Still isn't a very common occurrence, even less so today. I'm sure our eating culture has some barbaric recipes in it's past too.
Yes in its past... That is kind of the point, we've progressed others are still catching up. Thus the criticism of countries who are lagging as far as animal rights are concerned.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/14/china.animal.keyring/