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."

[Scotsman will be Free]

Considerin’ that the Scots have invented just about everything I choose to celebrate frequently.

[Clintons Are White Trash]

I think Mike Meyers is right, all Scottish food is based on a dare.

[Stoat]

Considerin’ that the Scots have invented just about everything I choose to celebrate frequently.

All true!

Amazon.com How the Scots Invented the Modern World The True Story of How Western Europe's Poorest Nation Created Our World & Everything in It Books Arthur Herman

[Manic_Episode]

Iechyd da!

Hr-r-r-r-njmmah!

[6SJ7]

I think I’ve suddenly turned vegetarian.

[southernnorthcarolina]

I had been under the impression that "authentic" haggis was outlawed in the U.S. specifically due to the inclusion of lungs (a tuberculosis risk), and not to the presence of "offal" (internal organs and entrails) in general. After all, there's plenty of offal consumed in domestic foodstuffs and legally imported items -- sausages, wursts, scrapple, "chitlins," etc.

I've had the U.S. version of haggis. I had always assumed that it had been cooked in a sheep stomach -- it certainly looked like one.

For the record, it was surprisingly mild and inoffensive. Don't think I'd want it every day, but a slice of it as an appetizer accompanied by a wee dram (or two), it wasn't bad. A slight liverish taste (since I'm OK with liver, no problem for me). But then, mine wasn't authentic.

I'll be going to Edinburgh this summer, so I may try the real thing.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Every year when the British Open is televised, we are reminded that the Scots say “If there’s nae wind, there’s nae golf.” Perhaps we should add “If there’s nae lungs, there’s nae haggis.”

[Snickering Hound]

If it isn't full of offal, it isn't haggis, you silk wearing buttercups

[Brad from Tennessee]

HAGGIS

* 1 sheep’s lung (illegal in the U.S.; may be omitted if not available)
* 1 sheep’s stomach
* 1 sheep heart
* 1 sheep liver
* 1/2 lb fresh suet (kidney leaf fat is preferred)
* 3/4 cup oatmeal (the ground type, NOT the Quaker Oats type!)
* 3 onions, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
* 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
* 3/4 cup stock

Wash lungs and stomach well, rub with salt and rinse. Remove membranes and excess fat. Soak in cold salted water for several hours. Turn stomach inside out for stuffing.

Cover heart and liver with cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Chop heart and coarsely grate liver. Toast oatmeal in a skillet on top of the stove, stirring frequently, until golden. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Loosely pack mixture into stomach, about two-thirds full. Remember, oatmeal expands in cooking.

Press any air out of stomach and truss securely. Put into boiling water to cover. Simmer for 3 hours, uncovered, adding more water as needed to maintain water level. Prick stomach several times with a sharp needle when it begins to swell; this keeps the bag from bursting. Place on a hot platter, removing trussing strings. Serve with a spoon. Ceremoniously served with “neeps, tatties and nips” — mashed turnips, mashed potatoes, nips of whiskey.

[Mama Shawna]

Robert Burns wrote Auld Lange Syne, among other tunes. Hubby and I jam with a guy who is a direct descendant of Robert Burns, although he’s never mentioned this particular treat...

[LibFreeOrDie]

Haggis isn’t much different than hot dogs and sausages in “natural casing”, which is intestines.

In other countries, offal is the basis of some gourmet dishes, such as sweetbreads (thymus gland of a calf), calf brains with brown butter, etc. Then there’s European peasant food: pigs feet, head cheese, and blood sausage.

[mtbopfuyn]

I’ve never had Haggis, but I have to wonder if the main objection is that you know what’s in it. I mean - do you eat hotdogs?

You're probably right about knowing what's in it. I've eaten quite a lot of interesting dishes in my life - armadillo, gator, snake, reindeer, tongue and pepperoni pizza but that gray gooshy blob seriously doesn't look appetizing.

[Porterville]

sounds offal

[A Strict Constructionist]

“believes the American market could be a very lucrative one.”

If true, we have strong, revolting, evidence of the decline of intelligence in the American voter.

[Octar]

The checkout lady at the supermarket yesterday appeared to have rather spectacular tatties and neeps.

[NewJerseyJoe]

Haggis, eee-yuk. Number 3 on the list of 10 Things I Never Want to Eat.

(#2 = balut)
(#1 = lutefisk)

[Slings and Arrows]

"Get in mah BELLY!"

---

[Doe Eyes]

I have read the thread so far.

Is the consensus that haggis is disgusting and therefore should be illegal to import?

[Jewels1091]

only from a local butcher here in town, i know what is in them! they are kinda pricey for hot dogs but they don’t sweep the kill room floor for the stuff to put in them

[Churchillspirit]

I actually sell canned haggis in my store. It is really popular.

To each his own.....