Scottish butcher Simon Howie launches bid to ‘make haggis legal again’ ahead of World Cup
As the Tartan Army prepares to descend on the USA for the World Cup, Scottish butcher Simon Howie says No Haggis No Party.
As the Tartan Army gears up for their first men’s World Cup since 1998, Simon Howie is on a mission to ‘Make Haggis Legal Again’.
Haggis has been banned in the USA since 1971 under federal food regulations relating to certain offal ingredients prohibited by the US Government.
Under former US president Richard Nixon, it became illegal to import haggis from Scotland in 1971 as there was a sanction on food containing sheep lungs, which constitutes a portion of the traditional haggis recipe.
But with thousands of Scotland fans set to descend on the country this June and July, Simon Howie has launched a petition to reinstate the national dish.
Simon Howie,has also created a specially commissioned campaign film fronted by broadcaster and high-profile Scotland fan Gordon Smart. The film features Tartan Army supporters, Scottish TikTok star Mark Thorburn and a cameo appearance from Simon Howie himself, all shining a spotlight on America’s long-standing haggis ban.
Simon Howie 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.”
In support of the campaign, Simon Howie is distributing special edition No Haggis No Party flags to Tartan Army supporters ahead of their journey, sending a message from the stands and fan zones that while Scotland may have arrived, not everyone, or everything, made the trip.
Gordon Smart said: “For Scotland fans, summer 2026 is going to be a trip we’ll never forget. We’ll have the flags, the songs and the scarves and if this petition has anything to do with it, we’ll have the haggis too.
“Simon Howie is fighting for every Scot and honorary Scot out there, so let’s get behind the campaign and make history on and off the pitch. Because after all, if there’s no haggis, there’s no party.”
The Make Haggis Legal Again petition is now live and open to signatories. Simon Howie is calling on Scotland and haggis fans around the world to get signing and sharing to Make Haggis Legal Again.
In early 2025, Simon Howie’s rival haggis producer, Macsween, announced they had plans to reintroduce haggis to America with a new recipe.
In January 2025 it was reported that Macsween of Edinburgh was creating a recipe for haggis that will comply with American food regulations to sell to the States.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.