"There is no clear explanation at this time for the presence of horse DNA."
Posted 01.15.2013 at 5:30 pm
21 Comments
Noble Steed
via Twitter
The Irish version of the FDA, called the FSAI, has found distinctly non-beef animal protein in ground meat labeled "beef," in some supermarkets. Meat from two Irish processing plants has been found to contain substantial portions of pig and, curiously, horse DNA. Of 27 samples analyzed, 23 were found to contain pork, and 10 were found to contain horsemeat. In one sample collected from Tesco--a major supermarket chain all over the UK--approximately 29% of the meat was found to be horsemeat. Looks like it's not just seafood that isn't quite what it claims to be.
Now, none of the samples were found to be unsafe for human consumption in any way, and it's likely that many would have no objection to eating pig or, even, horsemeat. (Horse is a traditional meat in some areas of France, among other places.) The pork can be explained away by the fact that both pork and beef are processed at the same plant, though nobody seems to have any idea how a significant amount of horsemeat made its way into the ground beef. But there are two major concerns here. The first is for people with dietary restrictions: neither pig nor horse is kosher, and pig is not halal.
The second is that, even though these samples of meat are safe, it does not speak very highly of the regulation in place for meat processing, especially in the UK, which has had the worst experience with BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, of any country in the world.
In response, all products from those suppliers have been withdrawn, and the FSAI is investigating to see how this could have happened.
[via BBC]
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as long as it tastes good i dont mind what in the hamburger, its the non respect of the food chain regulations that gives me yakee feeling...
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(Type 0.72) = We are still just cleaver monkeys!
...damn, should have read the article first (sorry for paraphrasing)
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(Type 0.72) = We are still just cleaver monkeys!
Well, if they decide instead to get there cow or meat from China, they all be dead, including their pets.
Don't care what's in the meat so long as it tastes good, eh? Guess you'll want to try this Soylent Green then...
Well that's a little disturbing
Soylent Green(human meat i presume?...)
oh ^^ as i said if its well regulated and sanitary enough...
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(Type 0.72) = We are still just cleaver monkeys!
Can't imagine a mad cow outbreak and just banning beef import or looking at beef products only....would be a disaster...
i'm pretty sure that horse meat is supposed to be leaner, and more nutritious for you than beef and pork. it'd make sense if some local places put horse meat in their burgers.
to mars or bust!
It isn't people, it isn't deadly, so dark beef can be on the menu.
LOL ... I can't believe how many seem to not care about what is in their food ... and furthermore don't seem to mind that it is undocumented. Don't invite me over for dinner!
I gave up meat many years ago so perhaps my comment isn't worth much. However, if I was eating beef and discovered something like this was going on where I live, I'd stop pretty quickly.
The real danger is of course that it indicates lack of regulation and suggests that it could get much worse in the future.
Um, eating horse is ok. You can get it fresh in France.
The point is that you should know what is in the meat you are eating. And somebody somewhere is trying to conceal what it really is. Today it's horse. Tomorrow it could be genetically altered tree fungus.
I wonder what exactly were they looking for in the meet, to need DNA tests for...
p.s. another reason to become a vegetarian.
I don't usually comment, but felt I had to this time. I live in Ireland. The Republic of Ireland to be precise, not a part of the UK, PopSci. I'll forgive you because you're probably using apple maps! FSAI is the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, they are constantly taking food products from the shelves of our shops and supermarkets to make sure there is nothing unpleasant in them. It's good practice and it seems to work! While the beef in the burgers is 100% Irish and butchered in Ireland, the factory that made the burgers added protein to them, which is common enough. This protein almost certainly came from elsewhere in Europe and contains non-beef proteins. Meat in Ireland is tracked from farm to plate, the regulations are very tight. Nothing wrong with eating horse meat though, as long as you know what your eating and you aren't squeamish about it. I thank you for your time, good day sirs and madams!
@strange009
firstly, it sounds strange to me that one would add protein to beef which is rich in protein, but perhaps that is so. However, the article states that there was foreign DNA in the meat! There's no DNA in protein. Looks like the FSAI needs some better funding.
u guys r dumb. so you're sayin that you would eat something as hideous looking as a cow or pig but not eat something that looks healthy and beautiful as a horse???? get outta heere!!!!
not to mention how dirty cows and pigs are compared to horses
@solarflare
Dont be an animal racist.
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(Type 0.72) = We are still just cleaver monkeys!
So horsemeat has been found in Tesco Products. A spokesman says it's bollocks.
A woman has been taken to hospital after eating horsemeat burgers. Her condition is said to be stable.
I expect this only relates to those mini-burgers you have as snacks. You know, the horse d'oeuvres.
Are you in favour of Horsemeat in your burgers? Yay or Neigh?
I had a Tesco burger and now I'm feeling a little horse
Those Aldi horse burgers were nice, but I prefer My Lidl Pony.
I really hope they launch a steward's inquiry into the Tesco horsemeat scandal. We must find out hoof to blame.
Good thing about these horse puns is it's stopped all the sick Jimmy Saddle jokes.
vt007, if you're not familiar with the subject of a comment, do your research first. "Soylent green" wasn't human meat. It was processed protein cake that included protein from dead human bodies.
In the great ordering of taste and texture, I put European horse ABOVE European beef.
Which is not saying a lot.