U.S. Debates Whether to Lift Ban on Scottish Haggis

by Catherine Donaldson-Evans, Posted Feb 3rd 2010 @ 9:30AM

The U.S. government is reconsidering its ban on Scotland's national dish haggis.

The Department of Agriculture has shot down rumors that the sausage – made by rolling the cooked innards of a sheep (its heart, liver and lungs) in oats and pepper, then stuffing it in cow's intestine and boiling it – will be allowed in the United States any time soon.

The Scottish delicacy has been barred from this country since the late '80s mad cow outbreak in the U.K.

At the request of Scottish officials, the USDA is reviewing the risks of the dish and the ban on it, according to The Associated Press.

USDA spokeswoman Lindsay Cole issued a statement saying reports that the ban will be lifted are incorrect and though the latest science is being examined, no timetable has been set for a decision.

Haggis is getting another look in this country because Scottish Rural Affairs minister Richard Lochhead asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to clarify the government's embargo, the AP reported.

"We want to allow American consumers to sample our world renowned national dish," said Lochhead. "They should be assured Scotland has an excellent reputation in animal disease surveillance and prevention."

Scottish haggis producers are happy at the prospect that it might be allowed in the U.S. after all these years.

"This is long overdue and I'm glad the U.S. authorities are coming to their senses," master butcher Neil Watt of Watt the Butcher in Montrose, Scotland, told the AP. "The haggis you get in the States does not taste like proper haggis."

Jo Macsween, director of Macsween's Haggis in Edinburgh, believes removing the U.S. ban would be good for business and says Americans who visit Scotland are "eager to try" the national dish.

"We believe there is a big market to be tapped," he told the AP. "Once [Americans] have tasted it, they generally love it and become enthusiasts."

At least one American isn't enthused about haggis. Former President George W. Bush told the AP he had no desire to try the sausage at the 2005 G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.

"I was briefed on haggis," he said.

Filed Under: Food News
Tags: haggis, haggis illegal, haggis not coming to united states, haggis still illegal, scottish haggis

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-03-2010 @11:53AM christopher said... i thought a proper haggis was stuffed into a sheep stomach. You already took the pluck from the sheep, might as well get the stomach too. That's how I've always made it (I'm no authority on proper haggis tho).

I would rather be able to get lights from a butcher than haggis from scotland but I still hope this goes thru.
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2-03-2010 @4:43PM Al Schrader said... My grandmother was from Scotland. She was the meanest person I ever knew. She had this big stick with knots on it called a shalaylee. She would beat you sensless. I guess it's one of the reasons why I make Rambo look like a Disney character. But, anyways. Heart meat is very good. I take the heart & slice it into steaks. It's very deep dark red meat. But a warning, never ever, ever cook kidneys. Why ? Because kidneys have tiny passageways filled with urine, and when you apply heat, the urine boils out, and trust me, there is no worse smell on earth than boiling urine. Al-

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2-03-2010 @2:10PM lisanie43 said... I am not buying that disgusting junk. It is not a healthy stuff to consume and why should it be even allowed in the USA? Once banned, it should remain banned.
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2-03-2010 @2:24PM christopher said... That's an oddly harsh reply. What is so unhealthy about haggis? Its onion, salt, blk pepper, steel cut oats, pepper, heart, liver, lungs, a bit of tallow, and maybe a few other spices. That filling is stuffed in a stomach (kind like a thick hot dog casing i.e. intestine). Its marvelously delicious, simple, and hearty.

That unhealthy food shouldn't be allowed in the US is ridiculous. We are the most unhealthy country in the world, even our our "healthy" foods are largely made of highly processed corn and soy, and we eat too much. Even if haggis were unhealthy how would that be grounds to keep it out of the US?

I'll go out on a limb and guess you haven't tried it so you can't really say its disgusting. It may disgust you but a great many other people find it quite acceptable. Even if this goes thru you won't be forced to buy it so why do you care? I don't eat the things that disgust me but you are free to if they appeal to you.

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2-03-2010 @2:59PM Mikki said... How ignorant are you? As ignorant as the US Govt.

IF there were any danger to eating haggis, don't you think the British govt. would put a ban on it, too?

People have been eating haggis for centuries and no one has died from it yet.

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2-03-2010 @3:42PM Blurgle said... It's no more unhealthy then any other part of a sheep. Please, do let me know how it's unhealthy compared to any other organ meat. Or for that matter sausages we're more used to in the USA. I've only had haggis a couple times, and while it didn't impress me per-se, I didn't find it terrible. Why not let people of Scottish descent and others whom have tried and enjoyed it import it here?

Oh well.

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2-03-2010 @4:29PM Sarah said... ...She said as she ate her McDonald's.

If unhealthy food were to be banned in the United States, that would mean an end to all fast food (good riddance, I say) and most chain restaurants would go out of business. While I've never had Haggis, it doesn't seem particularly unhealthy. At least it's healthier than McDondald's.

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2-03-2010 @2:54PM Mar said... People who are against lifting this ban should visit a hotdog factory and see how this favorite US staple is made.
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2-03-2010 @2:39PM Button said... I AM OF SWEDISH HERITAGE AND WE ATE "PULT" WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. IT IS MADE LIKE A BREAD WITH PIG'S BLOOD AND THEN FRIED IN PORK FAT. WHEN YOU GROW UP ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU DO LIKE IT ALL YOUR LIFE. NOW WE CANNOT GET THE BLOOD AS IT IS DECLARED BY THE U.S. AS "UNHEALTHY." ALSO..... HOW ABOUT SOME LUTEFISK?? I LOVE THAT TOO. JUST BECAUSE YOU GREW UP ON IT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS GOOD TO EAT IT NOW. GOOD LUCK!!!
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2-03-2010 @4:49PM christopher said... Try asian or latino markets. Ours sells pig blood by the gallon. Its from industrial torture pigs so I avoid it but it is there if you really want it. Can't help you with the lutefisk but I'd love to try pult.

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2-03-2010 @2:40PM lita said... High fructose corn syrup is an unhealthy "food," yet it is found in most of everything we eat. The body doesn't metabolize it the same way it metabolizes regular sugar. And the trend toward using it as a cheap alternative to regular sugar coincides with the upward obesity trend in the United States. I wonder if there could be a connection? Is it possible that someone is shelling out big bucks to the federal government to make sure the American public keep consuming it? (It's banned in Europe.) Nah....
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2-04-2010 @5:51PM JB said... Kudos to you! I don't eat haggis but Id trade a ban on haggis for a ban on cornsyrp any day

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2-03-2010 @2:47PM Frank said... With all the poison crap that is coming from CHINA ( like Tyson chicken products ) our goverment is worried about Scotland ? I have as yet to hear about deadly toys,pet food ,clothes , processed foods , cars motorcycles or anything else from Scotland . We need to stop buying chinese and buy more from Europe .They have health standards .
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2-04-2010 @10:27AM ohthurtywon said... This has nothing to do with HEALTH!! Animal rights activist. I hate when people lie to us like we have half a brain. I do not have to run down the list of food and drug items that is legal in the US. i will assume everyone knows this is crap! PS I never tasted the banned substance but dam, just be honest!!
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2-03-2010 @2:48PM Kay said... If there was any danger to eating haggis, why didnt the British govt. put a ban on it being made there?

Some people are as ignorant as the US ban that was started.
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2-03-2010 @2:56PM gs said... traditionally it is a sheep stomach - i cannot imagine why it would be banned other than scapes(sp?) which, as far as i know, is not transmitted to humans and there are tests for it - it is possibly the origin of mad cow and the better name chronic wasting disease which is common in parts of the us - mad cow should not be an issue anymore - george bush should just die and be gone - he will like hell, except for the haggis and broccoli - the scotch seldom consume real haggis - it is reserved for special occassions due to its nature - the sausage is just a sausage in natural casing - not even close to the real thing
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2-03-2010 @3:00PM jenn said... whats the difference from getting our beef and chicken and other foods from china from letting some one who wants to enjoy a scottish delicacy just do so
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2-03-2010 @3:04PM El Bunto said... I have eaten Haggis, even watched as it was made. It tastes fine, much like turkey stuffing made with liver&gizzard, which many in the U.S. have had. There is no truth to any claim of Haggis being unhealthy. It is no different than any other type of food in a balanced diet. Haggis served with mashed potatoes, and turnips,or rutabaga makes a great, and tasty meal. Lift the ban!!!!
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2-03-2010 @3:03PM Mikki said... If it is so digusting, why didn't you tell us about your visit to a hot dog factory?
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2-03-2010 @3:14PM Sarahv said... I had Haggis in Scotland and it was YUMMY. I thought it was going to be gross but it was actually good. I was glad to have been given the opportunity to try it. I think the ban should be lifted.
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