YES! Icelandic Whale Beer Deemed ‘Unfit for Human Consumption’

It looks like sanity has been restored in Iceland, Green Monsters. Last week, we reported that Icelandic brewery owner Dabjartur Arilíusson, in conjunction with notorious whaler Kristjan Loftsson, had decided to begin marketing “whale beer” to celebrate the Norse festival of Thorrablot.

At that time, Arilíusson boasted that his latest product was a “unique” beer, which would “include, among other things, whale meal. Whale meal is very protein rich, and has almost no fat in it. That, along with the fact that no sugar is added, makes this a very healthful drink, and people will be true Vikings drinking it.”

He has undoubtedly been left red-faced, then, by Icelandic health authorities’ finding that his beer has failed health regulations, and is unfit for human consumption.

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

Naturally, whale Conservation organizations have been whole-heartedly celebrating this decision. Vanessa Williams-Grey of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, who earlier lamented the fact that a “beautiful and endangered” animal such as the fin whale could be turned into an ingredient on the side of a beer bottle, has now expressed her delight that “this offensive and outrageous product has been stopped in its tracks.”

Arilíusson meekly concedes, “If this is the conclusion, we naturally have to abide by it.” No more talk of being a “true Viking,” then.

Image Source: xlibber/Flickr