If Your Burger Says “Neigh,” Well, That’s Just Gross

My jaw hit the floor when I first read about horse DNA found in certain beef products in Europe. Well, at least they know now and are hopefully going to make some changes, I thought.

And then, not many days later, a few more headlines appeared about more horse DNA found in other beef patties. It came as a serious shock when Burger King admitted to discovering horse DNA in their beef patties. The company was using the beef supplier Silvercrest (where the horse DNA was discovered) in their restaurants in Ireland, Denmark, and the UK. Really, Burger King? I’m appalled.

My stomach churned as I thought about the individuals and families who had purchased those “beef” patties only to later hear the news of their dinner recall. I cannot even imagine someone reading an article like this and honestly hoping that the Whopper just eaten was actually beef, only to learn later that it did, indeed, have horse meat in it.

I can’t remember the last time I ate at Burger King, but when I do (or get any sort of fast food), I expect that I’m eating what they are telling me I’m eating. A beef burger that has horse meat in it isn’t actually “beef,” even though that’s what consumers are paying for.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with eating meat from horses, there is something wrong with the way certain foods are processed and what can go unnoticed in that process. How does someone who processes beef, and packages the food as such, get away with processing a horse and putting that in with the beef? I don’t know how that happens, and who knows what may come of Burger King outlets in the UK, and of Silvercrest, but this news should make us more cautious shoppers in the grocery store, and especially mindful fast food eaters.