In Belgium, the city of Ghent, renowned for its ecological initiatives, caused significant controversy by suggesting that its residents “eat their Christmas trees” to avoid waste. This recommendation, published on the municipality’s website, was inspired by a Scandinavian practice consisting of drying fir needles to make food products, such as spreadable butter.
However, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) strongly condemned this idea. “There is no guarantee of safe consumption of Christmas trees by both humans and animals,” the agency warned. She highlighted the risks linked to the probable presence of pesticides used for the cultivation of these trees.
Potentially dangerous products
Afsca also warned against the possible presence of flame retardants, potentially dangerous products: “Not knowing whether the trees have been treated can have serious, even fatal, consequences. »
Faced with this warning, the city of Ghent has revised its communication. The original title “Eat your Christmas tree” was replaced with “Scandinavians eat their Christmas trees”, thereby softening the direct incentive to consume these trees. Despite this change, the approach continued to provoke reactions, between amusement and concern.
Belgium
