Belgians have been told not to eat Christmas trees.
Belgians have been told not to eat their Christmas trees
Councillors in the city of Ghent encouraged people to make spicy butter and saucers from their unwanted firs to help with recycling but the advice shocked the nation's food safety agency FASFC who warned that snacking on needles could cause death as they are full of pesticides.
Spokeswoman Helene Bonte said: "Christmas trees are not meant to end up in the food chain at all. When those pesticides were used, it was never the intention that they would be eaten by people.
"What's more, there is no easy way for consumers to tell if Christmas trees have been treated with flame retardant - and not knowing that could have serious fatal consequences.
"There is no way to ensure that eating Christmas trees is safe - either for people or animals."