Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome Betts
Sand in sugar and water in milk are classics, but does horse for beef count as adulteration or is it just 'passing off''? Perhaps a burger that was 30% horse would be adulteration? Any foodies out there who might know?
|
Jerome,
Regarding watered milk, Thoreau remarked that finding a trout in the milk was a good example of when circumstancial evidence ought to be admissable.
Then, there is an old joke about the temperence reformer who visits a small town, and rents a lecture hall. Finding out that the local saloon's sales have increased 25 percent in the last year, she harrangues the crowd about how the town is drinking 25 percent more alcohol than before. From the back of the hall, the saloon owner shouts, "No, Ma'am ... They're drinking 25 percent more water!"
In reply to your question, I would say that 30 percent is well above the threshold for adulteration. It the horse gets above 50 percent, then it would be horsemeat that has been adulterated with beef.
Madison Avenue would use the word "enriched", and charge extra for the horsemeat; Adulteration sounds too legalistic.
I do not know any foodies, but I know a few adulterers (even an adultress or two). If I run into one on my next trip to town, I'll ask for an "expert" opinion.