The Kitchen Think: What Do You Think About The Horse Meat Scandal?
I’ve been watching the European horse meat scandal with one eye because, well, it was happening in Europe and didn’t seem like it would really affect me.
That is until I saw that international retailing giant IKEA said it’s pulling its meatballs from stores in 14 countries because a Czech Republic store found horse meat in the product.
IKEA says it tested its meatballs two weeks ago and didn’t find any horse DNA. Regardless, they decided to pull the meatballs from stores in the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Hungary, France, Britain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland.
The United States is not on the list, so I have to believe that means the meatballs sold here are horse meat free. Or should I say, I want to believe it. The U.S. doesn’t allow horses to be slaughtered for human consumption and we don’t import beef from any of the companies involved in the overseas scandal.
But still, I’ve had those IKEA meatballs before. They are good. Really good.
The rational side of me knows that horse meat isn’t bad for you. And I know this argument is about truth in labeling and packaging… if it says beef it better be from a cow. But for me, it’s just the idea of eating a horse. Kind of like the idea of eating a dog… or a cat.
But then again, I eat beef, which I’m sure would repulse those who practice the Hindu religion and abstain from eating cows.
It’s all a matter of taste… and what your culture finds acceptable and “normal.” What do you think?
It’s made us all think a lot harder about what we consume here in the UK. It hasn’t really affected my family because we don’t eat the products affected. I wouldn’t choose to eat horsemeat personally, but that’s because it’s not ‘done’ in our country. But it is a meat that is eaten elsewhere. What I found just as worrying is that pork was found in some products too. That’s not just duping consumers, that’s being disrespectful (potentially) to someone’s faith.
You are absolutely correct, Mama G. Food companies need to take into consideration religious AND health issues of their consumers. I heard someone on the radio say, “Well, what you don’t know won’t hurt you.” This is such an arrogant and blatantly wrong attitude.
I hope I haven’t mistakenly consumed horse meat. But as everyone is pointing out, it’s hard to know what is in our food these days. I should really start that vegetable garden that I’ve been dreaming about for years.
I thought about this for a long time… I think we just have an attachment to our domesticated animals (okay, a horse isn’t really domesticated, but you know what I mean), so we don’t think eating horse meat is acceptable. Nevertheless, a vegetable garden is always a good idea!!!
Sadly Candice, there are a lot of stuff in our food that they are not telling us. 🙁
I know… even labels can be deceptive!
I recently became aware of the horse meat scandal. It’s sad, (I have four horses in the back yard) but also makes me wonder what else might be in our food that isn’t on labels.
I know… I think truth in labeling is going to become HUGE in the next few years.