If you are an animal lover, this story will bring a tear to your eye. In 2016, Japan imported 6.5 million pounds of horsemeat. The horsemeat is used in the sushi dish, basashi. According to reports, unwanted horses are loaded onto planes and flown (in crowded conditions) to Japan.
During the 18-hour flight, the horses go without food or water!
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In 2012, three horses died during when there was an accident during landing. Six other horses had died mid-flight because of the stress and inhumane conditions. For the best basashi, the horsemeat needs to be eaten within three days of death.
The horses are flown out of Canada because it is illegal to import horses from the United States. But, no one has a problem if the horses are first taken to Canada and then flown to Japan.
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