Lyla Lindsey
Horse meat is consumed in many countries in Europe and Asia. However, it is not a generally available food in some English-speaking countries, including Australia. While Australians do not generally eat horse meat, the country has a horse slaughter industry that exports to EU countries. In Australia, there are groups dedicated to banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption or any other purpose.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Horse meat consumption in Australia | Not generally eaten by Australians |
| Horse slaughter industry in Australia | Exists and exports to EU countries |
| Australian law on horse meat consumption | Nebulous; food manufacturers could use some phrasing to support the use of a horse in packaged foods |
| Horse meat exports from Australia | Peaked at 9,327 tons in 1986, declining to 3,000 tons in 2003; rose to 24,000 tons by 2009 |
| Horse meat sale approval in Western Australia | Granted by Western Australian Agriculture Minister Terry Redman to Vince Garreffa on 30 June 2010 |
| Horse meat consumption by Tongan emigrants in Australia | Retained due to introduction by Christian missionaries |
| Horse meat consumption in other countries | Common in many European and Asian countries; illegal in some North American and Latin American countries |
| Horse meat substitution scandal in Australia | In 1981, horse and kangaroo meat were intentionally mislabeled as beef for export |
| Australian import regulations on meat | Strict; almost all red meat consumed is locally farmed |
| Drug use in horses intended for human consumption | Horses are treated with drugs not intended for animals entering the human food chain, such as wormers and phenylbutazone ("bute") |
| Horse slaughter conditions in Australia | Inhumane, with reports of horses hauled for extended periods without food or water and subjected to brutal deaths |
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What You'll Learn
Horse meat consumption is not common in Australia
In 2010, Western Australian Agriculture Minister Terry Redman granted final approval to Western Australian butcher Vince Garreffa to sell horse meat for human consumption. Vince Garreffa owns Mondo Di Carne, a major wholesale meat supplier that supplies many cafes, restaurants, and hotels in Western Australia. However, this is an exception rather than the norm in Australia.
There are several reasons why horse meat consumption is not widespread in Australia. Firstly, many of the horses slaughtered in Australia are former pets, racehorses, or other horses that have been treated with drugs not intended for animals entering the human food chain. For example, drugs like "wormers" and phenylbutazone (commonly known as "bute") are used to treat various health issues in horses but are not meant to be consumed by humans.
Additionally, Australia has strict import regulations on meat products, and almost all red meat consumed in the country is locally farmed. These import laws were implemented to protect consumers after the mad cow disease epidemic. Overall, while horse meat consumption may be legal in certain parts of Australia, it is not a common practice, and most Australians do not consider it acceptable.
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Australia has strict import regulations on meat
The Australian government operates the Imported Food Inspection Scheme, which is provided for by the Imported Food Control Act 1992. This scheme involves monitoring imported food at the border and conducting inspections and tests to verify safety and compliance with Australia's food standards. The frequency of these inspections and tests depends on the food safety risk posed by the imported product.
Beef and beef products, for example, are considered "risk food" due to the potential presence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) agents. As such, they must meet biosecurity import conditions and originate from countries with a satisfactory BSE risk status as determined by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Only beef from these approved countries or from Australian origin, subject to biosecurity and food safety requirements, can be imported for human consumption.
Other examples of import regulations include the requirement for treated conifer packing materials, such as wood pallets, to prevent pinewood parasites. Additionally, specific certification statements are necessary for products intended for re-export to Japan, and there are restrictions on the import of pork casings from certain countries. These regulations aim to maintain Australia's high food safety standards and protect the health of its citizens.
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Horses are treated with drugs that are unfit for human consumption
Horse meat is generally not considered acceptable for human consumption in Australia. Australian consumers are particularly wary of packaged foods from supermarkets that may contain horse meat. This is due to the strict import regulations on meats in the country, which were implemented to protect consumers after the mad cow disease epidemic.
However, it is important to note that Australian law on horse meat consumption is somewhat ambiguous. While it is not explicitly prohibited, food manufacturers are unlikely to include horse meat in their products due to consumer sentiment. Nevertheless, the consumption of horse meat in Australia raises concerns about the drugs used to treat horses, which may be unfit for human consumption.
Horses are often treated with various drugs and "treatments" that are not intended for animals entering the human food chain. For example, PETA's investigation into leading trainer Steve Asmussen's stables revealed that nearly every horse was given drugs such as thyroxine, a prescription drug used to treat hypothyroidism, and Lasix, a diuretic intended to prevent pulmonary bleeding during extreme exercise. Other pharmaceuticals, such as muscle relaxants and sedatives, may also be administered to treat ulcers, lameness, and inflammation, even without apparent symptoms.
Furthermore, racehorses are subject to medication violations, with some being treated with drugs like methamphetamine, levamisole, and methocarbamol. These substances are not intended for use in animals and can have adverse effects. The use of these drugs in racehorses highlights the potential risk of drug residues entering the human food chain if horse meat is consumed.
The issue of drug violations in horse racing has led to calls for stricter regulations and drug testing. Organizations like PETA have advocated for legislation to regulate medication use and enforce drug testing in the racing industry. While some progress has been made, with the Stronach Group implementing medication reforms and the New York State Gaming Commission passing amendments to regulate drug use, more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses and the safety of the food chain.
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Horse slaughter is considered inhumane
Additionally, there are concerns about the types of horses being slaughtered. Many of the horses sent for slaughter are former pets, racehorses, or other horses that have been routinely treated with drugs not intended for animals entering the human food chain. These drugs, such as wormers and phenylbutazone (bute), are used to treat a variety of health issues in horses but are not meant to be consumed by humans. This raises questions about the safety and suitability of horse meat for human consumption.
The slaughter process itself is also problematic. Horses may not always be rendered unconscious before dismemberment, and there are documented instances of conscious horses undergoing this traumatic experience. This contradicts the definition of euthanasia, which is meant to provide a gentle and painless death. The horse slaughter industry also has negative economic and environmental impacts on the communities that house slaughterhouses.
Furthermore, horse slaughter can promote illegal activities, such as horse theft, and the violation of cruelty laws. Special interest groups have blocked federal legislation banning horse slaughter, allowing the inhumane treatment of horses to continue. Overall, the practice of horse slaughter is widely considered inhumane due to the stress, pain, and suffering inflicted on the animals, as well as the potential risks to human health associated with consuming horse meat.
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Horse meat is exported to other countries
Australians do not generally eat horse meat, although they have a horse slaughter industry that exports to other countries. In the Australian meat substitution scandal of 1981, it was revealed that both horse and kangaroo meat had been intentionally mislabelled as beef for export. Horse meat exports peaked at 9,327 tons in 1986, declining to 3,000 tons in 2003. They are at Peterborough in South Australia (SAMEX Peterborough Pty Ltd) and Caboolture Abattoir in Queensland (Meramist Pty Ltd). A British agriculture industry website reported that Australian horse meat production levels had risen to 24,000 tons by 2009.
On 30 June 2010, Western Australian Agriculture Minister Terry Redman granted final approval to Western Australian butcher Vince Garreffa to sell horse meat for human consumption. Vince Garreffa is the owner of Mondo Di Carne, a major wholesale meat supplier, which supplies many cafes, restaurants, and hotels in Western Australia. However, the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand definition of 'meat' does not include horse.
Horse meat is commonly eaten in many countries in Europe and Asia. It is not a generally available food in some English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and English Canada. It is also taboo in Brazil, Ireland, Poland, and Israel and among the Romani. Horse meat is consumed in some North American and Latin American countries, but is illegal in some others. For example, in Tonga, horse meat is eaten nationally, and Tongan emigrants living in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia have retained a taste for it, claiming Christian missionaries originally introduced it to them. The consumption of horse meat has been common in Central Asian societies, past or present, due to the abundance of steppes suitable for raising horses. In North Africa, horse meat has been occasionally consumed, but it has never been eaten in the Maghreb.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spaniards, followed by other European settlers, reintroduced horses to the Americas. Some horses became feral, and began to be hunted by the indigenous Pehuenche people of what is now Chile and Argentina. Initially, early humans hunted horses as they did other game; later, they began to raise them for meat, milk, and transport. The meat was, and still is, preserved by being sun-dried in the high Andes into a product known as charqui. France dates its taste for horse meat to the Revolution. With the fall of the aristocracy, its auxiliaries had to find new means of subsistence. The horses formerly maintained by the aristocracy as a sign of prestige ended up being used to feed the hungry masses. During the Napoleonic campaigns, the surgeon-in-chief of Napoleon's Grand Army, Baron Dominique-Jean Larrey, advised the starving troops to eat horse meat.
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Frequently asked questions
No, horse meat is not generally eaten in Australia. However, there is a horse slaughter industry that exports to EU countries.
Although Australian law is currently a little unclear on horse meat consumption, it is not considered acceptable by consumers in Australia. Australia's strict import regulations and preference for locally farmed meat make it almost completely safe from the scandals that have affected Europe.
Many Australians are shocked that some countries eat cats and dogs, and some are campaigning to end the slaughter of horses in Australia. Horses are also routinely treated with drugs that are not intended for use on animals entering the human food chain.
Australians generally eat meat from livestock such as cows, pigs, and sheep.
Horses should be fed little and often, all day. They like routine, so it's best to feed them at the same time every day. They should not be left for longer than eight hours without food. They can eat grass, hay, and some fruits and vegetables, but chocolate, bread, and other sugary foods should be avoided.
