Ever wondered why some foods are nowhere to be found in U.S. grocery stores? It’s not just a matter of taste or availability; some foods are outright banned! Safety concerns and health risks are two of the main reasons behind the banning of certain foods and ingredients, as food safety regulators sometimes deem different food products to be too dangerous. Here are 18 intriguing and often surprising foods that you won’t find on supermarket shelves in America.
Japanese Blowfish (Fugu)
Japanese blowfish, known as Fugu in Japan, is highly regulated and restricted in the United States because of its potential to be deadly if not prepared properly. This fish contains large quantities of a poison called tetrodotoxin that doesn’t have an antidote. Only specially trained and licensed chefs are allowed to prepare this risky dish in Japan, as the poison is strong enough to kill the person who eats the blowfish if it’s prepared incorrectly.
Kinder Surprise Eggs
To many kids’ dismay, Kinder Surprise eggs were banned by the FDA due to the toy inside the egg being perceived as a choking hazard. For those who aren’t familiar with Kinder eggs, the ‘surprise’ is a plastic capsule inside the chocolate that has a small toy inside. This was seen as a potential danger for children, as they might not expect there to be something inside the chocolate egg and end up swallowing or even choking on the plastic capsule.
Casu Marzu
Casu Marzu is a maggot-infested cheese that “in 2009, the Guinness World Record proclaimed the world’s most dangerous cheese,” according to CNN. It’s a Sardinian cheese, which contains live insect larvae (ew!), and it’s deemed unsafe due to the risk of consuming live maggots and the potential for intestinal issues. Unsurprisingly, Casu Marzu is banned under U.S. food safety laws for being an unsanitary product.
Sassafras Oil
As it contains safrole, a substance found to possibly be carcinogenic, sassafras oil is now banned as a food additive by the FDA. Despite once being used in root beer and different teas, this oil was identified as having the properties that could cause cancer in people who consumed it. However, to this day, sassafras oil is still used in small amounts in perfumes and aromatherapy products.
Cyclamate
Cyclamate is an artificial sweetener that has been linked to cancer in lab rats. Due to these suspicions that this product is carcinogenic, it was banned in the U.S. because of the potential risks it might have to people’s health. Quite shockingly, this artificial sweetener continues to be used in some other countries as a sugar substitute, despite its controversial status as potentially cancer-causing.
Ackee Fruit
The Jamaican fruit, ackee fruit, contains a toxin called hypoglycin A that can make people very ill and cause something known as Jamaican vomiting sickness. It’s only the ripe, properly prepared ackee fruit that is safe for people to eat, and if the fruit is unripe it’s highly toxic. This has led to ackee fruit being banned in the U.S. unless it’s thoroughly tested and canned under strict regulations.
Horse Meat
The consumption of horse meat has been banned in many states due to it going against cultural norms and violating animal welfare concerns. The act of slaughtering horses for meat is heavily regulated and virtually completely nonexistent in the United States. Despite it being common to eat horse meat in continents like Europe and Asia, it’s extremely taboo to use horse meat in American cuisine.
Beluga Caviar
The beluga sturgeon that beluga caviar comes from has been given critically endangered status. The WWF reports that “poaching sturgeon for the illegal trade in wild caviar and meat is one of the leading causes of their demise.” Due to this, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has banned beluga caviar to protect the endangered species. This type of caviar is considered a luxury delicacy, but its trade has also been illegal in the United States since 2005.
Olestra
Olestra is a fat substitute that was often used in snacks like chips; however, it became notorious for causing digestive issues, such as cramping and loose stools (gross!). Although the product that’s marketed under the brand name Olean is now largely discontinued in the United States, the fat substitute isn’t entirely banned in America as it is in Canada and the UK and is sometimes still present in some American snacks.
Trans Fats
It’s common knowledge that artificial trans fats are a well-known cause of heart disease and a variety of other health issues. Due to the harm that these types of fats can do to the human body, the FDA banned the use of partially hydrogenated oils in 2015. Following this ban, many food manufacturers that used to use trans fats in their baked goods and fried foods have reformulated their products to remove these fats.
Absinthe
Known to be one of the strongest types of alcohol, absinthe was once banned following myths that it possessed hallucinogenic properties. Years later in 2007, absinthe was actually legalized again but with the caveat of strict regulations regarding its thujone content. Thujone is a compound that’s found in absinthe, which is thought to be toxic in large amounts. Therefore, the U.S. allows absinthe to be sold in its stores as long as it’s thujone-free.
BHA and BHT
BHA and BHT are both preservatives that are commonly found in cereals, snacks, and other processed food items. They are suspected to have carcinogenic effects when consumed in high doses. These two preservatives are completely banned in some countries because of these health risks; however, they’re still permitted in the United States under strict regulations, as there’s mixed research on whether BHA and BHT have possible cancer risks or not.
Red Dye No. 3
Red dye no. 3 is a synthetic dye that’s the topic of much controversy and ongoing debate about its safety and regulation. The NPR highlights that “The Food and Drug Administration banned the use of red dye 3 in cosmetics in 1990 after evidence showed it caused cancer in lab animals.” However, since then, this potentially harmful dye has remained only restricted and not entirely banned in the U.S. in terms of its use in foods.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
Typically used in sodas and sports drinks to stop their citrus flavoring from separating, brominated vegetable oil, often shortened to BVO, can have harmful effects on the body. This oil contains bromine, which can build up in the body and cause various health issues. Companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola removed BVO from their products following calls from their consumers, and the FDA has also recently banned this oil from being used in food products.
Ortolan
Eating orlotan might be one of the cruelest-sounding experiences in culinary history! The ortolan is a small, cute French songbird that was once considered a delicacy and traditionally eaten whole in France after being roasted and covered in brandy. However, luckily, its capture and sale are now illegal in many countries, including America, due to its endangered status, in order to try and protect the species.
Pig’s Blood Cake
Pig’s blood cake looks just as disgusting as it sounds! It’s a Taiwanese delicacy made from the weird combination of pig’s blood and rice. This cake is considered a traditional street food in Taiwan and is often served on a stick and enjoyed by many. However, this dish isn’t met with the same enthusiasm in America, and it has been banned in the United States due to sanitary concerns and American regulations on blood products.
Shark Fins
Shark fins represent another case of food being banned because of animal cruelty. Harvesting shark fins involves a cruel practice called finning where the fins are removed and the sharks are then discarded. Shark fins have therefore been banned in several American states to protect the declining shark population. Shark fins continue to be eaten in some cultures, but they’re gradually being increasingly restricted worldwide due to conservation efforts.
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