Some things may go without saying, but just in case... Belgium's food agency issued a public health warning as the festive season wrapped up Tuesday: don't eat your Christmas tree.
The Unusual Message from Ghent
The unusual message came after the city of Ghent, an environmentalist stronghold in Belgium's northern Flanders region, raised eyebrows by posting tips for recycling Christmas trees on the dinner table. Pointing to examples from Scandinavia, the town website suggested needles could be stripped, blanched, and dried for use in making flavored butter.
AFSCA's Response
However, Belgium's federal agency for food chain security, AFSCA, quickly responded with a resounding "No." AFSCA stated, "Christmas trees are not destined to enter the food chain," citing the potential presence of pesticides and flame retardants on most trees grown for the holiday season.
AFSCA emphasized that there is no way to ensure the safety of consuming Christmas trees, both for people and animals. The agency warned of serious, even fatal consequences from ingesting treated trees.
In conclusion, AFSCA stated, "There are many reasons not to promote or encourage the re-use of Christmas trees in the food chain."
Seemingly taking the warning on board, the city of Ghent revised its post, changing the headline from "Eat your Christmas tree" to "Scandinavians eat their Christmas trees."
Belgium, Food, Agency, Warning, Christmas Tree
