[The dangers for public health connected to the consumption of horse meat].

After an outline of the ways in which horse meat is produced and consumed, the authors review specific and general risks associated with this product, and methods for the control and prevention of these risks are given. With regard to biological hazards transmitted by horse meat, the relevant zoonoses are considered, followed by a discussion of the two principal agents responsible for foodborne disease in human beings: Salmonella and Trichinella. Among chemical hazards, the toxic effects of cadmium are prominent. Although these hazards can be identified, the actual risks to human health are difficult to estimate, because of the paucity of scientific data.