Man Accused of Selling Horse Meat for Human Consumption

[Hum]

TAMPA - It?s been two years since the state of Florida made the buying and selling of horse meat a felony, and the first person to be charged under the new law was recently arrested in Tampa, officials announce.

Jorge Ortega Jr, 26, was taken into custody on Nov. 6 and charged with the sale of horse meat for human consumption, according a sheriff?s office release.

Video of Ortega was recorded as he sold a 40-pound bag of meat to an undercover USDA agent during an investigation in February.

Officials say Ortega was involved with multiple slaughter farms in Citrus Park and Hillsborough, where he took part in killing horses and selling meat.

The meat was tested at a lab and it was confirmed that the product was horse meat.

The illegal sale of horse meat has been a major issue in South Florida for the last few years.

According to a USA Today report, there were at least 17 reports of horse carcasses that were found on the side of roads, cut up from meat harvesting in 2009.

Ortega was released on a $2,000 bond. He is expected to appear in court next week.

source

[SierraSonic]

This is awful who could do such a thing!?

Why would they ever try and make horse meat illegal!?

I'd try it, tired of only eating cows pigs and chickens, but I'm guessing people want to limit what I could eat. :o

[Phouchg]

Bigger animals telling smaller animals not to eat certain other animals...

[FloatingFatMan]

What a silly ban! Horse meat is delicious!

Next thing you know, they'll ban eating humans!

[episode]

They made it illegal because people were killing wild horses and horses that were the property of other people. There wasn't really a penalty that could be proven once the horse was dead and gone, so they created this law.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

It?s been two years since the state of Florida made the buying and selling of horse meat a felony...

:laugh:

Was there a reason for making horse meat illegal?

EDIT: Ah, thank you, episode!

Ok, well that's understandable to a degree. But if he owns the horse then it's his choice what to do with it, isn't it?

[Hum]

What a silly ban! Horse meat is delicious!

Is that good with horseradish ?

[XerXis]

They made it illegal because people were killing wild horses and horses that were the property of other people. There wasn't really a penalty that could be proven once the horse was dead and gone, so they created this law.

That sounds ridiculous :s. The exact same thing could be said of cows. Why wouldn't there be any proof and a possible punishment for stealing a horse from someone? The fact that you ate it doesn't really change the previous act? Really, doesn't make sense at all.

[episode]

That sounds ridiculous :s. The exact same thing could be said of cows. Why wouldn't there be any proof and a possible punishment for stealing a horse from someone? The fact that you ate it doesn't really change the previous act? Really, doesn't make sense at all.

There aren't 'wild' cows in Florida. Nor are cows used for anything but milk (which don't make for good meat) or slaughter. So no, the same thing cannot be said for cows.

[FloatingFatMan]

There aren't 'wild' cows in Florida. Nor are cows used for anything but milk (which don't make for good meat) or slaughter. So no, the same thing cannot be said for cows.

Both are domesticated farm animals. I really don't get how killing someone's horse isn't already just as actionable a crime as killing someone's cow. It's a serious crime over here...

[einsteinbqat]

Americans? :pinch:

[PGHammer]

Americans? :pinch:

Note that it isn't a national law - but a law specific to a single state.

The use of USDA officials to enforce a state-level law is what I find objectionable.

If Florida sees fit to have such a unique law, let the state pay the freight - or, if they are going to use assets of the national government, at least reimburse Uncle Sam's costs.

[einsteinbqat]

But Americans sounds better than Floridians! :laugh:

Note that it isn't a national law - but a law specific to a single state.

The use of USDA officials to enforce a state-level law is what I find objectionable.

If Florida sees fit to have such a unique law, let the state pay the freight - or, if they are going to use assets of the national government, at least reimburse Uncle Sam's costs.

[Hum]

Obama Legalizes Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption

Published: November 28, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Horse slaughter plants are legal again in the United States. Restrictions on horse meat processing for human consumption have been lifted.

In a bipartisan effort, the House of Representatives and the United States Senate approved the Conference Committee report on spending bill H2112, which among other things, funds the United States Department of Agriculture. On November 18th, as the country was celebrating Thanksgiving, President Obama signed a law, allowing Americans to kill and eat horses. Essentially, one turkey was pardoned in the presence of worldwide media while in the shadows, buried under pages of fiscal regulation, millions of horses were sentenced to death.

http://technorati.co...hter-for-human/

[Growled Member]

I've been waiting for this ban to be lifted all my life. :laugh:

[Deihmos]

What's wrong with eating horse meat?

[kronckew]

What's wrong with eating horse meat?

the french do it. reason #1.

[episode]

Both are domesticated farm animals. I really don't get how killing someone's horse isn't already just as actionable a crime as killing someone's cow. It's a serious crime over here...

is it really that hard to understand? People were killing horses that were used for riding.

Florida is a huge state for throughbreds. Some of them can be worth A LOT of money.

[Glassed Silver]

is it really that hard to understand? People were killing horses that were used for riding.

Florida is a huge state for throughbreds. Some of them can be worth A LOT of money.

How is an animal "used for riding" worth more than an animal "used for human consumption" of any sort?

Any difference I can make out is that the holder had different purposes, but that really shouldn't be deciding whether killing an animal without the consent of the holder is appropriate or not.

Glassed Silver:mac

[Richteralan]

In before PETA.

[slumdogtrillionaire]

:laugh:

Was there a reason for making horse meat illegal?

EDIT: Ah, thank you, episode!

Ok, well that's understandable to a degree. But if he owns the horse then it's his choice what to do with it, isn't it?

to each his own but ownership rights of a living creature shouldnt include killing it or harming it.imho.

[Richteralan]

to each his own but ownership rights of a living creature shouldnt include killing it or harming it.imho.

Yet people have no problem killing plants and eat their offspring.

They have feelings, too!

[HawkMan]

to each his own but ownership rights of a living creature shouldnt include killing it or harming it.imho.

So we should just kill other peoples animals for food then ?

[ahhell]

is it really that hard to understand? People were killing horses that were used for riding.

Florida is a huge state for throughbreds. Some of them can be worth A LOT of money.

So the difference is that horses can be expensive. That makes all the difference. :s

[Hum]

What's wrong with eating horse meat?

You may as well ask the same thing about cat or dog.