Every country has its own regulatory bodies that oversee food quality at the federal, state, and local levels. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary regulatory agency that ensures foreign foods imported into the United States meet rigorous safety and quality standards to protect consumers’ health and well-being.
Over the years, the FDA has banned many foreign foods or substances that are easily obtained in another country. According to US regulations, from Kinder Surprise Eggs to Sassafras Oil, here are 10 foreign foods deemed unsafe for consumption.
Kinder Surprise Eggs
Why it’s banned: Kinder Surprise Eggs are banned in the United States, thanks to a law from 1938 that bans the sale of food products containing non-edible items embedded within them. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces this law, considering the safety of children who could ingest those objects by mistake.
To keep up with US regulations, the manufacturer has introduced a modified version of Kinder Surprise Eggs called Kinder Joy for the U.S. market, which features two separately sealed halves: one containing the chocolate and the other containing the toy or surprise.
Haggis
Why it’s banned: A sheep’s stomach for breakfast sounds gross, right? But traditional haggis, a Scottish dish, is made from sheep’s “pluck” (heart, liver, and lungs), mixed with oats, onions, suet, and spices, all encased in the sheep’s stomach lining.
In 1971, the USDA banned the use of lungs in food products intended for human consumption, citing health concerns. As a result, haggis cannot be legally imported, sold, or served in the United States.
Ackee
Why it’s banned: Ackee isn’t banned outright in the United States, but the fresh ackee is. It’s because the unripe or improperly prepared ackee can potentially be very poisonous.
However, manufacturers can import frozen and canned ackee in the United States under strict control.
Beluga Caviar
Why it’s banned: Beluga caviar comes from Beluga Sturgeon, a freshwater fish that is classified as a critically endangered species due to overfishing, habitat loss, and poaching. To protect the species from extinction, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has strictly limited the trade and export of Beluga caviar.
However, farm-raised Beluga caviar isn’t regulated and is slowly gaining popularity for its quality.
Bird’s Nest Soup
Why it’s banned: Edible Bird’s Nest? No, it’s not a typical bird’s nest that we usually come across. These edible nests are made by the Edible-nest swiftlet, a rare species of bird found in Southeast Asia.
Bird’s nest soup has been a delicacy, particularly in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines. However, it is prohibited in the United States due to the risks of viral bird diseases such as the Avian Flu.
Sassafras Oil
Why it’s banned: Extracted from the root bark of the Sassafras tree, Safrole is a chemical compound found in Sassafras oil. In 1960, the FDA put a ban on Safrole as a food additive or flavoring agent due to its potential carcinogenic effects.
Since then, the sale of Sassafras oil for human consumption or as a dietary supplement has been banned in the United States.
Foie Gras
Why it’s banned: Foie gras is a popular and well-known delicacy in French cuisine. The rich, buttery-flavored delicacy is made from the liver of ducks or geese that have been force-fed to enlarge their livers.
Animal rights and welfare activist groups argue that force-feeding birds in this manner is inherently cruel and causes unnecessary suffering. As a result, several countries and regions, including certain states in the United States, have implemented bans or restrictions on the production and sale of foie gras.
Fugu
Why it’s banned: Do you know a fish that’s more poisonous than cyanide? Here is the surprising answer: it’s Fugu.
Its skin and certain organs contain Tetrodotoxin, a nerve poison that can cause paralysis, respiratory failure, and death if ingested in sufficient quantities. To mitigate the risks associated with Fugu consumption, the sale, preparation, and serving of Fugu is strictly regulated in many countries, including the United States.
Shark Fins
Why it’s banned: Shark fin is a popular Chinese food delicacy, appreciated for its texture and supposed medical virtues. However, shark fins are banned outright in the United States and a few other countries due to concerns about endangered shark populations and marine ecosystems.
Also, the process of obtaining shark fins is considered to be cruel and unsustainable.
Casu Marzu
Why it’s banned: Casu Marzu, also known as “maggot cheese,” is banned in many countries, including the United States, due to health and safety concerns. The cheese is made from sheep’s milk and infested with live maggots. These maggots digest the fats in the cheese, leading to fermentation and forming a soft, creamy texture.
However, casu marzu is still a traditional delicacy in certain regions, like Italy.