PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS OF HORSEMEAT
AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Quotes are taken from a review published January 26, 2023, titled
A review of horses sent to slaughter for human consumption: impact of horsemeat consumption, residual banned drugs, and public health risks
…the exportation of American horses across both borders for the sole purpose of slaughter for human consumption must end.
Surely if more people in North America and the rest of the world realized that horses and other equines are slaughtered for human consumption in Canada and Mexico, the slaughter of all equines would be banned.
Horses slaughtered in Canada and Mexico include horses exported in leg-breaking trailers from the USA for as long as 3 days without food or water or vet care.
The horses slaughtered include a small percentage raised specifically for meat but the vast majority are pet horses, rodeo and racing “stock”.
In other words, horses that have at the very least been treated with wormers and, in many cases, other drugs that are not meant ever to enter the human food chain.
And before you think it doesn’t matter to you because you don’t eat horsemeat…
In 2015 a study at the University of Guelph, sponsored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency found that horsemeat shows up on Canadian grocery store shelves marked as other than horsemeat.
In other words, if you are Canadian and eating meat you may be eating toxic horsemeat without knowing it.
Perhaps even more disturbing the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was quoted as saying, they were NOT surprised horsemeat is being sold in Canada marked as other than horsemeat.
Food prices have risen dramatically since 2015, so it makes sense that food fraud may also be on the rise. Purchasing a horse not raised for slaughter, a discarded pet or racehorse for example is far cheaper than buying beef cattle raised under strict protocols.
Keep reading to learn why millions of pounds of horsemeat produced in Canada is toxic.
Previous work showed that 18 Thoroughbred racehorses purchased by rescues that would have otherwise been sold for export for the sole purpose of slaughter to produce meat for human consumption were administered [highly toxic to humans] phenylbutazone.
“Horses are prone to developing musculoskeletal injuries due to their various roles including pleasure riding, hunter/jumper, racing, and other performance-type work.
The most common drug to treat musculoskeletal injuries in horses is phenylbutazone.
Based on the annual sales of phenylbutazone [commonly known as BUTE] in the United States, our group estimated that every adult horse receives at least 1 dose of phenylbutazone during its lifetime.
There are 500 pounds of dressed horsemeat per horse.
The number of American horses exported to Canada for slaughter in 2019 was 10,486; this translates into 5,243,000 pounds of dressed horsemeat.”
Given that the US Department of Agriculture does not have a system to remove horses administered banned substances from the slaughter pipeline, more than 5,000,000 pounds of dressed horsemeat sent to the EU and non-EU countries in 2019 were likely contaminated with banned substances.
“The FDA considers American horses as companion animals and as such all approved drugs can be administered.
The “administration” of phenylbutazone or any other banned substance is not allowed in food-producing animals.
Both EU and non-EU governments have published a list of banned drugs and drugs with withdrawal periods.”
The magnitude of the issue is further complicated by the fact that Canadian residue testing represents less than 1% of the total carcasses tested.
You can read the full review from the American Veterinary Medical Association here.
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