The Food Network’s show, Top Chef, became the talk of local animal lovers when word got out their next episode (Top Chef Canada, Episode 6) would require contestants to cut, cook, and serve horse. The Food Network stated that it was inspired by “authentic French food”, but there is much outcry against it.
It starts in Canada, where horse meat is processed. It’s not economical to process them in the United States, so currently these horses are exported to Canada or Mexico. A Canadian horse watchdog group, Canadian Horse Defense Coalition, notified the public yesterday in a blog post titled “Food Network Canada – Reality Check Required”. Word spread quickly to American horse welfare groups as well as to the general public.
A local Equine welfare organization, The Equihab Foundation, based in Cecil County, Maryland, is calling for a boycott of Top Chef. An email writing campaign has reached the producers of the show and the network. The producers replied: “Some viewers have noted their belief that the use of horse meat in a culinary challenge on the show is controversial. Please be assured it is not our intention to offend our viewers.” However, they will not edit the episode. Concerns about the show are now being shared with show sponsors, such as GE Monogram and Presidents Choice, who are paying to have the episode aired.
Equihab hopes to raise awareness about where horse meat in North America comes from. The show promotes horse meat as a "healthy" choice. But producers do not mention horses are rarely raised for meat. The sources North American horsemeat are our riding, racing, and show horses. As such, these horses spend their lives given drugs that are banned for use in animals destined slaughter. If this was beef, it could not legally be sold because of drug contamination.
A Facebook group, “Boycott Top Chef – Protect the Horses” was created by a concerned Maryland resident. It was started just hours before this article went to press, and it already has 200 fans. Despite all the interest, it may not be likely that The Food Network edits this episode before it airs. But perhaps there is a silver lining: the controversy has sparked a great deal of public awareness about horses and horsemeat.
Should Top Chef use whatever ingredients it wishes? While nobody wants to stifle creativity on TV, the fact remains: most Americans do not eat horsemeat. Just days ago local horse lovers were glued to their televisions to cheer on horses in the Kentucky Derby. Does Food Network believe the same viewers will want to watch what may have been a former racehorse, reduced to bits in a frying pan?
