Haggis has been legalised in the US state of Massachusetts following a campaign by the Tartan Army. Scots are in Boston for the opening matches of the World Cup and launched a petition to lift the ban on Scotland's national dish.
Governor Signs Executive Order
Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey signed an executive order alongside Scottish podcaster David McIntosh Jnr at the State House in Boston on Wednesday. This makes Massachusetts the first US state to lift the ban since haggis was made illegal in 1971 under federal food regulations due to containing sheep's lungs.
Governor Healey announced on social media: "We just made haggis legal in Massachusetts." Scottish butcher Simon Howie initiated a "Make Haggis Legal Again" petition, which garnered 500 signatures from supporters.
Support from the Tartan Army
A spokesperson for the campaign said: "Scotland football fans are widely recognised as the best in the world, and they are about to make the trip of a lifetime, but they'll be doing it without access to their national dish. With such warmth and long-standing affinity between Americans and Scots, we're appealing to the USA to embrace this delicious delicacy and Make Haggis Legal Again."
More than 20,000 Scotland fans have travelled to Massachusetts over the past week. The Tartan Army has been welcomed with open arms in Boston, with locals impressed by their friendly nature.
World Cup Celebrations
After Scotland secured a 1-0 victory against Haiti to kick off their World Cup campaign, around 5,000 Scots attended Fenway Park to watch a Boston Red Sox game. The Daily Record reported that many pubs and bars in the city are running low on beer as the Tartan Army took over local watering holes.
The Tartan Army has also brought a Glasgow tradition across the Atlantic by placing traffic cones on top of statues. Governor Healey previously commented: "The Tartan Army has brought energy, joy, and enthusiasm to Massachusetts. This is truly what the World Cup is all about. Between the bagpipes, the kilts, and thousands of Scotland fans turning Boston into their home away from home, the Tartan Army has made quite an impression on Massachusetts."
