Belgium’s food safety agency has issued a public health warning, advising people not to consume their Christmas trees following an unusual recommendation from the city of Ghent.
As the festive season came to a close on Tuesday, Ghent—known for its environmentalist culture—raised eyebrows with a post suggesting ways to recycle Christmas trees, including using the needles in cooking. The city’s website highlighted Scandinavian practices where tree needles are stripped, blanched, and dried to create items like flavored butter.
However, Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) quickly responded with a firm “No.” The agency stressed that Christmas trees are not meant to be part of the food chain and warned against consuming them. In a statement, AFSCA explained that it is impossible to guarantee the safety of Christmas trees for human or animal consumption.
The agency also pointed out the potential dangers posed by the pesticides commonly applied to trees during cultivation, as well as the unknown risk of flame retardants that may have been used on some trees. AFSCA emphasized that these chemicals could present serious, even fatal risks if ingested.
In response to the backlash, Ghent’s city council amended its post, changing the headline from “Eat Your Christmas Tree” to “Scandinavians Eat Their Christmas Trees,” effectively distancing itself from the controversial suggestion.
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