Horse meat found in Ikea meatballs, Czech officials say

Czech Republic officials say traces of horse meat were discovered in frozen packages of meatballs sent to their country for sale at furniture giant Ikea. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

Traces of horse have been found in meatballs labeled as beef and pork for Swedish global furniture giant Ikea, according to authorities in the Czech Republic.

The horse meat was found in one-kilogram packs of frozen meat balls made in Sweden and shipped to the Czech Republic for sale in Ikea stores there, the Czech State Veterinary Administration said.


It is the latest discovery in a deepening scandal over the discovery of horse meat in ready meals sold as beef in supermarkets in Ireland, the UK and other European countries.

Markus Schreiber / AP, file

Ikea furniture stores also sell typical Swedish food.

A total of 1,675 pounds of the meatballs were stopped from reaching the shelves.

Ikea's furniture stores feature restaurants and also sell food typical of the company's home country, including the so-called Kottbullar meat balls.

It was not immediately clear whether Ikea exported the same product to other countries. Calls seeking comment from Ikea in Sweden were not immediately returned Monday.

The Czech authority also found horse meat in beef burgers imported from Poland during random tests of food products.

Authorities across Europe have started doing random DNA checks after traces of horse meat turned up in frozen supermarket meals such as burgers and lasagna beginning last month.

The European Union's agriculture ministers gathered in Brussels Monday to discuss the widening scandal's fallout, with some member states pressing for tougher rules to regain consumer confidence.

The 27-nation bloc must agree on binding origin disclosures for food product ingredients, starting with a better labeling of meat products, German agriculture minister Ilse Aigner said.

"Consumers have every right to the greatest-possible transparency," she insisted.

From lasagna and burgers to children's sweets containing gelatin, horse meat has been discovered in a wide variety of "beef" products, leaving Europeans to wonder what they're really eating. NBC's Keir Simmons reports.

The scandal began in Ireland in mid-January when the country's announced the results of its first-ever DNA tests on beef products. It tested frozen beef burgers taken from store shelves and found that more than a third of brands at five supermarkets contained at least a trace of horse. The sample of one brand sold by British supermarket kingpin Tesco was more than a quarter horse.

Such discoveries have spread like wildfire across Europe as governments, supermarkets, meat traders and processors began their own DNA testing of products labeled beef and have been forced to withdraw tens of millions of products from store shelves.

More than a dozen nations have detected horse flesh in processed products such as factory-made burger patties, lasagnas, meat pies and meat-filled pastas. The investigations have been complicated by elaborate supply chains involving multiple cross-border middlemen. 

Related:

Horse meat in the US? Unlikely, but tests are rare

'Fraud on a massive scale': Europe's horse meat scandal keeps on growing

'Criminal conspiracy' blamed for European horse-in-burger scandal

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Nice news title!.....HORSE FOUND IN MEAT........... only on NBC news.

  • 5 votes
#1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:09 AM EST

"You kids eat your horseballs or no catgut pudding for you!"

  • 19 votes
#1.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:39 AM EST

I say horsebullar!

  • 1 vote
#1.3 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:52 AM EST

Hummmmmmmmmm .... Makes me wonder what we are eating ... is there any "truth" in labeling?

  • 6 votes
#1.5 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:16 AM EST

The bigger issue is why anyone would shop at this place. Made the mistake by going there with the wife one time and was amazed by the carnival atmosphere. Folks clamoring in there as if they were lucky to be part of it. The most ridiculous retail experience I've ever witnessed.

  • 6 votes
#1.7 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:31 AM EST

Horse, smorse. Who cares. It says TRACES were found. THAT means it is not even a MINOR ingredient. The only thing I would see wrong is if the package did not disclose that the product was processes on machinery that also produced horse meat.

BUT WHO REALLY CARES? Is there something inherently wrong with horse meat that is different than any other meat we eat?

OH YEAH! There is that stupid, emotional PET crap that people are always crying about. Sheesh.

  • 10 votes
#1.8 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:33 AM EST

its just a state of mind.we eat all kinds of animals.why is horse worse than little milk fed veal? or the cow slaughter line,or caged chickens? some folks eat chilled monkey brains.dogs cats etc.. we are just goats, well eat anything.

  • 12 votes
#1.9 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:40 AM EST

This is another compelling reason we need more government to safeguard the public. Even though no one died from eating horsemeat, it is always nice to know what you are eating. Some people have allergies to certain proteins and I'm sure you would want to know if the food you're eating contained dog, cat, rat, or other unspeakable "proteins" you might not want to eat IF YOU KNEW. Besides, if you're paying a premium for a product (beef is more expensive than horse meat), you would like to get what you pay for, don't you?

  • 8 votes
#1.12 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:55 AM EST

I guess it fits their traditional motto of having 8 billion different pieces to make one product.

  • 1 vote
#1.13 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:56 AM EST

Idaho - it's not so much the fact that it's horse (or any other animal)...it's the fact that it's not supposed to be in there, and there's no labelling on the product warning people that it MIGHT be in there.

Some of the products tested have been well above "trace" levels, so it's not a matter of cross-contamination with machinery.

Furthermore, as someone who has developed a gazillion allergies as an adult...i've never been more aware of what im eating than I am now. It's amazing how something I used to eat frequently can give me so many issues now...and so when things are cross-contaminated, especially shellfish and peanuts, I have to know.

I realize horse meat might not be an issue of allergies...but it's an issue of honest labelling.

If they arent telling that horsemeat is in their product...

how am I as a consumer going to be confident that anything I buy is labelled honestly and 100% correctly?

this is the main reason why I cant eat out at restaurants that serve shellfish...im just not in the mood for suffocating because the cook doesnt understand why he shouldnt use a pan he cooked shellfish in, to cook other foods.

that minute amount of cross-contamination is enough to suffocate me.

im sorry this crimps the lazy producers and servers style...but it's really not that hard to make sure that we dont cross-contaminate, and when we do...we admit as much - and let the consumer decide where to spend their money.

  • 9 votes
#1.14 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:59 AM EST

Sawdust and glue. That's what people clamor for at this place.

  • 2 votes
#1.15 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:02 AM EST

@Idaho-Steven

BUT WHO REALLY CARES? Is there something inherently wrong with horse meat that is different than any other meat we eat?

Um, yes, there is. Most horses are not raised for human consumption. In saying this, I am referring to the fact that most horses are given drugs/medication that is banned for human consumption. For example, they are given phenylbutazone, which is proven to cause adverse effects in humans. The phenylbutazone lingers in the horsemeat.

Also, its a business ethic for the product to contain what it says. If I'm buying something, I expect it to be that. I'm all for horse meat consumption if that's what I intended on buying.

  • 14 votes
#1.16 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:08 AM EST

As a long time vegetarian I just laugh at this... what difference does it make? Horse, pig, cow, cat, dog, chicken, snake (the other other white meat)...

  • 3 votes
#1.17 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:13 AM EST

psychedoutThis is another compelling reason we need more government to safeguard the public.

More government, eh? I guess you don't like your constitutional right to be able to say that, do you. More government ONLY means less freedom and more taxation.

  • 2 votes
#1.18 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:23 AM EST

Max, you should be concerned. If a capitalist, trying to make a buck, sell you geneticly modified gains and vegetables that are NOT FOR HUMAN consumption (animal feed only) and you eat it. The weed killers that may not hurt the feed animal might have some serious long term affects on you.

  • 7 votes
#1.19 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:24 AM EST

You have to worry whats in those veggie burgers like we have to worry whats in ours. Knowing the corrupt industry people you may have horse in yours alsooooooo

  • 2 votes
#1.20 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:24 AM EST

Or for you Idaho, with that attitude, more contaminated foods. Enjoy.

  • 3 votes
#1.21 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:26 AM EST

More government, eh? I guess you don't like your constitutional right to be able to say that, do you. More government ONLY means less freedom and more taxation.

Another brainwashed individual who has no clue

  • 5 votes
#1.22 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:27 AM EST

No, I don't like more government, but capitalists don't have a conscience. It's all about getting the bucks any way you can and then get away with it. Or have you noticed how some will do their swindle and then skip out of the country with their ill gotten gains?

  • 4 votes
#1.23 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:35 AM EST

I try to avoid the genetically modified plants. I don't even use corn oil as it comes 100% from GMO corn. I grow quite a bit of food myself and buy as much as I can from local farmers.

  • 1 vote
#1.24 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:44 AM EST

Good for you Max, but a lot of people don't have the luxury of growing their own. Either they don't have the land, or time to do it if they're working long hours for less than living wages.

  • 1 vote
#1.26 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:00 PM EST

The sample of one brand sold by British supermarket kingpin Tesco was more than a quarter horse.

Probably the guys at the beef farm and/or the slaughterhouse just got confused. Horses are known to do stuff like that, very crafty and sneaky.

Also, when you say this sentence out loud, are you supposed to say "quarterhorse", or "quarter horse"?

  • 1 vote
#1.28 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:27 PM EST

    #1.29 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:31 PM EST

    Indiana Engineer hit the nail on the head...horses that are not raised for human consumption are fed medications/supplements/vitamins that are not fit and can be dangerous to humans. There is a supplement to control flies that carries warning to not use the manure for composting/fertilizer in food production!

    We should be able to expect truth in labeling. If manufacturers are required to add the comment "may be processed on machine that processes nuts" to labels, why can't we expect the same wording that products may be processed on machines used to process horse meat?

    • 6 votes
    #1.30 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:51 PM EST

    psychedout,

    Max, you should be concerned. If a capitalist, trying to make a buck, sell you geneticly modified gains and vegetables that are NOT FOR HUMAN consumption (animal feed only) and you eat it. The weed killers that may not hurt the feed animal might have some serious long term affects on you.

    Right now the "Govt" only requires fields that grow Genetically Modified Crop a half mile barrier from fields that don't have GMC. It's been proven that GMC pollen can travel up to 15 miles. Roughly 70% of all vegies have some form of GM traits even if they are grown in "ORGANIC" fields. Many European countries won't accept any grains or vegies that we grow because of the cross contamination and the link to some kidney or liver diseases.

    • 2 votes
    #1.31 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:13 PM EST

    I don't understand. Meat is meat. Maybe the processor's previous order was for horse sausage for the French market.

    • 2 votes
    #1.32 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:34 PM EST

    If you eat meat, then all life is game (except the human species). How can one culture place a value of an animal over another. Meat is meat. Horse meat is little different to beef.

    But with overpopulation and resource depletion, one day you may see soylent green on the menu.

    • 1 vote
    #1.33 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:40 PM EST

    psychedout

    This is another compelling reason we need more government to safeguard the public.

    Right because they do such a great job now. Obviously doubling down on epic failure and waste makes perfect sense. /sarcasm

    No, I don't like more government, but capitalists don't have a conscience. It's all about getting the bucks any way you can and then get away with it

    I can't help but wonder what sort of people assume this. I would never do such a thing and my assumption is that most people are like me. Do you assume everyone is an @!$%# trying to rip people off any chance they'd get because that's what YOU would do given the opportunity???? Because the reality is that most businesses run on the up and up giving you no valid reason to assume they're all inherently evil.

      #1.35 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:46 PM EST

      Backcountry 164. Maybe, but standing back and "just taking it," isn't the answer either.

      • 1 vote
      #1.36 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:56 PM EST

      The fact that horsemeat finds it's way into products not labeled as horsemeat makes me think people are trying to rip you off. Yeah, I do think that. Don't you?

      The fact that in China, to make a yuan, they would make cardboard a meat substitute, or melamine as a protein enhancer in baby food causing babies to have kidney failure, is enough to make me think people don't do what's right for others.

      • 4 votes
      #1.37 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:01 PM EST

      psychedout

      The fact that horsemeat finds it's way into products not labeled as horsemeat makes me think people are trying to rip you off. Yeah, I do think that. Don't you?

      Yeah, I just don't think that every "capitalist" is trying to rip people off as you are accusing them of doing. To take isolated events and trying to make the claim that basically "everyone does it" is utterly ridiculous.

        #1.38 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:55 PM EST

        Also, the idea that government is any better is laughable. If a government inspector doesn't do his job for whatever reason that government inspector gets replaced by another who has no incentive to do any better than the last. If a private company doesn't do it's job the backlash from the public puts that company out of business.

        Individuals will ALWAYS have more control over private industry than will the government. If you doubt that I'd point out that is wasn't government intervention that prevented Bank of American from imposing a new $5 ATM fee and it wasn't the government that basically put out of business a company that produced the FDA approved "pink slime". Why give more authority to the government to deal with something that the general public already does a better job of anyway?

          #1.39 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:07 PM EST

          Horse meat is allowed to eat in many European countries is gourmet food, there is nothing to worry about . It could be a mistake shipping meat balls to the wrong place. I heard horse meat has lower content of cholesterol and also is aphrodisiac for man.

          .

          • 2 votes
          #1.40 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:12 PM EST

          Yeah, I just don't think that every "capitalist" is trying to rip people off as you are accusing them of doing. To take isolated events and trying to make the claim that basically "everyone does it" is utterly ridiculous.

          The one's that ARE doing this are doing it because it costs less. Thus they can offer lower prices. The other meat producers then have to do the same in order to compete with their prices or face the prospect of going out of business. That one bad apple can have a ripple effect and alter it for everybody. And the problem is nobody cares if they don't know and the prices are going down.

          What alternative methods do you have to force transparency?

          • 3 votes
          #1.41 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:16 PM EST

          psychedout - You are right. The Government policing consumer products is why we do not have rats in our meat. This goes back a hundred years to the Meat Packing District. The politicians preaching Laissez faire have no sense of history. For those who buy this snake oil, remember why you don't nearly have a heart attack when you see a Chinese toy in your childs' mouth.

          • 2 votes
          #1.42 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:16 PM EST
          Reply

          Wilberger. Still cracks me up. Worked on a loading dock- warehouse for a few years and we would get meat "trimmings" from Down Under. I always wondered if any 'roos were in it. Never could figure out how a kill plant, load it on a ship, unload it at a port, load it on the truck and deliver it across the country was cheaper than the good 'ol USA beef was. Naw, just being paranoid I'm sure.

          • 8 votes
          Reply#2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:15 AM EST

          GM StonePipe

          would get meat "trimmings" from Down Under. I always wondered if any 'roos were in it.

          Been "Down Under" many times and they serve 'roo in a lot of restaurants and is really quite good! Hardly any fat and low in cholesterol.

          • 5 votes
          #2.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:54 AM EST

          Same thing with horse meat. What is the big deal other than the EMOTIONAL trauma people put themselves through in the US. Pet or Dinner? Who cares.

          • 5 votes
          #2.2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:34 AM EST

          In a related story, DNA from horse hooves was found in IKEA furniture.

          gm stonepipe, jack

          I've also had roo meat. Pretty tasty.

          • 2 votes
          #2.3 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:55 AM EST

          Again - different meat's are actually pretty good, even if it makes some people squirmish.

          thats not the issue.

          it's labelling, and someone should know if they are eating roo meat, snake meat, gator meat or pitbull meat (the dog, not the music maker).

          to each their own with regards to what one eats, i just shouldnt have to wonder if the package is honest and correct...this shouldnt be that complicated.

          • 6 votes
          #2.4 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:03 AM EST

          This is not about whether the horse is good to eat or not its about telling people whats in the products so they can decide if they want t eat it or not. Pink slime comes to mind. The outcry for no I do not want to et that crap you scrped off the floor was loud and clear. As to horse it can only be sold if the horse is raised without certain drugs that are harmful to humans. Nobody know whether this was or not. The consumer has the right to know and reject anything they do not want to buy. Obviously this is one of those things the vast majority of people do not want. read the other day the clowns who wer selling salmonella tainted peanut butter to schools thought they were doing the right thing but now they have been indicted and hpefully will spend some timme on big bubba's lap in prison.

          • 5 votes
          #2.5 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:33 AM EST

          yea what is the big deal... oh yea, horses are drugged/pumped with more chemicals than Meth lab but that cant hurt us right? come on peeps, think

          • 1 vote
          #2.6 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:09 PM EST

          IDAHO-STEVEN, not saying your wrong in your opinion, but The big deal probably is the medications horses are given for proctetion from disease and/or their diet may have chemicals that are used to prevent parasitic infestation ie; enchepalitis. SO it may not be just the PET thing...sometimes u need to use some science skills to understand the whole wide world of food chain, the government does try and protect us sometimes....

            #2.7 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:39 PM EST

            So this is what will happen if we can no longer pay meat inspectors.

            Tomorrow MSN will run stories about near misses on planes cause there weren't enough air traffic controllers, and the next day its going to be some old mans house burning down cause there weren't enough fireman, then we'll see stories of mothers having to quit their jobs cause they send their kids to preschool.

            • 2 votes
            #2.8 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:53 PM EST

            Are peoples really that dense...

            It is not about eating horse !

            It's about getting what you paid for !

            If it's labeled beef then there should not be horse in it.

            So the ones who ask what the problem is, you would not have a problem being served chicken when you ordered a AAA angus steak in a restaurant I guess.

            • 1 vote
            #2.9 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:52 PM EST
            Reply

            I hate driving by a stud horse that is "hanging out". I can't even yell that I've been swimming.

            • 7 votes
            Reply#3 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:18 AM EST
            YandMandDeleted

            Whats really in a meatball anyway.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#5 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:58 AM EST

            Protein, whats not killing is fattening.

              #5.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:28 AM EST
              Reply

              What is so wrong with horse meat? I had a great horse steak once, yummy! Back in the mid 70's, the Army was supposed to be giving us horse meat, i couldn't tell the difference?

              If its good, you should!

              If its not, let it rot!

              Would you be interested in some Schweatyballs???

                Reply#6 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:25 AM EST

                OK first of all the people who ate horse meat pre 1980's were not eating what was banned by UDA Federally from DogFood, it was lethal to dogs, and the new illnesses-would you like to contract Hepatitis and have to have organs replaced because of the animals that are infected you consumed? Would you like to contract encephylitis which causes rapid swelling of the brain, there is no way to find the source of what causes you to have encephylitis-and when you consume these new illnesses there is no one to sue-there is no chain of evidence in america to prove where and which animals came from which located contaminated. So you are left with everything all on your own, even in Europe, France has greatly reduced the number of persons who actually consume the meat is not the entire country their statistics show only 2 percent even consume intentionally. We have horses going to auction not checked in any manner for all types of illegal or legal medications, vaccines, and other injectables and feed supplements which include Bute. These items are ALL banned from all types of animals consumed for food-this issue is not just whether this a switch and you are getting duped, but if you come up with one of the new mystery illnesses and cant get rid of it, or even get diagnosed with some rare disease chances are you may have contracted it from horse meat. If horse meat was such a great deal to eat and such a wonderful delicacy then why is it no one has EVER farmed them for meat-no one can. Even if you do not put all the dewormers,and vaccines, and etc. into the horses and farm them-they will get sick the same way mad cow happens horses get EIA, Lepto-sprisa, and an endless list of illnesses. The horse owners all give their animals a random medications all of which are capable of killing people and dogs. Understand the government veterinarians are not medical doctors for humans and they have only stated bute is lethal. And when I took a boatload of these medications to a medical doctor he said any combination of these items can have serious long term health effects or death to humans. He stated it concerns him that we are being directed by a veterinarian with the USDA that is not a medical doctor for humans on human safety issues and he also found out that the USDA Veterinarian who states bute is the primary concern also is a supporter of the slaughter industry. HE also was caught stating that the meat is shipped out of the country so what does he care who consumes it -its their problem! This is a huge chain of disgusting people who are not versed to be able to determine what is best for us. Horse people dont eat horses because we know WHAT WE PUT in them, We dont eat dinner at a local nuclear reactor so why take part in eating from one now? Change.Org Sign Petition to Overturn the Legalization of the Slaughter of US Horses for Human Consumption. The beef industry supports our country and we do not need an additional meat to consume. Especially at the risk of our children's health.

                • 3 votes
                #6.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:02 AM EST

                fb, I concur.

                • 2 votes
                #6.2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:31 AM EST

                yea what is the big deal... oh yea, horses are drugged/pumped with more chemicals than Meth lab but that cant hurt us right? come on peeps, think

                • 2 votes
                #6.4 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:10 PM EST
                Reply

                The sample of one brand sold by British supermarket kingpin Tesco was more than a quarter horse

                LOL ! Thats a good one

                • 4 votes
                Reply#7 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:27 AM EST

                Those must be some DAMN big meatballs!

                • 3 votes
                #7.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:01 AM EST

                Quarter horse? Gives new meaning to "fast food."

                • 2 votes
                #7.2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:01 AM EST

                I hear it gives you the "trots".

                • 1 vote
                #7.3 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:56 AM EST

                More like the "runs."

                • 2 votes
                #7.4 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:01 PM EST

                How Charmin!

                • 1 vote
                #7.5 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:17 PM EST
                Reply

                I've had some horse meat as a kid back in the 60s, we were poor and it was cheaper than beef. Can't remember much about it one way or another, it was food so we ate it. I do remember though that the veggie burgers back then were absolutely horrible!

                IMHO, a lot of comments on this and other articles seem to completely miss the point. Whether or not we as Americans are squeamish about eating certain animals is irrelevant. If we, as consumers buy a product labeled as beef, pork or whatever, that's what we should receive. Since horse meat is usually cheaper per pound than beef, if we're buying a horse/beef mixture at beef prices, we're getting screwed.

                Unfortunately, there will always be people who will do unsavory/questionable/illegal things to make an extra buck. That's why it always strikes me as extremely stupid that we have so many people and politicians calling for less regulation, i.e. "Let the markets police themselves", etc.

                If we could trust people to always do the right thing we wouldn't have the Ten Commandments.

                • 5 votes
                Reply#8 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:27 AM EST

                We have this taboo that because we call dogs, cats, horses our special friend they should be off the menu. Hell, George Clooney has a pet pig and I am sure he must be revolted by the thought of bacon and eggs. Jews, Muslims and Seventh-Day Adventists would become sick if they knew they had pig for dinner...it is all a matter of how one was raised.

                Knowing what you are eating as well as knowing it is safe is very important but give me a good filly cheese steak and I am a happy camper.

                  #8.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:33 AM EST

                  Hey...that pig is Clooneys' brother. George also has chickens in his back yard. He really is a redneck hillbilly you know.....Northern Kentucky born.

                    #8.2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:17 AM EST

                    For starters horse meat is healthy for you. AND for usa horse lover most of the horse meat comes from the usa.

                      #8.3 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:18 AM EST

                      That was the 1960's and we had not yet invented all the dewormers, pesticides, chemicals, vaccines, medications, illegal and legal stimulants, steriods, hormones, growth enhancers, the list goes on and on-the Federal Government banned horse meat from dog food in the 1970's the last known report of the condition of horse meat for consumption was done by USDA in the early 1980's and has been used as a very out of date reference for the safety of the general meat. So the since the 1990's we have a burst of hundreds of medications, vaccines, linaments, feeds, vitamins, supplements, and even diseases that are dangerous to human fetuses, lethal to many children, older people and infirmed, and all of them are labled by the Food and Drug Administration to not be used in animals to be consumed for food-some even say do not EVen use once in a horse that will ever be used for food, the product is known to never pass through and out of the body-it alters the horses chemistry. The racing, showing, and professionally training industry have so many things that did not exhist before to use on horses, just recently the Walking horse industry again was exposed for the second time for soring horses- they put kerosene into the hooves, it goes into the bloodstream and is highly illegal. This was not something that existed in the GOOD OLD DAYS. and to the idiots that claim its all taboo-I dont want my kids to contract a disease we cannot cure-they simply steal horses do not know what they have in them, they go to auctions and get discarded horses, even outbid good homes to buy the larger ones, do think that they tell the owners they will kill them? No, and on top of that they are seedy people who dont ask anything about the health, no vet papers, no screening, just a horse going to slaughter. The slaughter houses do not test for anything and even bute slipps through the screening they supposedly do. The run-off from the blood and fluids from the horses bodies go out into local water supplies, the stench is unbelievable and the way the slaughter houses treat the animals is horrifying to them. Look up slaughter houses in you tube-you'll change your attitude quick. Plus these houses run the businesses out of the town and do not draw new businesses they defect them, and they run down the values of the homes and destroy the economy. They promise money donations to animal protection groups and they never give it to them. So if you thought it was so great to eat in the 1960's I will grab a handle of these items and you can test them to see what they do to your body then we will all have the answer!

                      • 2 votes
                      #8.4 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:27 AM EST

                      Good post fb.

                        #8.5 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:37 AM EST

                        Philly Cheese Steak/ Filly, baby female horse. HaHa

                          #8.6 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:28 PM EST

                          fb -

                          This was not something that existed in the GOOD OLD DAYS. and to the idiots that claim its all taboo-I dont want my kids to contract a disease

                          Most reasonable people would agree that horse meat can be dangerous if they contain the chemical indicated. Cows, chicken, deer and any animal can have deceases that can hurt us if we are not careful but we test for them and keep on eating.

                          The big issue in all these articles on the subject is more about proper labeling but for people to say we should not consume horse meat because of poor Mr. Ed, hog wash, that is just an emotional taboo. Horse can be good plain and simple.

                          • 1 vote
                          #8.7 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:40 PM EST
                          Reply

                          Clearly I like horse then.

                            Reply#9 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:28 AM EST

                            In other news, Ikea announced the launch of a new food product: Mystery Meatballs...

                            • 2 votes
                            Reply#10 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:31 AM EST

                            Don't go hoarse screaming about this one! My grandfather ate horsemeat in France during the first world war. He said it was quite good; almost as good as an Ikea meatball.

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#11 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:43 AM EST
                            Roger Slasvia FacebookDeleted

                            Getty Up.

                              Reply#13 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:00 AM EST

                              AND---Humans have been eating horses for as long as anyone can find in history---

                              What you should be far more concerned about is what is in almost all your other foods and drinks---start with beer.

                              Trust me, after being to over 3000 food labs looking at all the molecules---

                                Reply#14 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:20 AM EST

                                You are really watering down the horse meat issue-people keep referencing eating animals from the past: here's today's horses, this morning I dewormer-the dewormer is so dangerous it states FATAL TO DOGS and HUMANs-use gloves, Do not use in Horses for Food Consumption AT all.. then I administer the 5-way vaccine which injects bacteria that stays in the horses bodies for up to and over a year. Then it states can kill dogs and humans, if accidentally injected into human go to the hospital for immediate treatment, NOT for use in Food consumed by humans, I administed Cortizone shots, growth stimulant, and antiflammatories, all dangerous and if you do use gloves with Equioxx some serious side effect do result-discontinue handling immediately. Has been known to cause seizures in humans. I have a list that goes on and on of drugs banned from the USDA and FDA and some The CDC has its own set of restrictions on-so dont tell me horses are safe to eat. Outdated information from the USDA from the 1980's is the only reference people are using and since that date horses have had tremendous amounts of diseases develope that are so serious the horse world has had to mandate a regimen of treatment and control in breeding, handling, quaranteed and body removal proceedures, some of these animals are sent straight to be butchered. If the Center For Disease Control ever found out Hepatitis, AIDS, HYPP< EPM< EIA and LEPT-sprirosa was being transported illegally across the states and not destroyed and burned to stop the spread of these outbreaks they would shut all this down! You have to be crazy to eat a track horse shot up with illegal and legal medications, breeding horses with all kinds of products, and injured show horses with the highest quality medications to keep them going. Horse people do not eat horses because they dont want to die! this is the best kept secret in horses and we know that we are not going to eat what might potentially kill our children. They ship it overseas without regulations, checks for safety and they say its overseas they do not know these people, I say lets just step back stop it all.

                                • 1 vote
                                #14.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:38 AM EST
                                Reply

                                tesco's meat must be good if they use "QUARTER HORSE" ?as stated those are mad expensive breed

                                  Reply#15 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:22 AM EST

                                  With the news media You will probably now have a new label, which will cost you more to get your food,, Maybe this is just so that they can raise prices on BEEF,,, Where's the Beefllll? LOL

                                    Reply#16 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:26 AM EST

                                    If I eat one will they make me a stallion?

                                      Reply#17 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:34 AM EST

                                      It is a labeling and testing issue. I have no problem eating most animal meats and living in Asia for years I ate some pretty interesting stuff but if the label says beef it should be beef. Any domesticated animal that goes in the food chain should be tested for safety. I suspect if we had legal slaughterhouses for horse in the United States we would test just like we do for beef and pork. I am not sure of the emotional disrinction between cows and horses but I know when I lived in France I ate horse meat. Tastes fine.

                                      • 1 vote
                                      Reply#18 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:34 AM EST

                                      And to make it even worse, I had to assemble the meatballs when I got home.

                                      • 2 votes
                                      Reply#19 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:37 AM EST

                                      I have been eating these meatballs at IKEA in Belgium for over two years now and only had one side effect. My wife says I have the sexually appetite of a Stallion now. I thought it was being cause from getting more sun on my privates than I can get in the USA.

                                        Reply#20 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:41 AM EST

                                        More sun in Belgium than the US?

                                          #20.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:49 AM EST

                                          No, less clothing

                                            #20.2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:11 AM EST

                                            Maybe his wife is a nag?

                                            • 1 vote
                                            #20.3 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:05 AM EST

                                            "Well I been through the IKEA factory...... I'm a horse with no name."

                                            "It felt good to be off...... to the range."

                                            "On the package....they can't remember your name."

                                              #20.4 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 1:26 PM EST
                                              Reply

                                              I was poor and our nanny ,on a very tight budget, served us,the kids, horse meat a lot. Dad asked he almost daily to swear that it was beef and not horse meat. She did. Later she told us the truth as we grew into adults. I still want to eat horse meat since is delicious and tasty and also reminds me of my much beloved saintly nanny.

                                                Reply#21 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:44 AM EST

                                                You are really just an idiot-I hate slaughter people-you all try to make it sound oh so great-I would wager you have never ate horse meat and this is just a way to make another poor joke at some animals expense. People this is a serious issue please read my other posts. The USDA and FDA are not testing animals for the real issues and I will promise you the meat and horses of 50 years ago were not loaded with drugs, pesticides, and chemicals, now since the 90's we have gotten proficient in science and we are giving our horses the most remarkable chemistry that ever been invented and it is dangerous to humans in fact so dangerous that the legality of horse meat for human consumption was banned since the 60's and if you dont really understand what that means they banned it from dog food Federally for killing dogs in the 1970's so let's get out time tables and data straight and keep the meats separate. Horses are not food sources, and the other countries are actually presenting data that states they actually dont consume as much as we think they are. Some countries are using the horses for their zoo animals and are not having very good results but that's why the purchasing. Obviously there are dark sinister people who are placing this in everything and trust me as our economy has gone down hill these shady companies how found ways to do things to the public that wont allow them to ever be trusted again.

                                                • 1 vote
                                                #21.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:45 AM EST

                                                Are the horses of other countries loaded with drugs or is this just the US that does that?

                                                  #21.2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:01 PM EST
                                                  Reply

                                                  The point is that meat should be properly labeled. It needs to say what it is. It is that simple.

                                                  I have no problem at all with eating horse meat.

                                                  • 4 votes
                                                  Reply#22 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:48 AM EST
                                                  Reply

                                                  Hell-o ..... I was Mr. Ed - Willlbbuurrr !!!

                                                  • 1 vote
                                                  Reply#23 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:57 AM EST

                                                  How about some Road Applesauce with that horseburger, sir?

                                                    Reply#24 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:57 AM EST

                                                    Now I know why swedish meatballs are so cheap in Ikea - you can eat them for a dollar before 11AM!

                                                      Reply#25 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:05 AM EST

                                                      What's the big deal? Horse meat is perfectly safe to eat, and tastes great too.

                                                      I had horsemeat sausage when stationed in Italy

                                                      I had dog when stationed in Korea

                                                      I had some kind of cat when serving in Africa

                                                      I had monkey in Panama

                                                      Goat in Saudi Arabia

                                                      God knows what when "visiting" little villages in Afghanistan.

                                                      My dad was a big game hunter, so I've also had bear, mountain lion, caribou, deer, moose, squirrel, pheasant, duck, quail, goose, rabbit.

                                                      I prefer Bison over beef, but it's so expensive now.

                                                      Horse isn't that exotic when you think about it.

                                                        Reply#26 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:09 AM EST

                                                        When I was a kid we had fish eye soup (delicacy, lots of fish to get enough eyes), mountain oysters, cow tongue, curry goat (meeeeee). Lots of people commonly eat tripe (taste like sheite) so how can that be better than a good filly steak with mushrooms, horse radish, baked potato and a lobster.

                                                          #26.1 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:27 AM EST

                                                          exactly my point! There is plenty of weird stuff to chow on out there, and horse isn't that weird.

                                                            #26.2 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:54 AM EST

                                                            It may not be weird, but slaughterhouses are out to sell it and obviously contort what you are buying-I want clean lean beef, not doctrinated, and destroyed with contaminates and we are getting to where buying at a grocery store is no longer a viable option. There is no longer a guarantee that the stores are not aware of the changes, they know and they enjoy the extra profits while we are suffering not knowing why.....I dont trust a horse trader, and no slaughter house, the beef producers should take heed-this is a warning to them, that seedy individuals will come in when they open the first horse slaughter house and they will ruin RUIN the beef industries profits and they dont care at all. So what once was-will never be unless we take a stand and fight against this. No exports and no local sales of horsemeat is our only safeguard. The other countries are not aware of the growing technologies, and chemicals in horses in USA and they are not yet fully aware of the situation and how sick they can become.

                                                            • 1 vote
                                                            #26.3 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:52 AM EST

                                                            fb - you are being emotional, don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

                                                            They warn you about eating fish from the great lakes, too much mercury but we don't stop eating fish because the sources are known to be safe and we manage quite well.

                                                            If we were use to eating horse meat safety would not be different than it is for cows, fish or chicken. Don't muddy the water with scare tactics that can't be dealt with properly.

                                                            • 1 vote
                                                            #26.4 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 12:44 PM EST

                                                            Scare Tactics??? A you a killer buyer? Cause there are NO regulations on horses, your beef and other meats aside from deer are farmed and they are tended too with consistent healthier standards and regulations. These men and women who take horses to slaughter get them from all types of places, they do not care where they come from -there is no scare tactic. This is a real confirmed issue-people who buyt horses to kill actually just go out to the sites and they buy horses from auction houses without documents, vet checks, come on out to the local sale barn and see they seedy group that comes to the nice sale barn and find out how they pick a horse-that one, this one, no documents, no questions, and u think that is the way to buy meat. Why do you think the meat producers are constantly unders scrutiny? They have to document everything about their cattle, provide papers on their vet care, what they ingest, and how frequently fed. Cattle growers are being particular about what types of cattle they butcher. None of that goes on in horses because if it did. The Beef Associations would be out of business just slaughter for horses was put out of business, and previously was never allowed for human consumption. So before you try to oust the truth as propaganda please follow me and I will steop you through how horses are bought and treated and sold to slaughter. It's a chain that of events that change what you think. Plus go to you tube and look up the horse slaughter videos by all means see how humane supposedly this is. I love horses yes, and for you to insult me, im a professional trainer by saying our love of our animals is ridiculous nonsense is because you have never had the benefit of a truly amazing relationship with a horse, or seen one get a paralyzised person to walk again, or work as a seeing eye miniature horse, so /I am apologetic to your loss of humanity and concern. My believe is if you put on blinders you will die in the darkness of your narrow minded ways.

                                                              #26.5 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:25 PM EST
                                                              Reply

                                                              I'll be damned if my recliner is made out of horse meat and not 100% beef.

                                                              • 1 vote
                                                              Reply#27 - Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:11 AM EST
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