Additional Coverage:
- 19 Foods That Are Banned in America (blog.cheapism.com)
Forbidden Foods: What You Can’t Eat in the US
Several foods are banned or strictly regulated in the United States. These restrictions are in place for a variety of reasons, ranging from health concerns to animal welfare. Some of these forbidden foods may surprise you.
Raw milk, for example, is subject to varying regulations. While the FDA bans interstate sales due to potential pathogens, some states permit sales for human consumption, while others restrict it to animal use.
Tonka beans, a South American legume with vanilla and cinnamon notes, are banned due to coumarin, a compound linked to liver damage in high concentrations.
Mustard oil, a staple in northern Indian cuisine, is restricted due to high erucic acid levels, potentially linked to heart disease in animals.
Shark fin trade is largely banned due to the cruel practice of finning, where sharks are caught, their fins removed, and then returned to the water, often to die.
Kinder Surprise Eggs are banned because of the small toy encased within the chocolate, presenting a choking hazard. However, Kinder Joy, with separate compartments for toy and candy, is permitted.
The Ortolan, a small bird considered a delicacy in France, is banned in the US in support of French conservation efforts.
Sassafras oil, once a root beer ingredient, is banned due to safrole, a component linked to cancer in animal studies.
While horse meat isn’t federally banned, many states prohibit its sale.
Fugu, or Japanese blowfish, containing a deadly poison, is permitted only from certified processors in Japan.
Traditional haggis containing sheep lung is banned, but lung-less versions are available.
Fresh ackee fruit is banned due to hypoglycin, but canned and processed versions are allowed.
Casu Marzu, a Sardinian cheese riddled with live insect larvae, is banned.
Absinthe is now sold with regulated levels of thujone, a compound previously linked to hallucinations.
Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act, making their consumption illegal.
Queen conch, overfished in the past, is banned for import and harvesting in Florida.
Foie gras, made by force-feeding birds, is banned in some areas due to animal welfare concerns.
Redfish, once overfished, is now a protected game fish with limited fishing allowed.
Bird’s nest soup, made from swiftlet saliva, faces import restrictions due to avian flu concerns.
Bushmeat, or wild game from Africa, is banned due to conservation efforts and the risk of pathogens like Ebola.
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- 19 Foods That Are Banned in America (blog.cheapism.com)