Icelandic ‘whale beer’ condemned by conservationists

Conservationists have criticized the sale in Iceland of a beer which its makers claim contains whale, the Guardian reported.

According to the report, Icelandic brewery Stedji has cooperated with whaling company Hvalur to launch the beer.

The brewery says whale meat has rich in protein and very low in fat, which makes for a better flavor.

However, environmental group Whale and Dolphin Conservation criticized the use of whale meat in products. They expressed concerns about an increase in demand for whale meat.

WDC’s leader Vanessa Williams-Grey said in a press release that “reducing a beautiful, sentient whale to an ingredient on the side of a beer bottle is about as immoral and outrageous as it is possible to get.”

The brewery claims the beer was produced in time only for the Icelandic mid-winter festival.

Dagbjartur Ariliusson, the brewery’s owner, said the beer was not being made for export, according to the report.

By Lee Shin-young, Intern reporter
(sylee@heraldcorp.com)