Countries where horse meat consumed follow Illinois case

In foreign countries were horse meat is consumed, those involved in the industry are following the legal effort by Cavel International Inc. to remain open in DeKalb, Ill., despite a new Illinois law that bans the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

In France, horse meat is sold in supermarkets, alongside beef, pork and lamb and is not particularly expensive. In Paris, there are shops that specialize in it, some of which have images of golden horses' heads on their exterior.

Timothe Masson, a representative from Interbev Equins, an organization of horse meat sector industries in France, said 81 percent of horse meat consumed in France was imported in 2005. About 35 percent came from the United States.

"We're looking to other countries such as Canada, Argentina and Brazil to make up for the loss of supply," he said.

Masson said he wondered what would become of the horses previously bought by American slaughterhouses.

In Belgium, many adults remember eating it as a regular staple at home during their youth. It is still popular around the capital Brussels, a region that used to be known for its sturdy local carthorses, which were turned into steaks after their ploughing days were over.

Belgians also turn horse meat into stews cooked in beer or vinegar, and an array of sausages and smoked hams.

Japanese diners also eat horse meat. Norio Yoshihara is CEO of Newbridge Inc., a trading company that sells U.S. horse meat to about 200 restaurants in Tokyo.

Yoshihara said he recently started importing horse meat from Mexico and will be looking into Australia and New Zealand as legal challenges restrict the flow of meat from the United States.

-- The Associated Press