SIR – I find the current furore apropos horsemeat baffling. There must be many people of my generation who were around during the Second World War who will remember that both horsemeat and whalemeat were often eaten (not to mention relished).

Personally, I found both to be palatable, albeit in the latter case, somewhat fishy.

If the hysteria of the current controversy is generated through love of animals, it may be laudable, but of doubtful relevance. Surely, a cow, sheep, pig or chicken has no less right to its life than a horse.

Finally, anyone who has visited Belgium, and used restaurants in that civilised country cannot fail to have noticed that horse steak is practically ubiquitous on their menus and, moreover, is frequently more expensive than their beef sirloin!

Bryan Owram, Main Street, Esholt