IKEA (Now Taco Bell and other food agencies) Meatball scandal increasingly disturbing

[Pea-n-Me]

First, we learn the meatballs sold in Europe contain horsemeat. Sausages, too. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323384604578325864020138732.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Now we hear that China has stopped selling them, too - not because they contain horsemeat, but because they're made in China!

Quartz reports:

“I don’t really care about horse meat. The key point is that if it’s produced in China, it probably has rat meat,” said another [Weibo user] (link in Chinese)….

Still another was even more skeptical. ”In Europe, profiteers just added a bit of horse meat to beef. But in China, you don’t even know if what you’re eating is actually meat,”he said (link in Chinese). http://grist.org/list/chinese-ikea-...ication&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_food

What's next?

Taco Bell update post #37

 

[mombrontrent]

One more reason I am glad I don't eat meat! On a more serious note I am appalled that this is happening because of mislableing. If it could happen to meatballs it could happen to my beanballs as well, not that I actually buy premade beanballs but that is not the point. I hate to think that products are mislabled as I am an avid label reader and I want to know exactly what me and my family are consuming.

 

[Bonnie151]

One more reason I am glad I don't eat meat!

Someone on the Independent's comment section recently said they ought to test Quorn products to doublecheck there's no meat in them!

Honestly, nothing would surprise me regarding meat products. I'm guessing all of us in the UK have been eating significant amounts of horsemeat. I'm not fussed about what I'm eating but the underhand way it's been happening peeves me.

 

[Aneille]

Yes mislabeling it truly the disturbing part to me. I don't really care what kind of meat it is but I want to know what I am eating and make a decision for myself.

And that includes all items not just meat.

 

[wiigirl]

Now we hear that China has stopped selling them, too - not because they contain horsemeat, but because they're made in China!

Thats hilarious!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Back when my mom was living in the Philippines (her dad was in the air force) she said that if they ate off base, they were told to either eat no meat at all, or opt for a meal that didn't use ground meat of any kind (steaks, chicken breast, etc.) due to not knowing for sure what kind of meat was in the ground meat. Living in the USA, I still use this advice. If I buy ground meat, it is most often at a grocery store where I see the butcher grind the sirloin himself.

 

[jen0610]

Now we hear that China has stopped selling them, too - not because they contain horsemeat, but because they're made in China!

When DH and I were talking yesterday afternoon about China pulling them off the shelf - we first heard it was because of their being horsemeat in them - DH said he couldn't understand what the big deal was to them. It's not like they don't already eat crickets, scornions, all kinds of bugs, spinders, and lots and lots of other things most Americans wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. What's a little horsemeat matter to them.

 

[LSmith]

Here's an interesting link about why we cringe at horse meat but devour cows:

http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=9bb0500b-e2ef-4266-96f5-4d34be1d1f6d

 

[lizabu]

I don't get why eating horse is grosser than eating pig. I've never had horse but they seem like a cleaner animal than a pig or even a chicken. I know when I went to Brussels last summer there were a couple of places that had cheval on their menus. I think there's a big difference between knowing you are eating horse and not.

 

[mombrontrent]

I don't get why eating horse is grosser than eating pig. I've never had horse but they seem like a cleaner animal than a pig or even a chicken. I know when I went to Brussels last summer there were a couple of places that had cheval on their menus. I think there's a big difference between knowing you are eating horse and not.

Eating any kind of meat is equally gross to me but that is besides the point. I am angry at the fact that the food was mislabled. As comsumers we have a right to know and choose what we consume.

 

[Planogirl]

One good side effect of this will be that European food products will likely be safer once all of the furor dies down. Or at least I hope so.

 

[LSmith]

One good side effect of this will be that European food products will likely be safer once all of the furor dies down. Or at least I hope so.

People always think that but I doubt anything much will come of it once the furor dies down.

 

[North of Mouse]

I am purchasing a meat grinder and making all my ground meats from my chicken breasts, and sirloin roasts, etc. I started out wanting to do it just so I know the fat content, and being fresh ground less likely to be contaminated. (Ground meats are *very* easily contaminated because of the many surfaces)

Now, I have another reason to do it, at least I'll know what it *doesn't* have in it!

 

[robinb]

I think it's just a matter of time before we see the same scandal here in the US. I have traveled to Europe and Asia many times and while I did not specifically order horse meat, I knew there was always a risk of eating it any time I had "ground beef". Now I am sure I probably ate Mr. Ed. FTR, the ground beef from Cargill and other mega processors who use Pink Slime squigs me out a lot more. I try to buy my ground beef from my butcher who grinds it himself.

 

[Disnydad]

The issue to me is proper labeling. I've had horse steak when visiting Quebec. No big deal.

 

[nathalee81]

Eck.

I am so glad that I don't eat red meat. Although, I know turkey and chicken run the same risks...makes me want to go vegan (but I love cheese and eggs too much).

 

[LilyWDW]

To me, it is not so much the idea that it was horse meat. The issue is that it was added to a product and was not labeled. As such the consumer could not even make an informed decision as to if they wanted to purchase the product. It was the fact that it was in there and it wasn't supposed to be in there that bothers me.

 

[mombrontrent]

Eck.

I am so glad that I don't eat red meat. Although, I know turkey and chicken run the same risks...makes me want to go vegan (but I love cheese and eggs too much).

I was vegetarian for 15 years before I went vegan. I loved cheese and thought going vegan would be to hard will all the dairy and eggs in everything. Then I did it and realized it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought. Sure I read labels and alot of processed food is out but I consider that a positive thing.

Since going vegan we eat wonderful fresh homemade meals. We really do eat delicious food with a much greater variety than anyone else I know. On our menu tonight: Boston baked beans cooked in my slow cooker, tofu scrambled burritos with sauteed onions, peppers, salsa and fresh cilanto and a fruit salad with pineapple, apple, banana and oranges spashed with lime juice. I was off today and even baked an apple pie. We'll eat that later when we have room in our bellies

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I am appalled at the idea of eating horse meat. I love horses and to me it's just like telling me I'm eating dog meat. I know it's not a completely rational way to feel, but it's the way I feel. If I had been told I was eating horse when I thought I was eating beef, I would be very upset.

That said, I lived in the UK for 5 years, so I probably already have eaten horse!

 

[Squirlz]

Oh you're all just a bunch of neighsayers.