Every time I turn on Sky News, the main story still seems to be the horsemeat 'scandal'. While I appreciate that the British culture and most of the Western world does not involve the eating of horsemeat, it must be remembered that many European countries condone it, regarding it as just another form of protein, similar to eating cows. I am unable to comment on whether Eastern cultures eat horsemeat, but considering that cats and dogs form part of some menus, there is no reason not to believe that all animals are considered 'fair game' by one culture or another, depending on what is available in the environment.
Those who have indulged are quite open about how tender and tasty it is and that it is their meat of choice. For vegetarians, all forms of meat eating are taboo and repulsive to them, while certain religions forbid any contact with pork. Maybe they would eat horses. I haven't studied the subject, but it would be interesting to know.
However, the extent of the outrage and investigative journalism going on seems a little out of proportion when considering that the vast majority of the population is prepared and indeed eager to eat burgers, fried chicken, processed meats and a variety of fast foods that are so far removed from a piece of 'virgin' meat as could be dreamt of in Horatio's philosophy! I would be far more frightened of eating these than a horse steak.
While a nation that invented the deep-fried Mars Bar as a takeaway snack foams at the mouth at having been illicitly served a slice of a beloved domesticated animal, one wonders what really important events are being allowed to slip by unnoticed in the background while the popular press and government mouthpieces grind this headline news out day after day.
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