President Trump faces calls to issue an executive order to legalise haggis.
The POTUS – who has repeatedly spoken of his pride at his Scottish roots – has signed off a torrent of controversial edicts that circumvent existing laws – and potentially shake society – in the USA.
He has not yet made the step of issuing a command to forego import laws that forbid the use of sheep’s lung in Scotland’s national dish – meaning an authentic Scottish haggis is effectively banned in the USA.
Scotland’s top exporter Macsweens of Edinburgh have said an executive order would undoubtedly smooth the way for the rise of the haggis in America.
Company MD James Macsween told the Record that his company would continue work on a US-compliant haggis that uses sheep’s heart instead of lung, with the traditional spices, oatmeal and fat.
But he would welcome a decision by Trump to show respect to the homeland of his mother and the country where he has invested millions in golf courses at Turnberry and Aberdeenshire.
James said: “An executive order by the president would certainly make life easier for us and smooth the way to accessing markets in the USA.
“We are, however, aware that the president’s priorities may lie with other matters and we will continue to work on our compliant haggis, with modifications that will retain all the traditional spices and flavours of the product sold in the UK and other nations.”
James said: “We do have to establish that we would have a viable market in the USA. Our exports to Canada have been very successful, as there is an even larger Scottish diaspora.
“We would love to replicate that in the USA but there is a bit more work to be done to establish a successful strategy.”
The company hopes the US version of Macsweens haggis will be ready to launch in time for Burns Night next year.
The new “compliant” recipe of the nation’s most famous dish would mark the first invasion of haggis in the USA since 1971.
Traditional haggis was banned as sheep’s-lung was then prohibited for use as human food by federal regulation.
Traditional haggis contains about 15% sheep lung.
Macsween restarted its exports to Canada in 2017 after using lamb heart and lamb fat to beat a ban on offal. The country is now their largest overseas market.
The firm also sells a vegetarian haggis version in the US, labelled Scottish Veggie Crumble.
Donald Trump faced calls to legalise haggis prior to his first term in office and many believed his affection for Scotland might see him personally cut through the import red tape.
Over the years, petitions to end the decades-old ban have been made by former environment secretaries and Scots have smuggled consignments of the famed delicacy in their air baggage over the years.
President Trump has this week issued a barrage of executive orders, kicking off his presidency by killing existing policies on issues including immigration, the environment and diversity initiatives.
He rolled back on outgoing Joe Biden’s significant domestic policies on climate and immigration.
He signalled changes to allow drilling and mining on natural resources and block the flow of immigrants into America.
Trump said he was also revoking almost 80 “disruptive, radical executive actions of the previous administration.”
Emma Harper, a former resident of California and now a prominent SNP MSP, said:“The Chieftan o’ the puddin’ race is fit for a Chief – and Macsween’s call could provide a huge boost to Scotland’s economy and our proud relationship with the United States.
“The President can show he has the guts for Scotland’s national dish with the stroke of his pen, providing a Burns Night gift for all 50 states.
“There is no doubt that just one taste of Scotland’s national dish would seal the deal and see the legalisation of this great dish into the world’s largest economy.
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