A racehorse named Smart Latch was found in meat served at a Turkish soup kitchen after a government investigation uncovered the horse’s microchip in a portion of kavurma, a sautéed meat dish. Authorities confirmed the presence of single-hooved animal meat and traced the microchip back to Adana Yesiloba Hippodrome, where Smart Latch had raced until October of the previous year. The horse’s owner explained that after Smart Latch was deemed unfit for breeding due to a uterine condition, he gave the horse away without transferring ownership, and it was later likely slaughtered illegally with the meat sold as beef.

A criminal inquiry is underway to identify those responsible for the unlawful slaughter. Meanwhile, the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality stated that meat for the soup kitchen is procured through official tenders and inspected under strict regulations, emphasizing their commitment to public health. Following the allegations, additional laboratory analyses were conducted to verify the meat’s origin, with the municipality maintaining that all procurement processes comply with legal and safety standards.