Horse meat sold as beef and consequent clenbuterol residues in the unregulated Mexican marketplace

Abstract

The final destination of the large volumes of horse meat produced in Mexico is not apparent. The current study therefore aimed to determine if horse meat is sold fraudulently under the guise of beef in Mexico and the levels of clenbuterol residues in samples. While more than a quarter of the sellers interviewed claim to know of suppliers for horse meat, only 7% would like to sell horse meat. Yet, 10% of the 433 samples tested positive for horse meat. The proportions of raw and cooked beef samples containing horse meat were similar at 9.5% and 11.0%, respectively. Burritos were the meat product in which horse meat was observed most prevalent at 28.6%, varying from 4.9 to 12.9% in the other meat and products. None of the samples from supermarkets tested positive for horse meat, whereas, at 18.2%, horse meat was most prevalent in the restaurant-type establishments. Clenbuterol was observed in all of the raw meat samples containing horse meat.