Horse meat: healthy or not?
Horse meat is not widely consumed in Germany, even though it is healthy and very similar in taste to beef. Horse meat is considered a delicacy in France, but it is hardly on the menu in this country.
Horse meat as a low-fat and iron-rich alternative
After 732 by Pope Gregory III. For centuries horse meat was banned from the poor. It was only eaten more in times of need. Even today, the meat is rarely sold and consumed, although it can basically be rated as healthy. Compared to pork, it does surprisingly well.
- Horse meat is very lean. It has a fat content of only 3 to 16 percent depending on the piece of meat. Beef, on the other hand, has a clearly higher fat content of up to 31 percent.
- The meat also contains a lot of iron, about 3.5 milligrams per 100 grams. For comparison: the same portion of beef has only 1.9 milligrams of iron.
- With a protein content of around 20 percent, horse meat is a good source of energy and supports the muscle building of your body.
- Horse meat has a very low cholesterol content. Cholesterol can lead to deposits and damage to the blood vessel walls. Horse meat is also a healthy alternative in this regard.
Incorrectly declared meat as a danger
Horse meat is of concern if it is not declared as such or if the conditions in which the horse is kept are not known.
- If horse meat is not declared as such, there is a risk of drug residues in the meat. In slaughter animals, it is forbidden in Germany to administer medication shortly before slaughter.
- This prevents residues of antibiotics from being found in the food. These can become dangerous for humans. If the animal husbandry of horses is not controlled, their consumption can therefore be of concern.
- In Germany, however, animal husbandry is strictly controlled, which means that the risk of drug residues is extremely low.
- In any case, a generally healthy and balanced diet is required. Meat is always only moderately healthy. Likewise, you should always value good quality when buying.
In the video: artificial meat from the laboratory
We will show you how to determine the origin of meat online in the next article.