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Scotland asks U.S. to lift haggis ban
The Scottish government has invited a delegation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Scotland in a bid to lift the ban on haggis imports.In an interview with the BBC, Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said he wants to show the officials that haggis is made in a safe and sanitary manner.
Earlier this year we reported that the ban on haggis was being lifted. This ban was put in place on UK meat products in 1989 thanks to the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a.k.a. mad cow disease. The ban on UK meat was indeed lifted, but our report on haggis turned out to be premature, because in ensuing years the U.S. government had added a ban on imports of food containing sheep lungs, a key ingredient in traditional haggis.
Now the Scots are trying to get that last hurdle out of the way. Mr. Lochhead says the U.S. market for haggis could be huge. Think how many expat Scots, Scottish-Americans, and wannabe Scots there are in the good old U S of A. Just the number of people trying it once out of curiosity could add up to millions of dollars in sales.
He believes that if U.S. agriculture officials saw the high standards of food processing in Scotland, they'd give sheep lungs a break and allow them for human consumption.
Personally, I don't like haggis, but that's just me. I think that the more ethnic foods are available to the consumer, the better.
[Photo courtesy user Kaishu via Wikimedia Commons]
Filed under: Food and Drink, Europe, North America, United Kingdom, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bruce Greiner Jan 24th 2011 2:37PM
Personally I would like to see the ban on Jamon (Spanish Dry Cured Ham) lifted it does seem to make sense that it is banned.
Michael Bannerman Jan 25th 2011 5:17PM
WRONG!
You should have talked to Ron Thurston of Glasgow's McKeans (www.scottishhaggis.com) before writing this as they sell haggis in the US!
Additionally, there are other US manufacturers of haggis that would give the imports a run for their money. I strongly suggest Jim Walters of Caledonian Kitchen as a local US manufacturer.
You will get a totally different take on this "story" if you contact either person.
Scott Carmichael Jan 25th 2011 4:13PM
McKeans is made in Maine - so I'm not sure yelling "WRONG" is appropriate here.
AFAIK there are no LEGALLY imported Haggis brands in the US (yet).
Michael Bannerman Jan 25th 2011 4:55PM
While made in the States, it is done as a part of a Scottish Company. So, indeed WRONG.
As I said, I think you need to at least talk to Ron Thurston. Jim Walters at Caledonian Kitchen is also informative, but they are not a Scottish firm. On the other hand, Walters has been selling haggis in the States for 15 years now.
On the other hand, Mr Walters points out that the free trade works both ways. He will be able to sell his wares in Scotland!
Also, the inference is that there is a market for Scottish haggis which is left untapped, which is untrue as there are local manufacturers. So, if the Scottish firms which were slow to get in the market try to penetrate it, they will be competing with other manufacturers with name recognition who are already in the States.
Sean McLachlan Jan 25th 2011 5:22PM
Do they include sheep lungs in their recipe? If they don't, then it isn't traditional haggis. If they do, then they're breaking U.S. food laws.
Sean McLachlan Jan 25th 2011 5:32PM
And what exactly is "WRONG" about my article since all I'm saying is that Scottish imports are banned and the companies you are talking about aren't actually importing haggis. This comment smells of vested interest.
Michael Bannerman Jan 26th 2011 1:48AM
Since I see you deleted my last comment, I should add that I am am ex-pat scot and US haggis consumer,
I don't see any problems with acquiring it here.
Michael Bannerman Jan 26th 2011 1:48AM
I was wrong about you deleting me, but I am having problems with this commenting system.
My only interest is in accuracy. McKeans, a Scottish firm is making US legal haggis.
The likelihood that the whingers will see US law changed is nil.
McKeans is doing what other firms do when they need to produce locally: they have set up a US subsidiary and are making the product to US specifications.
I think you need to interview the US manufacturers before you present a biased and inaccurate picture of the US market.
Now, please excuse me as I am leaving to enjoy my Burns night haggis.
Sean McLachlan Jan 26th 2011 1:51AM
So. . .you admit that no haggis is imported to the U.S. from Scotland, which was the subject of my article. So you shouting "WRONG" was, in fact, wrong itself.