The country’s food agency warned against using evergreens in food after the city of Ghent suggested an unusual form of recycling: spruce needle butter.

Belgium’s Federal Food Agency on Tuesday warned people to not eat their Christmas trees after a city council suggested recipes to reuse conifers following the holiday season. The agency was forced to issue the bizarre warning after the council in Ghent City launched a campaign last Thursday encouraging people to recycle their Christmas trees to reduce waste.

Belgium is warning its citizens not to eat their leftover Christmas trees after local authorities told citizens that the trees' needles could be used in meals.