While horse slaughterhouses were illegal for a period of time, the Obama administration has allowed for horse slaughterhouses to operate again in the United States. Many people were concerned that horse meat would start appearing in meat products, like it did in Europe. However, there are still strict regulations for the consumption of horse meat in the United States, and if you consume some without your knowledge, and later discover you ate horse meat, you could have grounds for a lawsuit.
The Legality of Horse Meat
Even though slaughterhouses have begun processing horses again in the United States, it will still be a long time before horse meat is approved as safe for human consumption in the United States. Although there is nothing inherently unhealthy about eating the flesh of the horse (it is similar to eating venison or beef), the way that horses are treated while living affects the quality of the meat. In America, horses are raised as pets or sport animals, or they are kept to breed other horses. Therefore, when horses are ill or injured, they receive veterinary care, including drugs and injections for different diseases.
There are regulations about medications that can be used on animals that are raised to be eaten. Because horses are not raised to be eaten, the meat can be laced with residual toxins left from medications it received when living.
With these medical reasons aside, traditional American values protect the life of the horse, elevating it above other farm animals that are normally eaten. Even though modern society has progressed past the point of agricultural values, horses continue to be respected as a working part of society, not just for their contribution as a food source. Therefore, some states, like California, have criminalized the consumption of horse meat, and nationwide the market for horse meat is virtually non-existent. However, horses can be used for animal food, such as cat or dog food.
Can You Sue Someone For Feeding You Horse Meat?
Despite the legal restrictions, horse meat might still make it to your plate. Horse meat packed in the United States can be sold for human consumption to other countries, so meats purchased abroad and brought back into the country can be distributed under the radar. Also, private owners may butcher animals and store the meat for their own use. Both practices are against the law, but the law may not intervene before the meat makes it to the dinner table.
Because most people naturally have an aversion to eating horse meat because of the cultural respect humans have for horses, and because Americans are not conditioned to accept the practice as normal, you definitely will have a case against any person who feeds you horse meat without your knowledge. Your case will be stronger if:
- the horse was slaughtered in an inhumane way. There are fewer regulations for horse slaughterhouses, but if you can add animal cruelty to your case, it will help to support an argument for emotional distress.
- you became sick as a result of toxins in the meat. Toxins in horse meat are a real problem, and suffering physical injury will strengthen both the monetary and punitive value of your case. You will need to prove that your sickness did in fact come from the consumption of the meat, and it would help if you had a physician willing to back up the claim.
- eating horse meat is criminalized in the state where you live. Criminal charges could also be brought against the person, making you a victim of their crimes.
- if you personally have a relationship with horses and suffered extreme emotional distress when discovering what you have eaten. Your perception of horses will affect how badly the episode affects your emotional state. If you need counseling or other mental health intervention, the statements of your care providers can help you.
If you had an experience where consuming horse meat affected you either mentally or physically, talk to a personal injury attorney for more info about the possibility of going to court to sue for damages.
