Ban toxic horse meat

MARCH AGAINST HORSE SLAUGHTER — All sorts of sources are being suggested in connection with the current virus scare. Did you see this?

PETA is being mocked and ridiculed by social media users after implying that eating meat may cause coronavirus.

The aggressive animal rights organization made the shocking suggestion on Twitter last week, writing: ‘Carnivorous is an anagram of coronavirus. Coincidence? We think NOT!’

Thousands of commenters have replied, accusing PETA of spreading dangerous misinformation and also pointing out a few unflattering anagrams of the name ‘PETA.’

It’s being quoted all over social media. Love ’em or hate ’em, PETA certainly know how to draw attention to animal cruelty issues.

Horse Meat is Toxic

Here’s something there’s no doubt about — horse meat is toxic and can be very dangerous to anyone who eats it, particularly pregnant women. Like many foodstuffs that are potentially lethal, people don’t drop dead after eating it. It develops over a period of time then strikes.

There’s a laundry list of drugs that bars horse meat from entering the human food chain with a zero withdrawal period; others a six month withdrawal period. It is hard to imagine any horse in American society going six months without receiving any one or half dozen of the following barred drugs. Here they are.

Barred Drugs

— NO WITHDRAWAL PERIOD

Phenylbutazone
Chloramphenicol
Clenbuterol (Ventipulmin)
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
Dimetridazole
Ipronidazole and other nitroimidazoles (including metronidazole)
Furazolidone, Nitrofurazone, other nitrofurans
Sulfonamides
Dipyrone
Dapsone (4-[(4-aminobenzene)sulfonyl]aniline)
Glycopeptides (antibiotics such as vancomycin)
Fluoroquinolones
Gentian violet (Tris(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)methylium chloride)
Aristolochic acid (8-methoxy-6-nitrophenanthro[3,4-d][1,3]dioxole-5-carboxylic acid) and preparations thereof
Chloroform
Chlorpromazine
Colchicine
Hormonal steroids for growth promotion purposes (testosterone, progesterone, trenbolone
and derivatives)
Anabolic or gestagenic steroids for therapeutic and/or zootechnical purposes (boldenone and estrogens such as 17ßestradiol, estriol, and other sex hormones)
All ß-agonists (e.g. compounds belonging to the Clenbuterol family
Stilbenes ((E)-1,2-Diphenylethene and isomers), salts and esters
Thyrostats (Thyroid hormones, derivatives like Levothyroxine and their agonist such as
thiouracils and sulfur-containing imidazoles)

— SIX MONTH WITHDRAWAL PERIOD

Altrenogest (gestagenic agent, MRLs set to 1 μg/kg in fat and 0.9 μg/kg in liver)
Carprofen (NSAID with uses similar to phenylbutazone but less potent; MRLs set to 500 μg/kg in muscle, 1,000 μg/kg in fat, liver and kidney)
Cefquinome (antibiotic; MRLs set to 100 μg/kg in liver and 200 μg/kg in kidney)
Ceftiofur (antibiotic; MRLs set to 1,000 μg/kg in muscle, 2,000 μg/kg in fat and liver and 6,000 μg/kg in kidney)
Dexamethasone (corticosteroid; MRLs set to 0,75 μg/kg in muscle, 2 μg/kg in liver and 0.75
μg/kg in kidney)
Febantel, Fenbendazole and oxfendazole sulphone (antiparasitic agent; MRLs set to 50 μg/kg in muscle, fat and kidney and 500 μg/kg in liver)
Firocoxib (NSAID; MRLs set to 10 μg/kg in muscle and kidney, 15 μg/kg in fat and 60 μg/kg in liver)
Flunixin (NSAID; MRLs set to 10 μg/kg in muscle, 20 μg/kg in fat, 100 μg/kg in liver and 200
μg/kg in kidney)
Isoxsuprine
Ivermectin (antiparasitic agent; MRLs set to 100 μg/kg in fat and liver and 30 μg/kg in kidney)
Kanamycin (antibiotic; MRLs set to 100 μg/kg in muscle and fat, 600 μg/kg in liver and 2,500 μg/kg in kidney)
Mebendazole (antiparasitic agent; MRLs set to 60 μg/kg in muscle, fat and kidney and 400
μg/kg in liver)
Meloxicam (NSAID; MRLs set to 20 μg/kg in muscle and 65 μg/kg in liver and kidney)
Metamizole (NSAID; MRLs set to 100 μg/kg in all relevant tissues)
Moxidectin (antiparasitic agent; MRLs set to 50 μg/kg in muscle, and kidney, 500 μg/kg in fat and 100 μg/kg in liver)
Neomycin (antibiotic; MRLs set to 500 μg/kg in muscle, fat and liver and 5,000 μg/kg in
kidney)
Trimethoprim (anti-infectious and chemotherapy agent; MRLs set to 100 μg/kg in all relevant tissues)
Vedaprofen (NSAID; MRLs set to 50 μg/kg in muscle, 20 μg/kg in fat, 100 μg/kg in liver and 1,000 μg/kg in kidney)

Although the painkiller Bute is the most commonly given drug, all of the drugs listed above are routinely given to horses throughout the United States, especially those involved in racing.

However, not only are medicines administered to U.S. horses, but also compounds not
catalogued per se as “medicines” are frequently given to U.S. horses, such as dimethyl
sulfoxide (an lab grade polar aprotic solvent used as a liniment on horses to treat sore legs),
protein supplements and, much like beef cattle, bone meal, which is a known vector for BSE
or “mad cow” disease. [1][2]

Take Action

Contact your U.S. Representative to cosponsor H.R. 961 (the SAFE Act) banning the slaughter of horses and export for the purposes of slaughter. As of this writing, H.R.961 has 228 co-sponsors. Our goal is 290 to force a House vote. We need to get busy . . . very busy.

Calls are best. The capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121 for those of you who already know who represents you in D.C. If you aren’t sure, find them here. Ask to speak to the Aide taking calls from constituents regarding H.R. 961. Be sure to leave your name and contact information before hanging up. You might ask them to repeat it back to you. They won’t mind.

If you can’t get on the phone, then email Representative via the House Directory. If you are thinking of emailing them, we have a suggestion that is far superior to that, with guaranteed delivery and that they will see it and it will count!

Here is constituent service we feel is the very best way to contact your federal Legislators.

Take a few minutes to sign up with PopVox using an email and password to create a free account. Already have an account? Go to Log In Screen.

Weigh in on everything that matters to you with PopVox — including bills pertinent to horses. Speaking of which, see the Fund’s Stakeholders Page at PopVox listing all bills relating to horse safety and protection plus why we endorse or oppose them. There’s plenty of talking points there to help you too!

For those of you stuck at home, it is a great opportunity to take action in aid of our horses. Thank you so much.

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Drugs Banned in Slaughter Horses, PDF, 3 pp (Remains Current 2/20/20) .