Horsemeat Supply and Demand in Europe

As the European crisis unfolds and fraudulent horsemeat sales decrease, supply could exceed demand.
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In Amsterdam this week, beef steaks on a steakhouse menu were discovered to actually be 100% horse steaks. The steakhouse owner claims he had no idea, although his supplier says they’ve been providing him horse steaks for the past 10 years in packages that have pictures of horses on them, according to the Dutch news source Metro.

While European officials continue to uncover more and more cases of meat-swapping in groceries stores, restaurants, and perhaps even public institutions, politicians are trying to find out how so much fraud slipped past them and how to stop it.

But a greater question faces the horse industry: Once the crisis is over, where will all the horsemeat go? And more importantly, what will happen to the horses meant for slaughter if supply becomes greater than demand?

According to an October 2012 study of horsemeat consumption in three European countries where the practice is culturally accepted–the Netherlands, Belgium, and France–people just aren’t eating as much horsemeat as might be expected. Or, at least, they don’t intend to

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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