Banned Bites: 20 Foods You Won’t Find on American Shelves

From 2005 to 2013, the FDA refused entry to 87,552 food shipments offered for import into the United States, with fishery/seafood products and vegetables/vegetable products accounting for over a third of those refusals.¹

This highlights the vigilance of the FDA in monitoring the safety of imported foods. 

But beyond these import refusals, there are also numerous foods that are outright banned from sale or import in the US, some of which may surprise you. 

Here are 20 foods you likely didn’t realize are prohibited in America, and the intriguing reasons behind their ban.

1. Kinder Surprise Eggs

What is it: Kinder Surprise Eggs are chocolate eggs containing a small toy inside a plastic capsule.

These beloved treats are banned in the US due to a 1938 law prohibiting non-nutritive objects embedded in confections. (ref) The concern is that the toy inside poses a choking hazard for young children.

Despite petitions and attempts to bring them to the American market, Kinder Surprise Eggs remain forbidden.

2. Haggis

What is it: Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made from sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with oats and spices, then cooked inside the animal’s stomach.

Since 1971, the US has banned the importation of haggis due to a restriction on food containing sheep lungs. The USDA argues that there’s a risk of fluid from the lungs seeping into the meat during the cooking process. (ref)

While you can find variations using alternative ingredients, authentic Scottish haggis is a no-go.

3. Beluga Caviar

What is it: Beluga caviar is a luxurious delicacy consisting of salt-cured roe from the beluga sturgeon fish.

In 2005, the US Fish and Wildlife Service banned the importation of beluga caviar and beluga meat due to the species’ endangered status. Overfishing and habitat loss have dramatically reduced beluga sturgeon populations in the Caspian Sea.

While farmed beluga caviar is available in some countries, it remains prohibited in the US.

4. Sassafras Oil

What is it: Sassafras oil is an aromatic oil derived from the roots and bark of the sassafras tree, often used as a flavoring agent.

In 1960, the FDA banned the use of sassafras oil in food and beverages after studies revealed that safrole, a compound found in the oil, was carcinogenic in rats. (ref)

Safrole-free extracts are permitted, which is why root beer can still have its distinctive flavor without the health risks.

5. Shark Fins

What is it: Shark fins are a key ingredient in the traditional Chinese dish shark fin soup, prized for their texture and alleged health benefits.

Several states, including California, Illinois, and New York, have banned the possession, sale, and distribution of shark fins to discourage the practice of shark finning.

This cruel method involves cutting off a shark’s fins and discarding the body back into the ocean, often leaving the animal to die a slow death.

6. Ackee Fruit

What is it: Ackee is a fruit native to West Africa, popular in Jamaican cuisine and a key ingredient in the national dish, ackee and saltfish.

Unripe ackee fruit and its seeds contain high levels of hypoglycin A, a toxin that can cause severe vomiting, hypoglycemia, and even death. (ref)

The FDA banned the importation of ackee in 1973 but later allowed the import of properly ripened and processed ackee under strict regulations.

7. Unpasteurized Milk

What is it: Unpasteurized milk, also known as raw milk, is milk that hasn’t been heated to kill harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.

The sale of raw milk for human consumption is prohibited in several states due to the potential health risks (ref), especially for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Some states allow the sale of raw milk but impose strict regulations on its production and distribution.

8. Foie Gras

What is it: Foie gras is a luxury food made from the liver of a duck or goose that has been fattened up, typically through force-feeding.

California has banned the sale and production of foie gras since 2012 on the grounds of animal cruelty. (ref)

The force-feeding process, known as gavage, involves inserting a tube down the bird’s throat to feed it large amounts of grain, resulting in a fatty liver. While the ban has faced legal challenges, it remains in effect.

9. Ortolan

What is it: Ortolan is a small songbird traditionally consumed in French cuisine, particularly in the southwestern region of France.

The US has banned the import and consumption of ortolan since 1999 due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (ref), which protects the species.

The traditional preparation method, which involves drowning the bird in Armagnac, has also drawn criticism for its cruelty.

10. Casu Marzu

What is it: Casu Marzu is a traditional Sardinian cheese made from sheep’s milk and intentionally infested with live insect larvae.

This pungent cheese is banned in the US (and the EU) due to the health risks associated with consuming live insects and their excretions. The larvae can survive in the intestinal tract and cause severe gastrointestinal issues.

Despite the ban, Casu Marzu remains a sought-after delicacy among adventurous eaters.

11. Absinthe

What is it: Absinthe is a highly alcoholic spirit derived from botanicals, including the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium (grand wormwood).

While not completely banned, authentic absinthe was prohibited in the US from 1912 to 2007 due to concerns about thujone, a chemical compound in wormwood believed to cause hallucinations and other negative effects.

Today, absinthe is legal but must contain less than 10 parts per million of thujone. (ref)

12. Horse Meat

What is it: Horse meat refers to the flesh of horses, consumed as food in various parts of the world, particularly in some European and Asian countries.

Although not technically banned, horse meat is rarely found in the US due to a combination of cultural taboos, consumer preferences, and restrictions on horse slaughter.

In 2006, Congress effectively banned horse slaughter for human consumption by defunding USDA inspections of horse slaughterhouses (ref).

13. Fugu (Pufferfish)

What is it: Fugu is a Japanese delicacy prepared from the meat of pufferfish, known for its unique flavor and texture.

While not outright banned, the import and sale of fugu are heavily restricted in the US due to the presence of tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin found in the fish’s organs. (ref)

Improperly prepared fugu can be deadly, and only specially trained and licensed chefs are allowed to handle and serve it in Japan.

14. Bushmeat

What is it: Bushmeat refers to the meat of wild animals, particularly those native to the forests and savannas of Africa, such as monkeys, bats, and pangolins.

The US has banned the import of bushmeat since the early 2000s to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases like Ebola and to combat the illegal wildlife trade (ref).

The consumption of bushmeat has been linked to the decline of endangered species and the emergence of global health threats.

15. Queen Conch

What is it: Queen conch is a large edible sea snail, popular in Caribbean cuisine and known for its distinctive shell.

In 2003, the US banned the import of queen conch from several Caribbean countries due to overfishing and the species’ declining population.

While queen conch is not endangered, the ban aims to encourage sustainable fishing practices and protect the species from further depletion.

16. Mirabelle Plums

What is it: Mirabelle plums are small, sweet plums grown primarily in the Lorraine region of France, often used in jams, tarts, and eau-de-vie.

The importation of fresh Mirabelle plums is banned in the US due to concerns over the Mediterranean fruit fly, a pest that can damage a wide variety of crops.

While processed Mirabelle products are allowed, the fresh fruit remains elusive for American consumers.

17. Pig’s Blood Cake

What is it: Pig’s blood cake is a traditional Taiwanese street food made from pork blood and sticky rice, often coated in peanut flour or soy sauce.

The USDA prohibits the import and sale of animal blood products for human consumption, effectively banning pig’s blood cake in the US. (ref)

The concern lies in the potential for foodborne illnesses and the difficulty in ensuring the safety and quality of these products.

18. Redfish

What is it: Redfish, also known as ocean perch or rose fish, is a type of rockfish native to the North Atlantic Ocean.

In the 1980s, the US banned the commercial fishing of redfish due to severe overfishing that threatened the species’ survival (ref).

While the population has recovered since then, strict regulations remain in place to prevent a repeat of the past and ensure the sustainability of the fishery.

19. Sea Turtles

What is it: Sea turtles are marine reptiles found in oceans around the world, often consumed for their meat and eggs in some cultures.

The US has banned the harvest, sale, and consumption of sea turtles and their eggs since 1973 under the Endangered Species Act (ref).

All seven species of sea turtles are either threatened or endangered, and their protection is crucial for maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.

20. Wild Beluga Sturgeon

What is it: Wild beluga sturgeon is a large, prehistoric-looking fish native to the Caspian and Black Seas, prized for its meat and caviar.

In addition to the ban on beluga caviar, the US has also prohibited the import and sale of wild beluga sturgeon meat since 2005 (ref).

This ban is part of a larger effort to protect the species from extinction due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution.

Source:
1. United States Department of Agriculture