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No horsing around: Authorities in Peru seize 3 tons of horse meat

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(LIP-jl) -- Authorities in Peru made startling news yesterday when they seized over 3 tons of horse and donkey meat from a truck that was on its way to deliver the meat to a northern Limean market.

Authorities detained Modesto Mendoza Cardenas (42), and Elmer Garcia Victoria (36) on Javier Prado Avenue in the district of Monterrico.

Authorities also confiscated 150 kilograms (330lbs) of horse and donkey hearts and tongues.

The horse and donkey meat was going to be distributed to various stands in the Caqueta Market, located in the northern Limean district of San Martin De Porres.

According to police chief Walter Rivera, the meat was going to be sold to unsuspecting consumers as beef.

The seizure was the result of a 6 month investigation. Rivera also informed that a clandestine slaughterhouse located in Lurin (southern Lima) was responsible for supplying the majority of the meat.

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# Miguel Martinez says :
22 February, 2007 [ 01:45 ]

I,can explain myself how can be a people wich kill those poor animals,like 

they kill roaches.I wish that kind of person stay in jail forever,they don't 

deserve a mercy.I wish the peruvian authorities take care the situation

and put not only the sellers to jail also those wich consume that kind of meat.I can believe people do this unhuman act GOD will punisment those 

guys,sellers together with cosumers.

# alex says :
22 February, 2007 [ 12:33 ]

it is similar to chinese eating cats, french and americans fattening ducks for their liver (foe gras), or eating live oysters, or even maybe picking their favorite lobster in a restaurant's tank!
Let's not be hypocritical, just because a horse is cuter than a lobster (despite the efforts made by Walt Disney to show us otherwise) let's just enjoy our position on the top of the food chain and realize that, when confronting difficult situations, people only wanna survive. I suggest you guys check out the movie about the rugby team that crashed in the andes.It is sad and somewhat unhealthy that these things take place, yet, there's no need to tear our cloths off our back and cry for venganze.

# todd says :
23 February, 2007 [ 15:01 ]

Horse meat is consumed in many places around the world. Americans slaughter cows by the thousands yet they are sacred to the Indians. How about veal? I won't eat it anymore after learning about where it comes from and the treatment of the animals. I'm with Alex, it's all about perspective, need for many of the truly poor and greed for many of the larger companies. What's the name of that movie Alex? I'd be interested in seeing it. Peace...

# Joe says :
23 February, 2007 [ 15:12 ]

While everyone makes a valid point concerning the idea of eating different types of meat, I think you are missing the point here.  It's one thing if you knowingly eat horse, dog, or cat meat and it's quite another if you eat horse/dog/cat meat thinking it's beef.  That's what these informal business people in Peru were doing. They slaughtered horses and donkeys and then sold the meat as beef to an unsuspecting public.


By the way, the name of the movie is ALIVE

# alex says :
24 February, 2007 [ 04:03 ]

i was born and raise in peru, trust me wheni say that whoever bought horse/donkey meat knew what he/she  was purchasing. Despite the fact that the Marriot, the hilton, mcdonalds, chilis', startbucks, etc have sprung all over the country, peru still is a poor country and when you live in a poor comunity,the first thing you learn is that good cuts of red meat are expensive, so if you get a lot for less, then you know you are not getting the real thing here. If thes cuts were sold in upscale markets (like metro, santa isabel, etc) where the limean equivalent of the american yuppies purchase their goods, then the companies should be able to tell the difference. Horse meat is leaner, with a lot less marbling than beef. It is darker in color (due to the amount of blood vessels that run through the muscle to provide it with oxigen) and it is defenitly tougher due to the activity the animal is put through in its lifetime. Ever seen a racing cow?....I am a chef/butcher, if i know this it is not because i learned it in school (altough they do teach it!) but because as a child in peru, they were selling horse's meat like they do now and everyone knew what they were purchasing. When a good pice of tenderloine is beyond your reach, then you get the next best thing. Peru is still a very poor country, and most people cannot spend the afternoon hanging around at jockey plaza or wasting their money in Asia during the weekend. It is sad that they have to trade in horse or donkey meat, but the government should see this a sign of desperate ingenuity on part of its population. sorry about you animal lovers, but i am more sorry about the poor people who had to go to these extremes. By the way Todd, the movie is Alive and if you gave up on veal, you should try ostrich or venisson, it is grrrreatt!!!
;-)
Peace out

# Concerns Pervian says :
1 October, 2007 [ 01:32 ]

Can Peru maybe look at Farming Productive Produce to feed a Nation,instead of the poor Horses & Donkeys. Does't anyone eat fish,there is a huge Ocean out there,rich with resourse???