Whale beer not fit for human consumption in Iceland

Icelandic media reported tonight that ‘whale beer’ has been banned – even before it hit the shelves – by the Public Health Authority of Vesturland, where the Steðjar brewery is located, as the whale meal used for the process fails food regulations.

“The conclusion is that all ingredients used for human consumption should comply with food legislation and originate from recognized suppliers. Hvalur Inc doesn’t have a license to produce whale meal for human consumption; therefore we have to stop this.” says Helgi Helgason, GM of the Public Health Autority of Vesturland. 

Brewery owner, Dagbhartur Arilíusson, conceded: “If this is the conclusion, we naturally have to abide by it”.  Asked if the brewery shouldn’t have checked whether it was permissible to use the whale meal for human consumption, he replied: “Whale meat is consumed at the midwinter feast and one can also buy it in the stores. We considered it to be an ingredient that we could use for our brewing.”

 WDC is naturally delighted that this offensive and outrageous product has been stopped in its tracks.