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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/17/eat-horsemeat-not-british-dilemma
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To eat horsemeat or not – a very British dilemma | To eat horsemeat or not – a very British dilemma |
(4 months later) | |
It is concerning to see your report (Horsemeat discovered in burgers sold by four British supermarkets, 16 January), but this is by no means a new problem. Adulteration of foods, meaning the addition of impure, improper, or inferior ingredients, has been identified in the UK since the 1800s. Bakers would whiten their bread with chalk and sawdust and brewers would add bitter substances to save on the cost of hops. The first Food Adulteration Act was passed in the UK in 1860. However, worrying cases, concerning not only food standards but food safety, have continued to surface. One such case was in 1985, when European wine was found to be adulterated with diethylene glycol, commonly used as a component of "antifreeze". | It is concerning to see your report (Horsemeat discovered in burgers sold by four British supermarkets, 16 January), but this is by no means a new problem. Adulteration of foods, meaning the addition of impure, improper, or inferior ingredients, has been identified in the UK since the 1800s. Bakers would whiten their bread with chalk and sawdust and brewers would add bitter substances to save on the cost of hops. The first Food Adulteration Act was passed in the UK in 1860. However, worrying cases, concerning not only food standards but food safety, have continued to surface. One such case was in 1985, when European wine was found to be adulterated with diethylene glycol, commonly used as a component of "antifreeze". |
Food adulteration has been here since the beginning of time and, despite the measures taken to enforce food standards, will keep food authorities busy for many years to come. Dr Louise Manning Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester | Food adulteration has been here since the beginning of time and, despite the measures taken to enforce food standards, will keep food authorities busy for many years to come. Dr Louise Manning Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester |
• While the thought of unexpectedly tucking into a horse burger shocked the nation, we ask that the public spare a thought for all the other animals slaughtered for their flesh. Britons who say no to horsemeat do so because they find ponies lovable, but lambs, pigs, chickens and others are killed for food without many people batting an eyelid or considering their ordeal. One might question why one species is petted and the others ground up without a thought. If this story has shocked people, Peta suggests that they reject all meat of tortured animals. We stand ready to help. Ben Williamson Peta | • While the thought of unexpectedly tucking into a horse burger shocked the nation, we ask that the public spare a thought for all the other animals slaughtered for their flesh. Britons who say no to horsemeat do so because they find ponies lovable, but lambs, pigs, chickens and others are killed for food without many people batting an eyelid or considering their ordeal. One might question why one species is petted and the others ground up without a thought. If this story has shocked people, Peta suggests that they reject all meat of tortured animals. We stand ready to help. Ben Williamson Peta |
• Your readers may be amused to hear that all the horsemeat I've seen in French supermarkets (not a very significant proportion of the meat on display, actually) has been sourced from the UK. Liz Whittome Charentes, France | • Your readers may be amused to hear that all the horsemeat I've seen in French supermarkets (not a very significant proportion of the meat on display, actually) has been sourced from the UK. Liz Whittome Charentes, France |
• You say there shouldn't be any risks from simply eating horsemeat (Focus on suppliers, 17 January). However, that depends on how the animals were slaughtered and butchered. Some years ago I visited a laboratory where they were investigating, on behalf of the local council, some meat sold as pet food. Several dogs had died after eating it. The meat, which turned out to be horsemeat, had come from an animal which had been "put down" by a massive overdose of barbiturates – a fate probably suffered by many horses kept as pets in this country. Dr DCH McBrien Maidenhead, Berkshire | • You say there shouldn't be any risks from simply eating horsemeat (Focus on suppliers, 17 January). However, that depends on how the animals were slaughtered and butchered. Some years ago I visited a laboratory where they were investigating, on behalf of the local council, some meat sold as pet food. Several dogs had died after eating it. The meat, which turned out to be horsemeat, had come from an animal which had been "put down" by a massive overdose of barbiturates – a fate probably suffered by many horses kept as pets in this country. Dr DCH McBrien Maidenhead, Berkshire |
• Geordie readers of a certain age will remember a particular brand of pie known as "racers", relished precisely because the last horse in every race went into them. David Feintuck Lewes, East Sussex | • Geordie readers of a certain age will remember a particular brand of pie known as "racers", relished precisely because the last horse in every race went into them. David Feintuck Lewes, East Sussex |
• In Cambridge, most butchers proudly advertise the local speciality – Newmarket sausages. One is now looking forward to a local promotion of Tesco's "Newmarket value beefburgers". Simon Sedgwick-Jell Cambridge | • In Cambridge, most butchers proudly advertise the local speciality – Newmarket sausages. One is now looking forward to a local promotion of Tesco's "Newmarket value beefburgers". Simon Sedgwick-Jell Cambridge |
• Couldn't they just have relabelled the burgers "May contain horse" and let us decide for ourselves? Robert Harris Dursley, Gloucestershire | • Couldn't they just have relabelled the burgers "May contain horse" and let us decide for ourselves? Robert Harris Dursley, Gloucestershire |
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