It was a moment many Scots living in America and butchers back home had dreamed of.
However, their hopes were quickly dashed when it turned out a video suggesting a ban on haggis sales in the U.S. had been lifted was nothing more than a joke.
Within hours of Massachusetts seemingly legalising Scotland’s national dish, cold water was poured over the plans.
State governor Maura Healey appeared to sign an executive order alongside a Scottish podcaster, and on social media she declared: ‘We’ve made haggis legal in Massachusetts.’
Many hoped that it would mean the Scottish staple, which has been banned in America since the 1970s because it contains sheep lungs, would finally be available in the state which has welcomed tens-of-thousands of Scots during the World Cup.
But the executive order was not real and so no rules regarding the food have changed. One source close to the state governor last night admitted: ‘No laws or regulations have been changed and haggis is not legal in Massachusetts.
‘The video post was a joking, light-hearted moment, and the executive order was not real and did not alter any state rules regarding haggis.’
And the governor herself has since apologised for any confusion caused, but said the state’s admiration for Scotland was genuine.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signs agreement to ‘legalise’ haggis in her state
Ms Healey said: ‘I have received countless messages from Massachusetts residents, Scotland supporters, legal experts, and at least one very concerned sheep regarding my order making haggis legal in Massachusetts.
‘After careful review by my office, I am prepared to clarify that this was, in fact, a joke.
‘To the Scottish fans who immediately accepted the executive order as entirely reasonable government business, thank you for your confidence in Massachusetts. I apologise deeply for any confusion.
‘The good news is that our admiration for Scotland remains genuine, our welcome remains warm, and our enthusiasm for the World Cup remains undiminished.’
Nevertheless, it appears to be a sign the campaign to put real haggis back on American menus is attracting the most attention it has in years.
The nationwide ban on what Robert Burns hailed as the ‘great chieftain o the puddin’-race’ dates back to 1971 when the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations published a document which said: ‘Livestock lungs shall not be saved for use as human food.’
It came after a study by the United States Department for Agriculture inspected several hundred random samples of beef lungs, which inspectors said had ‘various abnormal conditions’.
Haggis has been banned in the States since the 1970s
The department said it was not practical to examine all parts of all lungs used in food, and therefore implemented a blanket ban.
It meant all lungs were classed as unfit for human consumption.
The UK Government has lobbied Washington repeatedly over the years to lift their import ban on traditional haggis – so far to no avail.
Despite the ban in the United States, the dish is still worth millions in exports to countries such as Iceland, Spain, and the Czech Republic.
