - do tell. What are these snacks that contain horse meat?

Pocaloca

Strange but apparently true. Although judging by the label, these might contain traces of elephant?



"Meat from horses is sometimes used as an ingredient in convenience foods, as shown in this deep-freeze snack pack from The Netherlands."

Countryboy1

On BBC's Newsnight 16/1, a chef said the Italian's were the biggest consumers of horse meat in Europe. I don't know if it's correct or it was just his opinion. He also said that it was getting much harder to find supplies in France, where he has sourced it in the past. According to him, the number of 'horse butchers' across France has gone down from hundreds to just a few now.
I wonder if the same is true in Spain?

Dick Dasterdly

I came across an interesting site last night which covered research into the consumption,movement of and origins of horsemeat throughout Europe and to a lesser extent N.America.
No specific brands were mentioned.

Also as many will be aware the origins of various products are not necessarily stated on the packaging, but often only where the actually packaging and processing took place, hence I suppose why many Spanish olives have been shipped to Italy for processing/packaging before being put on the market, at a higher price than they would sell for from Spain.

On a lighter note,
I bought a burger from my local takeaway last night.
The guy said what would you like on it ?
I said 5 quid each way.

Dick Dasterdly

I've come across a few horse butchers in Spain, mainly out in remote country areas.
Also the restaurants where I ate horsemeat were all way out in the sticks, as best I can recall.
It's possible that Italy as a country consumes most horsemeat overall, but the site I looked at suggested that per capita it was the biggest favourite with the Belgiums

Fred James

Our Alcampo Hypermarket in Motril sells horsemeat - various cut of it. It's called Potro.

I think I will buy a steak and try it when I go there next week and report back.

Of course, Alcampo is a French supermarket chain (Auchan) so that probably explains it.

rspltd

It seems like the biggest outrage is the inclusion of pork - at least to the Muslims.

Countryboy1

Thanks Fred. By coincidence I stumbled across it in our local supermarket a few months back. I had no idea what it was but knew it wasn't pork, chicken, beef, duck etc. I asked the lady behind the counter what it was and she did a fine imitation of a horse. Then I knew!

Dick Dasterdly

I was searching for a horsemeat source and came across this one for any ladies who wish to grow themselves a fine mane.

http://champu-de-caballo.pisocu.com/champu-de-caballo/

jonboy

Well it seems the Muslims and Jews can agree over this one. You See, every cloud etc.