What is horse meat called in English? - The Environmental Literacy Council (2025)

The most straightforward answer to the question “What is horse meat called in English?” is: horse meat. However, like many food items, it also has other, less common names. While “horse meat” is the most commonly used and understood term, you might also encounter the terms chevaline or simply cheval, particularly when referring to it in culinary contexts or when trying to present it in a more palatable way. The term equine is another word you might come across, but this is more of a general scientific or zoological descriptor that refers to anything related to horses and not exclusively the meat itself. Additionally, the Spanish word caballo is sometimes used in some regions or when translating documents from Spanish. It’s important to remember that while these terms exist, “horse meat” remains the most widely understood term in English.

Other Names and Contexts

The term chevaline is often used as a rebranding effort, mostly by those who sell or promote the consumption of horse meat. It’s akin to calling “cow meat” beef, a more widely accepted term. The term aims to distance the meat from the strong cultural taboos often associated with eating horses. Similarly, cheval, a French word for horse, can be used in a culinary context to refer to horse meat, but these terms generally aren’t used in the mainstream English language. They are most commonly used within the culinary industry, restaurant menus, or specialist meat stores. In general, it’s important to recognize that there isn’t a widely accepted and commonly used English term for horse meat other than horse meat.

Why the Variety of Terms?

The use of alternative names like chevaline stems from cultural sensitivities. In many Western countries, horses are seen as companions or working animals rather than food sources. Directly calling it “horse meat” can be off-putting for consumers in these cultures. By using a different term, vendors try to make the meat more appealing and remove some of the stigma. In the countries where horse meat is a more common food product, you will commonly see the term horse meat used.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Horse Meat

Here are some frequently asked questions related to horse meat, its consumption, and its place in different cultures:

1. Is horse meat safe to eat?

Yes, horse meat is generally safe for human consumption, provided it comes from healthy animals and is processed under sanitary conditions. It’s a lean meat, high in iron, and rich in Vitamin B. However, similar to all meats, it needs to be cooked thoroughly to eliminate any potential bacteria or parasites.

2. What does horse meat taste like?

The taste of horse meat is often described as slightly sweeter than beef, with a gamey flavor. It’s often said to be darker in color than beef, with a coarser grain and yellow fat. The exact taste can vary depending on the age and breed of the horse, as well as how it was prepared.

3. Is horse meat commonly eaten in the United States?

No, horse meat is not commonly eaten in the United States. In fact, it carries a significant cultural taboo, similar to the one found in the United Kingdom. While it is legal to consume horse meat, there is currently no legal infrastructure for its inspection, making its sale and shipment difficult.

4. Is it illegal to eat horse meat in the US?

No, it is not federally illegal to eat horse meat in the United States. Horses can legally be slaughtered for food, however because of their classification as “amenable species” it requires inspection to sell or ship. Currently, no such inspection exists and is therefore a barrier to market.

5. Why don’t Americans eat horse meat?

Cultural norms have largely dictated why Americans do not eat horse meat. Horses are often seen as companions or working animals in the US, rather than as a source of food. This cultural sentiment is also shared in other western countries like the UK.

6. Did Taco Bell use horse meat?

No, Taco Bell does not use horse meat. In 2013, when there was a horse meat scandal in Europe, Taco Bell released a statement that their domestic restaurants have not, and will not be, impacted because they do not use any meat from Europe, and they use 100% premium beef that is USDA inspected. Taco Bell has also confirmed that the beef is inspected and also goes through their own 20 quality checkpoints.

7. Did Aldi sell horse meat?

Aldi was indeed involved in a horse meat scandal in 2013, where their products were found to contain significant amounts of horse meat. There has been no evidence to suggest Aldi is involved in selling horse meat in 2023.

8. Which country eats the most horse meat?

China is the world’s largest consumer of horse meat. There aren’t very many laws prohibiting the consumption of many types of meat in China. Horse meat in China is typically dried to make sausage or served alongside signature dishes.

9. What states in the US ban horse meat?

Several US states, such as Texas, California, and Illinois, have banned horse slaughter within their borders. However, these state laws do not affect the consumption of horse meat elsewhere in the country.

10. Is horse meat used in dog food?

Horse meat is not used in commercial dog food anymore. It was discontinued in the 1970s after it was discovered that certain antibiotics present in the meat were harmful to some dog breeds.

11. What is the legal status of horse meat in other countries?

The legality and cultural acceptance of horse meat consumption vary significantly worldwide. In countries like France, Italy, and Belgium, horse meat is relatively common and can be found in specialty butcher shops and some restaurants. In some countries, the consumption of horse meat is prohibited.

12. Is horse meat healthy?

Yes, horse meat is considered a healthy meat. It is lean, contains a lot of iron, and is rich in Vitamin B.

13. What foods may have contained horse meat in the past?

Past instances of horse meat mislabeling have been seen in many different types of products including hamburgers, lasagnas, raviolis, tortellinis, sausages, prepared spaghetti bolognese, bottled bolognese sauce, chili con carne, shepherd’s pie, and moussaka. This has mostly happened in Europe and not in the United States.

14. When was the last horse slaughterhouse in the US closed?

The last US slaughterhouse producing horse meat for human consumption was closed in 2007. Since then, there have been multiple legislative efforts to prevent the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

15. Why did the previous scandals regarding horse meat occur?

The horse meat scandals, mainly in Europe, occurred because of mislabeling of the meat product. It was more of an economic issue of cheap horse meat being substituted for more expensive beef products. It was also a case of poor traceability of meat products that allowed this mislabeling to happen.