By Masimba Mukichi
Our world is a rainbow world. It has many cultures, traditions, beliefs and various food habits. To point a finger at what is eaten in China, Zimbabwe or France is counter-productive. People have choices to eat what they like.
The adage one man’s meat is another man’s poison aptly sums up the reason why horse meat is a delicacy in central Asia, Japan, Belgium, Northern Italy, Spain, and France.
The adage also says it all why horse meat is not a delicacy in the United Kingdom, America, Zimbabwe and many other countries. Of late Europe was ravaged by the worst horse meat scandal. Traces of horse DNA were found in frozen hamburgers patties and beef lasagnas. As a preventive measure supermarkets in the UK had to remove these products from the freezers.
Those who have a good appetite for horse meat say that horse meat is sweet, tender and rich in protein. They also claim that it has low fat – they subscribe to the view that horse meat is superb for barbecue on a sunny day at the beach. They claim it is enjoyable when flavoured with spices and accompanied by a chilly glass of wine – they allege it only takes a master chef to spoil you rotten with horse dish.
Even though there are some people who enjoy eating horse meat – the majority of people on the globe can’t stomach it. Why are many people against eating horse meat? This remains the burning question seeking answers.
The opinion of many people is that horse meat is not fit for human consumption because horses have been there for mankind since time immemorial – horses are regarded as mankind’s best pets like cats and dogs. Some people take horses as their babes – they can even include their horses in the dying will. To these people and others it doesn’t augur well to enjoy a meal of an animal they value as their beloved child – it is an act of abomination.
Roles of horses to mankind make them closer at heart to humans hence it doesn’t augur well to deep fat fly horse meat and enjoy eating the obedient servant of humans – the horse. Horses are seen taking part in wars, films, weddings and funerals – some are even Hollywood stars, it doesn’t sound proper to betray the bond and closeness which exist between horses and mankind by having a voracious appetite for horse meat.
Eating horse meat seems not to be in the interest of many pets lovers. The chemical bute which is used to treat horses is known to have detrimental effects to humans. Eating horse meat can result in one ingesting the chemical bute which is like a time bomb to health.
Horses are known and respected for their good learning skills and the manner they obey commands of their owners – the human race. They are really beautiful companions of humans. Eating their meat is like eating part of your heart and soul – it sounds scandalous to enjoy a dish of horse meat.
Horses provide entertainment to mankind at race courses, many people can win loads of money after betting correctly for the winning horse. Horses should have proper burials not for them to find their way in supermarkets for human consumption.
Those who enjoy horse meat are not begrudged by anyone – it’s a matter of one man’s meat is another man’s poison. That’s why I conclude by pausing this question to the readers of this piece – Is horse meat really bad for human consumption? The onus is individualistic.
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