Horses are not regarded as food-producing animals, still there is a high demand for horse meat, that the trade will be driven underground resulting in a black market, as has happened recently in the Miami, U.S. Horse meat, which is known to be slightly sweet and tender, is widely eaten in parts of Asia, Europe, South America and Canada. A bill that bans the sale of horses for human consumption passed in American Parliament in September 2006. Horse meat has been used in the U.S. to feed zoo animals, because it's a good source of protein. Congress has lifted a de facto ban on the slaughter of horses last days.