A claim circulating on social media about the alleged sale of horse meat as beef in the United States is false, according to information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The viral posts link two recent events: on the one hand, operations to control wild horse populations on public lands, and on the other, the Trump administration's decision to temporarily facilitate beef imports to address rising prices.
From these events arose the rumor that American horses were being sent abroad to be slaughtered and that their meat would later be returned to the country labeled as beef.
However, the USDA reiterated that the United States does not import horse meat for human consumption and that imported meat products are subject to inspections and labeling controls. The agency also conducts laboratory tests to verify that the species declared on the label corresponds to the product's contents. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) also notes that there are currently no horse slaughterhouses inspected by the agency within the United States producing meat intended for human consumption.
The controversy comes as the U.S. government seeks to increase the availability of beef amid high prices. Trump recently announced a plan to temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of imported beef to enter the country duty-free, with the stated goal of lowering prices for consumers.
Therefore, while there are debates and questions from left-leaning groups regarding the federal government's handling of wild horses and the new meat import policies, there is no evidence that horse meat is being brought into the United States and sold as beef.
