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."

[Round 9]

Mmmmmm...sheep’s lung...

[nkycincinnatikid]

I haven’t enjoyed such a fit a lafter in years. Thank ye.

[glock rocks]

You’re not about to see that served up on the Food Network by any of their shiney-happy-people chefs.

Actually...

Haggis

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Show:	Good Eats
Episode:	Oat Cuisine

1 sheep stomach
1 sheep liver
1 sheep heart
1 sheep tongue
1/2 pound suet, minced
3 medium onions, minced
1/2 pound dry oats, toasted
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried ground herbs

Rinse the stomach thoroughly and soak overnight in cold salted water.

Rinse the liver, heart, and tongue. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook these parts over medium heat for 2 hours. Remove and mince. Remove any gristle or skin and discard.

In a large bowl, combine the minced liver, heart, tongue, suet, onions, and toasted oats. Season with salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Moisten with some of the cooking water so the mixture binds. Remove the stomach from the cold salted water and fill 2/3 with the mixture. Sew or tie the stomach closed. Use a turning fork to pierce the stomach several times. This will prevent the haggis from bursting.

In a large pot of boiling water, gently place the filled stomach, being careful not to splash. Cook over high heat for 3 hours.

Serve with mashed potatoes, if you serve it at all.

[mad_as_he$$]

No, dear God the humanity. Caving to the haggis eaters will cause the downfall of American society. The little pouches will be everywhere. Of the smell......s/

[patton]

Thanks - I didn’t know Burns wrote that.

[tubebender]

I am willing to accept the fact you hate me if you can just tell me why.

I’ll deal with Alton later...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I haven’t enjoyed such a fit a lafter in years. Thank ye.

Aye. I' had me p!$$!n' me knickers as well.

[the scotsman]

Sorry, but that is just a load of Brigadoon bollocks...

1-—Scotland 20 years ago or now was not/is not a poor country, we are part of Britain, one of the most powerful economic countries in the world.

And the notion that Scotland was in times past a backward, poor nation, threadbare is Hollywood nonsense also. Scotland from the 11th century was a thriving trading partner to Europe until the union with England in 1707, and since then has been a driving force in men and product behind the Empire and the modern post-Empire Britain. And Scotland has always been rich in natural finds, from the ancient mining of the Celts to North Sea Oil of today....

Like any country, it has had moments of economic downturn and its has had/had its poorer areas.

2—Ignoring the silly aside of rich American, I can perhaps explain WHY the woman refused it...

Firstly,she cannot refuse any parcel except for Royal Mail rules. If you were posting hardcore porn, as long as its legal, she copuldnt/cant.

Which brings me onto the reason I believe she refused. There are 3 types of postal service from Britain to America:

a—a main Royal Mail post office branch
b—a ‘sub post office’, these are set into shops and are mainly prevelant in smaller towns
c—’Parcelforce’, a section of the RM which deals exclusively with heavy parcels

Now based on your story, I think you were in b—a sub post office. And THATS why she refused. Sub PO’s are only allowed to handle certain sizes, prices and weights of parcels, domestic or international. Due to volume of delivery and RM insurance liability.

What she SHOULD have done is either direct you to a larger ‘main branch’ in the town IF they had one OR a Parcelforce office IF again they had one.

Common sense, IF there were NO other PO’s of any type in the town, should have dictated that she took it and posted it after speaking to a senior manager.

Technically, she was correct if it was a sub PO in a small town and it was a book or parcel ‘too large’. But common sense should have seen her take your money.

Hope that explains. Perhaps you can give more detauls about the incident and I can help answer.

[Stoat]

I have read the thread so far.

You are to be commended for being a tough, battle-hardened soldier  :-)

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

I haven't gotten that impression.  It seems that most find it revolting and therefore would not wish to eat it unless perhaps a large-caliber gun were at their heads, although because most (hopefully all) here are unrepentant, unapologetic Capitalists I don't think that people want it to be illegal but to allow people to buy what they want.

I think also that some are of the impression that the Scots eat it because they enjoy the taste so very much and many readers have a hard time with this, understandably so, when in fact in many cases this is not why it's eaten at all, but as a means of connecting with their heritage.

That at least is the impression conveyed to me, particularly after seeing the very worthwhile video at post #11 here so kindly provided by alice_in_bubbaland

I have read the thread so far.

You are to be commended for being a tough, battle-hardened soldier  :-)

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

[Stoat]

Thank you very much for pinging your list  :-)

[Doe Eyes]

I haven't gotten that impression.

It is currently illegal to import it into the USA. What is your position on this?

[Rudder]

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

Interesting. I'd like to know more: Where is your store? Is it solely a food market? Last, but not least, how many stomachs to a can?

I guess if you're raised on the stuff, you would consider it good eats. Ever try "head cheese?"

[Stoat]

I haven't gotten that impression.

It is currently illegal to import it into the USA. What is your position on this?

The import ban is based upon health concerns, namely the BSE issue.  Our Scottish Friends assure us that it's fine, and that they have the most stringent BSE controls in the world.  Is that good enough, in the event of an outbreak?  I don't know.  I'm not sure that anyone knows for sure, given the time required for evidence of BSE to be detectable in an affected person.  But by that measure I shouldn't be eating my occasional steak or hamburger, which I believe is essential for proper health  :-)

And I of course refuse to do that.

So, I'm guessing that once again this is a matter of the various US Government agencies taking far longer to make policy changes than they need to.  They love to ban things quickly, but most Governments take forever to un-ban them.

So, my position is that if haggis passes the same food safety controls that meat products do in the USA, people should be allowed to import it, buy it and eat it, and take their chances with it just as I do when I eat a steak.

 

I haven't gotten that impression.

It is currently illegal to import it into the USA. What is your position on this?

[Octar]

I’ve never eaten Haggis, but I think I stepped in some once.

[Sir Gawain]

It could be worse. It could be balut. Look it up and prepare to vomit.

[melsec]

“When haggis don’t have offal, the terrorists win.”

LOL That would be a great Tagline

[Sir Gawain]

Ah, you know of the balut as well.

[darkangel82]

Thank you for making me snort carbonated soda through my sinuses.

[Stoat]

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?

Please see the very helpful post #35 by Maggie Maggie Maggie

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?

[Stoat]

Thank you for making me snort carbonated soda through my sinuses.