Belgium’s Food Agency Warns Against Eating Christmas Trees

Ah, the post-holiday blues for Christmas trees – it’s their least favorite time of the year. Their job of bringing joy and festive cheer is done, and now they’re unceremoniously tossed to the curb, waiting for the trash truck to claim them. It’s like a retirement party where the guest of honor is forgotten the moment the cake is cut. They lie there, sprawled across sidewalks, sometimes tumbling into the street like green, prickly tumbleweeds, becoming unwelcome speed bumps for unsuspecting drivers who didn’t sign up for an impromptu game of “Tree Frogger.”

But wait, what’s this? In Belgium, they have a different post-Christmas tradition. Instead of sending the trees to their final resting place, Ghent City’s council had a bright idea: “Hey, why not eat them?” Yes, you read that right. Belgium’s Federal Food Agency had to step in and remind folks that Christmas trees aren’t on the menu. Someone thought it was a grand idea to repurpose these festive firs into flavored butter and soups, inspired by some old Scandinavian recipes. It’s like they looked at the tree and thought, “We’ve decorated it, admired it, now let’s see if it pairs well with toast.”

Ghent’s Climate City posted on social media, urging residents to upcycle their trees, but with a cheeky little disclaimer: “Make sure your tree isn’t yew (because, surprise, that’s poisonous), and avoid those doused in fire-resistant sprays unless you’re aiming for a spicy chemical zest.”

The Federal Food Agency wasn’t having it, issuing a firm “no” to the culinary experiment, clarifying that not all trees are edible, and frankly, none should be entering anyone’s stomach – human or otherwise. I mean, sure, we’ve all joked about IKEA’s meatballs tasting like wood, but this is a whole new level of “tree-t” food. So, let’s keep the Christmas trees in the recycling bin, not on our dinner plates. Pine needle cake? Hard pass.