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Raw horse meat - Source: Close Up -
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An inquiry is underway into the illegal sale of horse meat intended for pet food but being eaten by some Aucklanders.
Food Safety New Zealand is taking action after Close Up revealed on Monday night that the Tuakau Pet Food Abbatoir has been selling the unsafe meat for people to eat.
An actor was able to buy meat, labelled "not fit for human consumption", and it has also been found on sale at South Auckland markets.
"Some members of the Tongan community do eat horse. A lot of people claim that its a delicacy," says Chairman of the Tongan Advisory Council Melino Maka.
Loi Hoosi is a common Tongan dish made from horse meat and at South Auckland markets the dish can be bought for $5.
"The meat is pre-cook and after that they shred it and then cook it with coconut oil," says Maka.
The underground horse meat trade is rife. Maka has been trying to shut the trade down for three years unsuccessfully.
Safety standards for processing pet food are much lower than those for meat intended for humans.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority is now investigating and has asked for copies of Close Up's footage.
The way that they were promoting it for fit for human consumption makes the deception a breach of the Animal Products Act," says Geoff Allen, New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
The sale of unsafe meat carries a penalty of up to $500,000.
What do you think of this whole issue? Share your thoughts on the messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentArie 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?