A tree is just for Christmas, not for dinner, Belgian food agency warns

Message came after Ghent, a city in the country's northern region, posted tips for recycling the conifer as a dish

At a time when most people have probably polished off their holiday leftovers, Belgium's food agency has issued a surprising seasonal health warning: don't eat your Christmas tree.

The message on Tuesday came after the city of Ghent, an environmentalist stronghold in the country's northern Flanders region, raised eyebrows by posting tips for recycling the conifers on the dinner table.