Shock as Glasgow restaurant introduces Horse Meat dishes

We like to use this blog as a way of spread horsey news from all over the world and from across the Web, and also to give you valuable info and advice on common matters of interest for modern horse owners as well as useful products and devices that might be of interest also. 

However, occasionally there is the opportunity to use this platform to explore slightly deeper Equine issues; one of which being the recent Supermarket scandal regarding the emergence of Horse Meat in some 'processed 'beef' products. 

As some of you will likely already be aware, the story has taken on a life of its own over the past month or so especially, with every news day bringing some new angle of the story to light. 

Well, popular Glasgow restaurant, Stravaigin, has weighed into the debate over the recent Supermarket Horse Meat scandal in typically bold fashion by announcing that it will now be serving Horse Meat Lasagne. 

The announcement was made on the restaurant's official Facebook page; to say the news was met with a mixed reaction would be an understatement.


Here is the original announcement: 

"NEWS FLASH!
In true Stravaigin fashion, from 5pm on Friday 1st March, we will be serving up 100% horse lasagne. 

In our research we found that numerous cultures have been eating mare, mustang and filly long before it became the topic of scandalous conversations in the UK.

Not convinced? Well hay! (Sorry) It’s wonderfully healthy, with half the fat of beef and ten times the cholesterol shattering Omega 3s so gallop in."

It is true that other countries are no strangers to eating horse and other animals and there is certainly a debate to be had over why it is OK to eat some animals and not others, but is this announcement in poor taste, given the timing and the upset caused by some of the recent revelations made about malpractice regarding the illegal production of Horse Meat?

Several commenters on the now infamous post certainly think so:

"Sick never eating at Stravagins again yuk and remove from FB"

"Stupid PR stunt that makes me lose respect for such an otherwise fine restaurant..."

"Hope you are kidding regarding this horse meat thing. Maybe good for a wee bit free publicity but I will never eat in your restaurant again. Think you've made a big mistake with this."

However there a considerable few in favour: 

"Open your minds a little! We all seem so content to eat lamb and veal...where does horse cross the line? I salute you Stravaigin!"

Horse Passports not effective enough

More work needs to be done to track horses
 properly says RSPCA

The recent supermarket Horse Meat Scandal has rocked the Equestrian Community. As more stringent measures are being called for in an attempt to monitor the illegal and inhumane treatment of Horses for the food trade, animal rights charity RSPCA says it is concerned about the usefulness of the horse passport system, which aims to keep track of horses for disease control.
​
It has found that three quarters of the horses they take in do not have passports and are not microchipped, which is a legal requirement.
A lack of enforcement means that owners don't keep passports updated.

This makes it much more difficult to track down those responsible if there are concerns about horses' welfare.

RSPCA equine co-ordinator Cathy Hyde, said:  "The passport system is failing and a shocking 75 per cent of horses coming into RSPCA care are not microchipped. 

"Horses can change hands for a small amount of money and end up in the hands of irresponsible owners and traders."
They are calling on the Government to take the issue more seriously.