Three thousand five hundred liters, or two thirds, of the Hvalur beer produced by whaling company Hvalur ehf. and Steðji brewery has sold, according to ruv.is. The beer has caused controversy as it contains ground whale bones.
The companies were given permission to sell the beer after production was originally halted in mid-January. The West Iceland Public Health Authority had concluded that Hvalur ehf. was not licensed to produce bone meal for edible consumption. The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) confirmed the Health Authority’s ruling but Steðji filed a case against the authority, arguing that it had referred to an article in the law which no longer exists and that such a small amount of the bone meal is used in the beer – one kilo of bone meal per 2,000 liters of beer. Additionally, the beer can only be sold for a period of one month and the case would not be concluded before then. The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland therefore does not have any legal grounds on which to ban the sale of the beer, ruv.is reports.
Related:
27.01.2014 | Þorri Beer Goes on Sale
