Banned in: California, Illinois and other states
Selling horse meat for human consumption is legal in most states - but good luck finding a butcher with a supplier. The last U.S. slaughterhouse dealing in equine flesh closed in 2007, and the only USDA-approved country to import from is New Zealand. (The agency is currently evaluating Canada as a second source.) States including California and Illinois have banned horse meat. There's one bit of wiggle room: In states where it's not prohibited, you can slaughter your own horse for consumption.
Not many people are eager for do-it-yourself horse steaks. Even professionals hesitate to go there: "I've never tasted it, and I don't think I'd want to," says butcher Stanley Lobel, co-owner of Lobel's in New York City, whose shop does not deal in horses. Despite Americans' qualms, the delicacy is common in other parts of the world, especially Belgium, France, Germany and Japan.
NEXT: Steering connoisseurs to a new caviar
These 6 businesses took advantage of crashed real estate prices to trade up for new stores and office space. More
Beer, lingerie, ad space and high-end electronics were some of the offerings business owners put up for swap at this week's Barter Business Unlimited holiday trade show. More
