'Banned in the USA' Foods From Around the World Banned in America
Did you know there’s a whole bunch of foods and products that are illegal to take into America? Here’s foods Uncle Sam won’t let in.
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Haggis
The national dish of Scotland is banned in America as there’s a 1971 law that states foods must not contain sheep lungs.
Scotland food tour
Natural Feature
Horse meat
Slaughtering horses for human consumption is illegal in the USA (though technically, consuming horse meat isn’t).
Black pudding
Black pudding, and other ‘blood cakes’ from around the world such as ti-hoeh-koe from Taiwan, are banned in US due to sanitary reasons.
Kinder eggs
These European treats contravene the 1938 Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act which bans items containing a “non-nutritive object in food”.
Unpasteurised ‘raw’ milk
Banned in some, but not all, US states on health grounds.
Casu Marzu
An Italian delicacy, and we use that word lightly, this is a round pecorino cheese infested with maggots, that you eat.
Foie Gras
Not totally banned, but certainly banned in California and a few other states. Foie gras is a fattened gooses liver.
Ackee fruit
The national fruit of Jamaica, which if not fully ripe, can contain high levels of Hypoglycin A and B. Consequently fresh fruit is banned, though some canned versions are now available.
Food tasting Jamaica
Natural Feature
Shark fins
Banned simply for the cruel method of acquiring them (namely cutting the fins of the animal while alive and throwing it back into the sea) and to preserve shark numbers.
Beluga caviar
Found in Russia and parts of Iran, and banned from being importing to protect overfishing of sturgeon in those countries.
Japanese puffer fish
Banned unless you have a special licence, because its so deadly poisonous!
About the author
Born in the Midlands and raised in the North West of England, Andrew came to London to attend St Martin's College of Art. After ten years working for the BBC and Channel 4, he set off on an eight month food tour of Britain, which led him to write his award-winning book, Food Britannia. He was previously the Editor of Lovefood.com and also produced and hosted delicious magazine's podcast. Responsible for the Culture Trip's food and drink content, he is interested in hearing about food events, product launches and potential interviews with chefs and food producers. He's also judged the British Pie Awards, reviewed restaurants, and spoken at food festivals, and so knows a good plate of food when he sees it. He can be found tweeting here @foodjournalist
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