Scots government bid to overturn US haggis ban

bbc.co.uk ^

[MadMitch]

A US government delegation has been invited to Scotland in a bid to overturn its 40-year ban on haggis.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead's invitation comes two days ahead of Burns Night, when suppers are held in honour of poet Robert Burns.

[MadMitch]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12259126

[hennie pennie]

*ping*

[cripplecreek]

We can’t make our own haggis?

[Tax-chick]

Scotland ping!

[95B30]

Not if you can’t use the proper ingredients!

[paulycy]

How many Americans even know it’s illegal to make haggis?

How much do the Scots expect their sales to increase if the ban is lifted?

Why isn’t this in Breaking News?

[markomalley]

Haggis Could Vanish Due to Climate Change

Yes, haggis—minced sheep organs mixed with onions, oatmeal, and spices, and then boiled inside the sheep’s stomach—could be the latest victim of global warming.

A vital ingredient to make the traditional Scottish dish is becoming increasingly hard to find: sheep lung. Many sheep have been infected with Lung Worm, which does not affect the rest of the sheep’s body, does render the lungs inedible.

“Lung worm has been at a very low level and did not cause serious problems in sheep but with the changing climate and availability of the parasite it is becoming a problem,” said Sandy Clark, a veterinarian at the Scottish Agricultural College in Thurso.

Would be a horrible loss...

[Lazamataz]

Why is Haggis illegal?

This country has gone to hell, one law at a time.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

That America customs officer from a few years ago during the BSE crisis had the right idea. Confiscate it off anyone carrying one, take it outside, and riddle it with bullets...lol..

[Lazamataz]

Is there anything Global Warming cannot do?

[markomalley]

Is there anything Global Warming cannot do?

Some amazing stuff, ain't it?

[bert]

....How much do the Scots expect their sales to increase if the ban is lifted?....

I think the increase could be significant. In fact, I can visualize Scotch Plaid decorated restaurants with slabs of fast haggis cooked up by small Spanish speaking men. One innovation will be haggis on a crunchy tortilla with or without jalapenos and cheese.

On reflection, it would have happened years ago had it not been for the ban.

[driftdiver]

Sure you can make your own haggis, but why would you?

[bobzeetwin]

We can’t make our own haggis?

Sure. You can call it scrapple. You can call it sausage. You can refine it and call it a hot dog. You can call it pate' if you like. Regardless, it is a creative way to use the stuff most people would shovel off the floor a put in the pig feed barrel.

[cripplecreek]

You can make haggis but you can’t use imported sheep lungs due to a certain disease risk. Looks like you can use American sheep lungs.

[katana]

"Ah, reekin'!"

To those who haven't tried it, Haggis actually tastes good. That being said, making and trying it both require a certain amount of guts.

[P.O.E.]

Just in time for a “Burns Supper”

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 hudies 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 ye up wi’ ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, 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;
Then 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 scunner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As fecl;ess as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Tho’ bluidy 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 whistle;
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 gratfu’ prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

[Lazamataz]

"Is there anything Global Warming cannot do? "

Some amazing stuff, ain't it?

It's like wonder glue, but destructive.

[Timocrat]

We can’t make our own haggis?

Sure we can. Stahly Foods here in the US makes it. Web site is here.

[Graybeard58]

I swear I thought that title said “baggies ban”.

It’s very early but still, nothing surprises me any more.