Scots ask US to lift haggis ban

The BBC ^ | January 20, 2008

[Stoat]

Scots ask US to lift haggis ban

 

Haggis, traditionally eaten on Burns night, is banned in the US

The Scottish Government is considering asking the United States to rethink its ban on haggis imports.

Imports of Scotland's iconic dish were banned by the US in 1989 in the wake of the BSE scare because it contains offal ingredients such as sheep lungs.

Only an offal-free version of haggis is available in the US.

The move would be backed by renowned haggis maker Macsween, which believes the American market could be a very lucrative one.

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

Expat Scots

Jo Macsween, a co-director of family company Macsween, said she hoped to see the ban overturned.

"The market is massive because there are so many expat Scots there and once Americans try a good quality haggis, they can't get enough of it," she added.

The dish, traditionally served with tatties and neeps on Burns' night, usually contains a sheeps lungs, liver and heart minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt mixed with stock.

It is then boiled in the animal's stomach for around three hours.

A spokesman for the US Department of Agriculture said: "We do not allow importation because of the UK's BSE status."

We see no reason at all why people cannot eat haggis safely, so long as manufacturers follow hygiene legislation   Food Standards Agency

"Sheep are susceptible to TSE's and thus the US takes precautions on importing those ruminants from BSE-affected countries."

However, a spokesman for Britain's Food Standards Agency said: "We see no reason at all why people cannot eat haggis safely, so long as manufacturers follow hygiene legislation.

"We have the strictest BSE controls in the world."

[Redbob]

If the market for haggis was so “massive” here in the U.S., there’d be an American maker of the stuff.

There’s not?

[Paul Heinzman]

Well, to quote Manfred Mann, it ain’t my cup of meat, but if someone wants to eat sheep’s lungs, that’s their call.

[Disambiguator]

Oh, and a wee dram of whiskey whisky!

[hometoroost]

Does that mean that when Haggis is outlawed only outlaws will have Haggis?

[kinghorse]

There’s always a reason for the flavor of libations and spices in every neck of the woods. Whereas in the equatorial climes spices and peppers in particular are used to mask the smell of rotted meat, I imagine the scotch whiskey that’ll melt the eyeballs out of a cat is designed to kill whatever accompanies the field dressed garbage they eat.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Neeps & Tatties!!! MMMMmmm!!!

Aye. Before slicing the Haggis, you can recite "Ode to a Haggis" by Robert Burns...as is traditional.

An' afterwards, wit a full belly, ye can recite this lal dittay:

Ode Tae A Fart

Oh whit a sleekit horrible beastie
lurks in your belly after the feastie
Jist as you sit doon amang yer kin
There starts tae stir an enormous win’

The neeps ‘n’tatties ‘n’ mushy peas
Start workin’ like a gentle breeze
But soon the puddin’ wi the sauncie face
Will hae ye blowin ‘a’ ower the place

Nae matter whit the hell ye dae
A’bodys gonny huv tae pay
Even when ye try tae stifle
It’s like a bullet oot a rifle

Ye hawd yer bum ticht tae the chair
An try tae stop the leakin’ air
Shiftin’ yersel fae cheek tae cheek
An pray tae god it disnae reek

But aw yer efforts go asunder
When oot it comes, a clap ‘o thunder
Richochets aroon the room
Michty me a sonic boom!

God Almichty it fairly reeks
Hope a huvnae shat ma breeks
Tae the bog a better scurry
Aw whit the hell, it’s no ma worry

A’body roon aboot me chokin’
Wan or twa ur nearly boakin
A’ll feel better fur a while
Canny help but raise a smile

“Wis him!” I shout wi accusin’ glower
Alas too late, he’s just keeled ower
“Ye durty bugger!” they shout and stare
A dinna feel welcome any mair

But where ye go ,let yer win’ gang free
Sounds like jist the job tae me
But whit a fuss at Bobby’s party
Owe the sake ‘O’ wan wee farty.

[Sparticus]

I've only tried canned haggis without sheep's lung, but if it is any thing like the real thing it is an affront against humanity and the universe.

Not to mention the slight risk of tuberculosis from lung tissues.

[bert]

I didn’t ealize there was a haggis ban.

No wonder I couldn’t find it in the Walmart Deli

[Stoat]

Haggis Ping :-)

[Ditter]

The results of the Scots poverty was still evident 20 years ago when I visited Scotland. A post office employee in a small town refused to accept a book that I wanted to send home to the US because it was too heavy and would cost to much in postage. I had the money in my hand (rich American) but according to her it was ‘too dear’ (too expensive) and she refused it.

[Cicero]

Address to a Haggis.

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin’-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
‘Bethankit’ hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect sconner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit:
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

—Robert Burns

[rightwingintelligentsia]

You can get it there after midnight, but only if you know the secret password.

[A knight without armor]

Oh my gosh. I went to that homepage. This is so funny! Everybody ought to read this. Just the paragraph headings for example:

Piping in the Haggis

Address to the Haggis

Toast to the Haggis

Actually this soup sounds good to me and easy to prepare. I could try this. I suppose 100g and 500g is like a half cup and a cup.

Cock-a-leekie soup

1 small chicken
8 soaked prunes: stones removed and saved
100g diced bacon
500g leeks: washed and thinly sliced
2 litres of water
1 teaspoon chopped tarragon
salt and pepper

Remove the skin from the chicken and place in a large pan, together with the bacon and prune stones. Cover with water and bring to the boil. Keep covered and simmer for two hours. Strain off the liquid, remove the stones and roughly chop the chicken. Add the chopped chicken, leeks, tarragon, salt and pepper to the liquid and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add prunes at the end of cooking time and serve.

[llevrok]

Scots eating foods Americans don’t want to eat

[Maggie Maggie Maggie]

American haggis supplier

http://www.caledoniankitchen.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/33?osCsid=1c7293b19af5039cda57d2ab5567e6cb

For the brave.

[popdonnelly]

Haggis eaters should form a victim group to express their grievances. The Democrats will make the right to eat haggis part of their party platform.

[Stoat]

American haggis supplier

Thank you so very much! 

Useful information for any of us who might like to give it a try.

Welcome to Free Republic!  I hope that you will return regularly  :-)

[Tanniker Smith]

it contains offal ingredients such as sheep lungs

Sounds pretty "offal" to me.

[Stoat]

Sorry, my mistake....I misread your signup date.

Thank you anyway for the information :-)

[Stoat]

Thanks very much for posting! A worthwhile video that all should see who are interested in Haggis and Scottish traditions.