Seriously Though - The Horse Meat Question....

[Mosaic]

...namely, why don't we eat horses in the UK and Eire?
From the outside ie the world of horse-eaters it must seem very odd that all this fuss is being made apparently over a nice cut of meat.
It's easy to see that in Jewish and Islamic practices pig meat is seen as not for eating - because their writings say so. But what is it that 'says' we don't eat meat?
Having done so when in foreign parts I can say as meat goes it seemed fine.

[ChillDoubt]

Should have added it's also why the theft of Shergar became such an emotive issue in Ireland.
People the length and breadth of Ireland were aghast and deeply shocked that any Irishman could have anything to do with such a crime, in a country renowned for and steeped in its history and love of horses and horse racing.

[hc4361]

I'll eat any herbivore - rabbit, beef, lamb, horse - and any type of bird or fowl.

I won't eat any animal that eats animals.

[Zeuhl]

Aren't pigs more intelligent than horses?

And just as capable of bonding with human beings as dogs - given the opportunity?

Perhaps pigs should employ the PR company horses and dogs have been using

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Never mind the burgers....have you tried Tesco meatballs there the dogs b####cks

[shoota]

Pigeon is good if prepared properly, it contains no fat so it must be kept moist and not overcooked otherwise it goes like leather.
I havn't had it in a 'pigeon pie' but I have had it in a game pie but under those circumstances it is difficult ti isolate the flavour.
I suppose the closest taste is turkey leg when roasted or casseroled.
That is wild woodpigeon, not the domestic pigeons that are bred for food on the continent.
Wild rabbit pie is delicious!

[Mosaic]

Jno, eating horse meat is perfectly normal in many parts of the world.

[Mosaic]

I think mamyalynne's link gives the most believable explanation - namely the papal ban of 732, which surely was a way of identifying pagans ie horse-eaters = pagans = bad.
I believe a similar explanation explains the dominance of pork in Spanish cuisine - pork eaters = not Moors or Jews.
Thanks folks!

[emmie]

that wasn't the issue, it was because the burgers were supposed to be beef, you know cows, so why on earth should they find traces of horses in them.
If some want to eat horsemeat go ahead, but don't pass it off as something else.

[baza]

eaten horse and rabbit, horse was better , no buckshot.

[emmie]

i wonder whether anyone who does not eat pork for religious reasons, who may eat beef burgers, would take it too kindly to find that said burgers also contained pork, if your religion dictates otherwise.

[tamborine]

Horses were more valuable as work tools. If redundant, they're worthy as a food source.

All those race horses will make us run faster