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Mairéad | all galleries >> Galleries >> A Slice of Life > You Ate What??.
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07-Mar-2013

You Ate What??.

Consumers in Ireland and the UK have been shocked to discover that they have been eating horse meat in a number of processed meals which were supposed to contain beef.
It's not just the sentimentality - unlike our continental neighbours we consider horses to be pets (or bets)- but also the health implications as this meat found its way into a number of products produced by well known brands via a very murky trail.
Aside from spawning numerous bad jokes and puns, the scandal has again tested the faith of consumers and shown the need for more rigorous controls and testing throughout the food industry.
And, proving that every cloud has a silver lining, traditional butchers have been reporting a major boost in sales since the scandal broke.

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slhoornstra14-Mar-2013 07:45
Horses are not food!! A beautiful little portrait. V
deborahcuming10-Mar-2013 04:22
what better way to spread the 'dreaded word' - right from the mouth of a gorgeous horse! lovely shot and a story that will rattle my gut for a long time. V
Alan K10-Mar-2013 00:06
This one seems more amused than outraged; possibly some "frenemies" ended up in the mix. Good framing; keeps the focus right on the eyes.
borisalex09-Mar-2013 07:38
It is because of the money and ignorance about good food, actually it is not expensive to make your own lasagne ,just a little bit work! V.
Brenda09-Mar-2013 01:06
We have eaten less and less meat over the years and now are eating less dairy as well. I know that there are issues with plant-based foods but at least they do not have eyes and a beating heart!
Máire Uí Mhaicín08-Mar-2013 20:22
This one looks happy and I'm sure he'll never end up in a lasagna.
LynnH08-Mar-2013 17:41
Beautiful horse! I'm from Texas and one of our main exports is beef. I'm not opposed to eating horse meat, or any other critter for that matter... as long as it is not endangered and as long as it is labeled properly.
Barbara Heide08-Mar-2013 16:00
wonderful portrait!
Tom LeRoy08-Mar-2013 15:24
An excellent portrait of this beautiful horse. It is high time that consumers realize that quality is more important than quantity. Glad to hear that local butchers finally are appreciated again. V
pkocinski08-Mar-2013 13:54
What a beautiful horse!
Neal Nye08-Mar-2013 12:12
Can that be worse than the inhumane and unsanitary way beef cattle are raised on industrial farms? Aside from all that, it's a fine portrait of your equine friend!
Noël08-Mar-2013 10:09
Excellent photo and a very apt commentary with which I entirely agree. v
Janice Dunn08-Mar-2013 09:22
Poor horse - he must be worried going to sleep each night! He's a beautiful fellow.
The scandal is terrible - and I bet it's been happening for years
Mieke WA Minkjan08-Mar-2013 07:15
nice photo of the horse, Mairead V
there is nothing wrong eating horse meat, the taste is even better then that of a beef steak
the problem is that in the long food chain many things can go wrong, like this affair showed, but since then there have been already new scandals
I'm vegetarian, so I know what I eat
Sheila08-Mar-2013 06:50
A brilliant depiction of the theme, Mairéad ! Very clever.
John Reynolds LRPS08-Mar-2013 06:06
Great portrait. V.
Leo08-Mar-2013 02:35
Lovely horse photo!
The horse meat scandal has crept into the U.S., though I suspect it has been hidden here for awhile. Some states want to legalize it. I hope they fail to do so.
sue anne08-Mar-2013 01:33
Beautiful horse with a mustache.
I have heard about the UK but now I hear USA may be getting a horse butchering too.
I rather eat 100 % beef but these days, one never knows.
(we get our beef from the local farmers that raise and sell the whole cow)
Frank Brault08-Mar-2013 01:10
At least it helped the butchers. A lovely portrait. V
Karen Stuebing07-Mar-2013 23:26
What a beautiful horse. I cannot believe anyone would want to eat horse meat. The image provokes a visceral response when combined with the story. V.
Brian Samuel07-Mar-2013 22:59
Hard to believe what people in the food industry have got away with! I don't really want to eat dobbin, but I care more that people have been able to pass it off as beef.
I really wouldn't want to eat this horse!
John Lamb07-Mar-2013 22:47
It's a sign of the times. Criminal gangs can now make more out of food than drugs. When they start adding sick animals into the food chain the Mad Cow scare will look like a minor blip.
Helen Betts07-Mar-2013 22:38
Such a beautiful portrait, Margaret! Interesting information as well. V.
Johnny JAG07-Mar-2013 22:24
Nice portrait and well done on the commentary.
laine07-Mar-2013 22:20
It is scandalous...almost fell off my Ikea stool when I heard they were involved too. Australia Ikea was quick to respond with a report that our all Australian made products are 100% Australian beef.
The latest we hear is Iceland " meat products " have no meat at all in them!!
My son owns a butcher shop and all I can say is go support them, stop buying and paying for rubbish that makes life easy, demand the rules for proper control be adhered to.

Love your beautiful steed shot, Mairead!!
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