Pet food sold as human food

Published: 8:20PM Monday August 31, 2009 Source: Close Up

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Would you be interested in buying some fine looking lean red meat for just three dollars a kilo? Would you be deterred if we told you it was horse meat and it came from a pet food factory?

READ SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE RECEIVED ON THIS STORY

It seems thousands of Aucklanders are eating horse, produced as pet food, but falsely sold as fit for human consumption.

As the Close Up special investigation revealed it is also being sold cooked at markets and at fundraisers as a delicacy. You may have eaten it without even knowing.

Reporter Matt Chisholm lifted the lid on the illegal trade and gets a roughing up for his trouble.

What do you think of this whole issue? Share your thoughts on the messageboard below.

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  • Arie said on 2009-09-01 @ 13:30 NZDT: Report abusive post

    Our family have been butchers in Beverwijk North Holland and sold hors meat since 1920. In the Netherlands you have horse meat shops only. There is a lot of iron in it. Why to obtain 5x 200ml iron in hospital? Pregnant ladies were always advised by there doctor to consume horse steak. Why is it only for export? We love it, why can't we buy it in NZ. Arie

  • amc176 said on 2009-09-01 @ 10:35 NZDT: Report abusive post

    People should be concerned about eating horse meat. Horses generally live a lot longer than sheep and cows, therefore, they bio-accumulate more heavy metals and toxins, especially in their internal organs. one example is cadmium levels in offal, they are known to be higher in the livers and kidneys of horses and other long lived animals (e.g. moose) than sheep and cows. This is one of the reasons why offal can not be sold from animals that are over the age of 2.5yrs.

  • mouthguard said on 2009-09-01 @ 09:57 NZDT: Report abusive post

    wow, people are precious about horses eh? And racist too as it turns out. It isn't just Tongans that eat horses Marise (I am not even sure they do), travel to Italy and you will see dedicated equine butchers shops. man alive, expand your thoughts and lay off the bigotry. Unless you are vegan, you have no moral high-ground here. Horse meat is just meat. Why is it suddenly dirty or not fit for human consumption?

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