A huge kick off today over the finding of horse meat in some beef burgers at several well known retailers. Cue the deluge of jokes on FB and other mediums. There really was a groundswell of disgust against this as well.
I had to think about why people are quite happy to eat Pork, Lamb, Beef, Chicken, Duck etc etc etc. But not horse. Is there any logic to that? Are they seen as pets, are they historically seen as helping man in war and at work before mechanisation. Is it simpler than that and they are considered companions like the Dog. You wouldn't eat a pet would you? Are they also considered cute or noble? We are quite happy to breed some animals for slaughter but not the horse. I really don't know.
Why do we cherish some species over others, if it is such a shock why don't people consider going Vegan and keep all meat off their plates.
Or is it a basic case of xenophobia because the French eat them, the English won't..