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US haggis ban could end

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Published Date: 21 January 2008
THE Scottish government yesterday said it will consider asking the United States to lift its ban on importing haggis.
The delicacy was banned in the US in the wake of the BSE outbreak amid fears its traditional ingredients, including offal, posed a risk to health.

It means that Burns enthusiasts in the US cannot tuck into authentic haggis, neeps and tatties on Burns Night this Friday.

But fresh talks could open the way for Americans to enjoy Scotland's national dish.

A spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Government will consider engaging the US government on its haggis import ban, if there is popular support for such a move from within our world-famous haggis producers."

A source close to the First Minister said: "People in the States and all over the world should have the opportunity to sample our fine national dish."



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  • Last Updated: 20 January 2008 9:43 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Robert Burns
 
1

Scullion,

Canada 21/01/2008 01:57:06
Let's stick to shortbread.
2

John Blackley,

Florida 21/01/2008 02:30:52
"Fine national dish"? Has this "source close to the First Minister" ever actually eaten haggis? Or acquired the beginnings of an understanding of what haggis is?

Please don't talk to me about haggis being Scotland's national dish. In a country that raises cattle, pigs and sheep and that has access to a wide-range of freshwater fish and seafood, haggis was nothing more than the scrapings that were left to the poorest of the poor.

Steak, salmon, lamb, cullen skink - any of these could be 'Scotland's National Dish'. Haggis is a symptom.
3

George F,

Michigan 21/01/2008 03:46:25
#2 John Blackley, well John I don't know about you mate but I wouldn't mind a plate of symtom, mashed tatties and neeps. And yep I know exactly what goes into haggis, as a school boy I used to work in a factory at weekends that made haggis, black puddings, white puddings and a load of other stuff. Miss a good plate of haggis being over here, not to worry going back for a visit in August, will get a good feed then.
4

calum,

Banchory 21/01/2008 07:54:48
#2 ......and Cullen Skink was most certainly a dish originally for poorer people or at least for leftovers.
5

Conan the Librarian™,

21/01/2008 11:05:25
2
You don't eat hotdogs then John?
6

Horrible Cankers..dans le Cyber Shebeen,

21/01/2008 13:29:12
Beats me that people can eat offal...I mean...kidneys stink of their function...cooked or not...you can actually smell steaming p*sh off of cooked kidney...dont care if you swill it in gravy..it smells like pub chanties recently filled with hot urine..
7

Silence of the Yams,

21/01/2008 20:39:33
6. Shut it u slag!
8

Doreen,

21/01/2008 22:30:32
7.....My my...I have a stalker again...how terribly exciting...would you like my autograph?
9

John Blackley,

Florida 21/01/2008 23:37:18
Apparently I failed to make my point in my first post.

Yes, I do enjoy haggis (very) occasionally. And no, #5, I don't eat hot dogs - or hamburgers for that matter.

Nor do I have a problem with haggis per se. My problem was with the parasite.........sorry, politician quoted. ("fine national dish")

Haggis deserves to be Scotland's national dish about as much as chips does. It may, at one time, have been ubiquitous. It may even have kept many a body and soul together - but for a nation to be so proud of a sheep's-bag collection of offal and sawdust is, indeed, a symptom.

 

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