Why is it taboo to eat horse?

Horses became a taboo meat in the ancient Middle East, possibly because they were associated with companionship, royalty, and war. The Book of Leviticus rules out eating horse, and in 732 Pope Gregory III instructed his subjects to stop eating horse because it was an “impure and detestable” pagan meat.

Why is horse meat forbidden?

The primary reason horse meat is taboo is because horses are considered valuable pets and culturally respected animals. Besides, people fear horse meat might be infected with harmful drugs. Some Christian schools of thought also discourage eating horses.

Is horse meat illegal in the UK?

Horsemeat in the UK is not illegal, and any risk to health identified by authorities stems from the horse painkiller ‘bute’ making its way into the food chain. The health risk is described as “very low”, however the social taboo of eating the meat is substantial.

Is eating horse illegal in America?

Horse meat is generally not eaten in the United States, and is banned in many states across the country. It holds a taboo in American culture very similar to the one found in the United Kingdom.

When did people start eating horses?

It’s believed that humans have eaten horse meat since prehistoric times, but a modern distaste for eating horse dates back to 732 A.D. That’s the year that Pope Gregory III sent a letter to his buddy Boniface that said the ritual consumption of horse meat was a pagan practice that had to be abolished.

What does Donkey taste like?

It tastes nothing like pork or beef. For obvious reasons, it does taste a little like horse, only it is sweeter and more tender.”

Why is there a taboo against eating horses in America?

Horses are also not particularly efficient in converting grass and grain into meat, which diminishes their desirability as food. But the taboo in the United States is also tied to the perception that horses fall into or near the category of pets with distinct personalities.

When did people start eating horses in Europe?

By the 16th century, hippophagy—the practice of eating horse meat—had become a capital offense in France. However, a combination of Enlightenment rationalism, the Napoleonic Wars, and a rising population of urban working horses led European nations to experiment with horse meat in the 19th century.

What cultures eat horse meat?

In many other nations, however, eating horse meat is no big deal-and in some cultures, it’s even considered a delicacy. Mexico, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Japan, Germany, Indonesia, Poland and China are among the nations where many people eat horse meat without a second thought.

Why don’t we use horses for food?

One reason that horses have never been used primarily for food, Bellows said, was economic: A young horse had more use as a worker or mode of transportation, and once the horse got too old to work its meat was not particularly desirable. ( Glue is another story .)