Beef/Horse meat & DNA testing non-meat products?

[Rawns]

From what I've heard in the news, DNA testing is being carried out on most beef and products that contain meat. But what about the less-obvious beef products? Beef stock/beef stock cubes, or pre-made beef gravy? I presume they would use some form of beef extract in their creation making them viable to for cross-contamination? And what about beef flavored crisps? I would also assume that some form of been extract is used, and cant all be made up with artificial flavoring?

 

And what about pet food that contains beef? I know the main scare is not the meat itself but the potential drugs given to the horses. Is this harmful to dogs or cats? Is it more potent to them as they are 'smaller'?

[featured_spectre]

Beef (or any other meat flavoured crisps) use no meat products surprisingly, it is just a combination of chemical ingredients that have been combined to taste in that way.

[Rawns]

Beef (or any other meat flavoured crisps) use no meat products surprisingly, it is just a combination of chemical ingredients that have been combined to taste in that way.

 

I stand corrected!

[HaleStorm]

Its also the reason why Beef and Tomato pot noodles are suitable for Vegetarians @Rawns....beef with no meat! madness!!

[Danp]

What about products that have gelatin in?

[laserblazer]

it is just a combination of chemical ingredients that have been combined to taste in that way.

 

Or not, in a lot of cases

[sted]

Its also the reason why Beef and Tomato pot noodles are suitable for Vegetarians @Rawns....beef with no meat! madness!!

 

i think id rather eat the vegetarian than the pot noodle they arnt food

[Rawns]

Its also the reason why Beef and Tomato pot noodles are suitable for Vegetarians @Rawns....beef with no meat! madness!!

 

 

That's incredible!

[elsiegee40]

On Radio 4, yesterday I think, they said that stock cubes and gravy that purport to actually contain beef are to be tested.

 

Beef flavoured crisps are "flavoured" and don't claim to usually contain any meat.

[AMLinington]

From what I've heard in the news, DNA testing is being carried out on most beef and products that contain meat. But what about the less-obvious beef products? Beef stock/beef stock cubes, or pre-made beef gravy? I presume they would use some form of beef extract in their creation making them viable to for cross-contamination? And what about beef flavored crisps? I would also assume that some form of been extract is used, and cant all be made up with artificial flavoring?

 

And what about pet food that contains beef? I know the main scare is not the meat itself but the potential drugs given to the horses. Is this harmful to dogs or cats? Is it more potent to them as they are 'smaller'?

 

Funny you should ask about Beef flavoured Crisps - one of our Vegetarian engineers was eating Beef flavoured Hula Hoops the other day and when we ribbed him gently about it he explained (and proved) that the label says 'Suitable for Vegetarians'. There is no beef in beef flavoured hula hoops...

 

That is not to say that all Beef flavoured products are the same, but I think if we actually looked we'd be surprised.

 

Since Stock is effectively boiled bones, organ meat and skin/hooves etc I should think they can (and should) be tested.

[andrew_91090]

Can I ask, is everyone here completely appalled by the whole horse meat scandal?

 

I mean hasn't it apparently been going on for nearly 14 years and no harm has come of it and it still tastes exactly the same.

If you ask me, I couldn't really care that much, I think the only benefit from this whole thing is that supermarkets are going to start using English based companies for meat now (although that may bump the prices up a bit)

 

P.S - This is isn't a question to cause arguments, just asking for opinions

Edited February 27, 2013 by andrew_91090

[gmj]

My better half is vegan....loads of 'meat' flavored things out there (pot noddle style snacks, crisps etc) that are suitable for her. I still find it odd.

[localzuk]

The only issues I have with it are:

 

1. Drugs in the meat, as it hasn't been tracked properly.

2. Fraud - if people are paying for something, they should get it.

3. Animal welfare - this process involves a huge amount of cruelty in the countries these horses are coming from, things we outlaw here.

[AMLinington]

Can I ask, is everyone here completely appalled by the whole horse meat scandal?

 

I mean hasn't it apparently been going on for nearly 14 years and no harm has come of it and it still tastes exactly the same.

If you ask me, I couldn't really care that much, I think the only benefit from this whole thing is that supermarkets are going to start using English based companies for meat now (although that may bump the prices up a bit)

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one not gasping and covering my mouth in horror - I was beginning to think I was going to have to fake it. I'm certainly not appalled - I'm not even surprised if you want the truth. A little disappointed perhaps that quality control is so poor that this was not picked up earlier, but as I cook all my food from scratch using raw ingredients and rarely buy frozen ready meals with beef in I can't say it impacts greatly on my shopping choices. I think I'd be more concerned if we started seeing contamination of fresh meat like Mince and Steak. Even the idea of having unknowingly eaten Horse doesn't even bother me that much and I think if someone served a horse steak and offered me a try I'd probably try it out of curiosity. I am more concerned that quality controls are not employed earlier in the chain to prevent ingredients getting into our food that shouldn't be there - if the horses were bred and farmed for meat and adhered to strict controls re: age of meat and health of animal then I wouldn't care, but Horses are not farmed actively for the food chain so we cannot be sure that the horse meat in our food is not from an unhealthy source.

 

I agree completely that the best thing to come out of this scandal is the increase in british sources - that can only be good for the economy and I'm surprised that we don't source more food 'locally' so anything that ends up supporting the british farming industry can't be a bad thing.

[Meldrew]

I blame the supermarkets. They force lower and lower prices on suppliers, so they end up doing anything they can to say in business. At least now maybe butchers who sell proper meat may get more trade - they may be a little more expensive, but its worth every penny and helps the local economy.

[elsiegee40]

I'm glad I'm not the only one not gasping and covering my mouth in horror - I was beginning to think I was going to have to fake it. I'm certainly not appalled - I'm not even surprised if you want the truth. A little disappointed perhaps that quality control is so poor that this was not picked up earlier, but as I cook all my food from scratch using raw ingredients and rarely buy frozen ready meals with beef in I can't say it impacts greatly on my shopping choices. I think I'd be more concerned if we started seeing contamination of fresh meat like Mince and Steak. Even the idea of having unknowingly eaten Horse doesn't even bother me that much and I think if someone served a horse steak and offered me a try I'd probably try it out of curiosity. I am more concerned that quality controls are not employed earlier in the chain to prevent ingredients getting into our food that shouldn't be there - if the horses were bred and farmed for meat and adhered to strict controls re: age of meat and health of animal then I wouldn't care, but Horses are not farmed actively for the food chain so we cannot be sure that the horse meat in our food is not from an unhealthy source.

 

I agree completely that the best thing to come out of this scandal is the increase in british sources - that can only be good for the economy and I'm surprised that we don't source more food 'locally' so anything that ends up supporting the british farming industry can't be a bad thing.

 

Are you actually me in disguise?

 

I agree with all the above. I have voluntarily bought, cooked and eaten horse, but not in the UK.

 

I am concerned only because, if quality control is this lax, what else is in these products that shouldn't be... and was the horse meat fit for consumption? I am also concerned that the mis-representation means that those with religious objections to certain meats have probably been eating them all along if they buy processed products.

 

Like AMLightfoot, we buy and eat few processed meat products. I even buy sausages from my local butcher and he makes his own. I believe his ingredients list.

[CHR1S]

If horse was available in Tesco I would buy it, I have eaten far worse on my travels.

[AMLinington]

Are you actually me in disguise?

 

I agree with all the above. I have voluntarily bought, cooked and eaten horse, but not in the UK.

 

I am concerned only because, if quality control is this lax, what else is in these products that shouldn't be... and was the horse meat fit for consumption? I am also concerned that the mis-representation means that those with religious objections to certain meats have probably been eating them all along if they buy processed products.

 

Like AMLightfoot, we buy and eat few processed meat products. I even buy sausages from my local butcher and he makes his own. I believe his ingredients list.

 

Indeed. Another good thing to come out of this might be that more people might start buying the raw ingredients rather than buying 'ready prepared'. I've witnessed it myself in ASDA where women who may have previously bought an ASDA Frozen Lasagne are now buying pre-chopped onions, mince and a jar of Dolmio. Okay, so it's not ideal - ideally they would make the sauce from scratch (we do and it's lovely because if I have wine open the food gets a dose and if I don't have wine open, it's a good excuse to open a bottle) but it's a step up from poor quality ready meals and at least they know the majority of what is in it.

[Garacesh]

We cultivate the bovine and the fowl as cattle. Other countries cultivate the equine, the feline, the canine and many others as cattle.

 

I, honestly, see no difference. Just because we domesticate an animal, that doesn't mean its meat is suddenly off-limits as a form of sustenance. Honestly, if someone plonked a horse steak down in front of me and says "Bam, that's horse. 100% horse.", I'd take a bite. The same goes for other 'unconventional' meats. I've eaten rabbit before, although rabbit meat admittedly doesn't cause as much disgust. It was alright. Quite tough, but not bad.

 

The fact that I may have eaten horsemeat doesn't bother me. Bit of a shame, though. I'd have liked to have known what I was paying for. The bit that bothers me is the fact that these horses might not have been cultivated as cattle. There's no way we can trace them, realistically, so we cannot know if they were reared without the use of any possibly harmful substances. But, if drugs were used on them, it's a bit late now, I've already (hypothetically) scoffed it, and as far as I'm concerned I've had no ill effects. So honestly, I'm not particularly phased by it.

 

I don't eat that much beef, anyway. Much more of a chicken person. On the rare occasion I do eat red meat, it's usually pork/bacon or lamb.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Garacesh

[aerospacemango]

Ever since this story broke, there have been a proliferation of signs outside farm shops/butchers, etc, saying "100% Beek, NO Horse meat here"!

 

I find this rather amusing.

 

I do agree that it's hardly the worst thing that could happen. The drugs entering the food chain are the biggest threat....but even then it is probably* negligable.

 

The same goes for other 'unconventional' meats. I've eaten rabbit before, although rabbit meat admittedly doesn't cause as much disgust. It was alright. Quite tough, but not bad.

 

This is true. We laugh at the Korean dog kebabs, and yet it is perfectly natural to that culture. As for rabbit....skinned and cooked one in the scouts (many, many years ago!) and I enjoyed it. I would eat practically anything....as long as it wasn't an insect!

 

 

 

 

 

*That's my best guess, based on the info I've read.

 

Sent from someone who does cook stuff from scratch and rarely has a processed meal!

Edited February 27, 2013 by aerospacemango

[HaleStorm]

To me the Horse meat isn't the concern, its the horse tranqulisers/painkiller and other animal drugs that could be in there. Having eaten Cheval Steak twice in france, i actually like Horse meat.

[andrew_91090]

To me the Horse meat isn't the concern, its the horse tranqulisers/painkiller and other animal drugs that could be in there. Having eaten Cheval Steak twice in france, i actually like Horse meat.

 

But if you've been eating it, you've been eating it for 14 odd years, hasn't done anyone any harm.

 

Fair enough, eating animal drugs doesn't exactly sound perfect, but even veg have fertilisers on them which could be considered dangerous in some cases

[Meldrew]

It makes me wonder what else is in there. Animal feed used to be bulked out with such things as banana skins and even sawdust. How do we know similar isn't also happening.

[rich_tech]

It doesnt suprise me hugely and that is the worrying thing, the apathy and complete lack of suprise to this stuff I find, I am a bit concerned, but not overly as I have always tried to use local butchers for mince/sausage and meat purchases, supermarket meat tends to be pretty bland and tasteless stuff I find when you buy cuts/mince from them.

 

Shows though if anything what goes on when they try and drive prices down, but this is what our government/mass population want rather than going to a local shops with locally sourced produce.

 

What I find more alarming is that these meats when slaughtered get bounced around the different countries for various parts of the cutting and processing, which to me actually introduces the chance of tampering occuring into the food chain.

 

I will wager not much will be done here though overall, though the government might prove me wrong and bang them all up for their involvement along with all the bankers that were jailed for bringing our country to its knees financially.

[SpuffMonkey]

I'm irritated that they are only checking "beef" products for "horse" - lets have some proper testing - who knows what other rubbish is in there? Though like others here - it doesn't affect me directly as I cook from scratch. I enjoyed one of this article

 

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