Banned Foods That Are Illegal in Parts of the World

We all know that there are certain foods we need to avoid. We need to keep our diets low in salt and sugar, absent of trans fats and mostly free of processing. That's not to say we all do it, but we know we should try.

But what if you found out that some of your favorite foods are actually illegal in other parts of the world? It turns out, there are certain dishes or ingredients that national governments have banned entirely.

It's not only other countries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as the Department of Agriculture have banned many international foods from touching down on American soil as well. Whether for ethical or medical reasons, there are many foods on menus around the world that you will not be able to track down in America.

These are the forbidden foods around the world.

Mountain Dew

Where it originated: Tennessee

Where it’s illegal: European Union (E.U.), Japan, India

Why Mountain Dew Is Illegal

Mountain Dew may still be a popular soft drink in the U.S., known for its super-caffeinated quality, but you won't find it in the European Union, India or Japan, among many other countries. After discovering why, you may want to reconsider cracking open a can yourself. 

Mountain Dew contains brominated vegetable oil, which is a food additive that contains bromine. Bromine is known to irritate the skin and mucous membranes and can cause memory loss and impaired coordination.

Foie Gras

Where it originated: Historically Greece and Rome, then France

Where it’s illegal: Parts of the U.S., Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland and Turkey

Why Foie Gras Is Illegal

Foie gras literally translates to "fat liver" in France. And that is why this once-haute dish is so famous. It is produced from force-feeding young ducks or geese until their livers swell more than eight times their natural size. 

It's basically creating a "gourmet" dish at the expense of a suffering animal. Some countries continue to still import it, though not produce it, while others, including many states in the United States, have completely banned it from menus.

Honey Maid S’mores Cereal

Where it originated: Minnesota

Where it’s illegal: United Kingdom, E.U., Japan, Australia, New Zealand

Why Honey Maid S’Mores Is Illegal

Sugary cereal is one of the pillars of our favorite childhood breakfasts. But certain cereals, like Post's Honey Maid S'mores, may have gone too far for other countries' comforts. 

This particular cereal contains butylated hydroxytoluene, which is a preservative that is banned in many other countries around the world. It is thought to be a carcinogen —  i.e., something you don’t want to be pouring a bowl of each morning.

Beluga Caviar

Where it originated: Caspian Sea

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Beluga Caviar Is Illegal

Beluga caviar was once a delicacy in the U.S. But when the U.S.S.R. fell, so did the regulation of its caviar harvesting, which led to severe overfishing and some black market wheelings and dealings. 

Now the beluga is on the endangered list and, with that, goes the banning of its caviar.

Skittles

Where it originated: U.K.

Where it’s illegal: Norway and Sweden

Why Skittles Are Illegal

When you tear open a package of Skittles and brace yourself to “taste the rainbow,” you also are tasting artificial colors, particularly Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6. 

These artificial ingredients are banned in certain Scandinavian countries because they are considered to cause hyperactivity in children. 

Raw Ackee

Where it originated: Jamaica

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Raw Ackee Is Illegal

Ackee is one of the most beloved national dishes of Jamaica. That said, when the fruit is unripe, it has a high level of hypoglycin A, a toxin that stops the body from releasing blood sugar, which can cause people to become hypoglycemic. 

The U.S. banned the importation of this raw fruit back in the 1970s, but today, it is still possible to buy frozen or canned ackee.

rBGH Milk

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: E.U. and Canada

Why rBGH Milk Is Illegal

After eating your favorite dessert, nothing hits quite like a tall glass of milk. That said, the milk we're drinking in the U.S. isn't hitting the lips of people in the European Union or Canada. 

That’s because it contains the growth hormone rBGH, which is used to increase milk production in dairy cows in the U.S. The E.U. and Canada prohibit it because of the potential health side effects, including an increased risk of cancer.

Blowfish

Where it originated: Japan

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Blowfish Is Illegal

One of the most prized delicacies in Japan and Korea can actually be one of the deadliest, if not prepared correctly. Blowfish, or fugu, is a decadent dish that has to be prepared by a trained chef. 

If not, it can cause partial paralysis or death, which is why it is banned in the U.S. If you do happen to travel to Japan or Korea and can find it prepared properly, be ready to pay around $200 for the dish.

M&Ms

Where it originated: New Jersey

Where it’s illegal: Sweden

Why M&Ms Are Illegal

Just like Skittles, M&M’s are another multicolored candy that is banned from the European Union. That's because of the artificial colors used to create those compelling candy shells. 

But M&M's are banned in Sweden for an additional reason: A Swedish court ruled that the font used for the packaging is too similar to the font used by the Swedish chocolate, Marabou.

Kinder Surprise Eggs

Where it originated: U.K.

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Kinder Surprise Eggs Are Illegal

What's so forbidden about a chocolate egg with a toy surprise inside? The FDA says, "Everything." 

The U.S. banned the sale of food products that contain hidden objects many decades ago, which includes the Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs that conceal a small toy inside. Though these treats are incredibly popular all over Europe, the U.S. says the packaging is a choking hazard.

Pillsbury Breadsticks

Where it originated: Minnesota

Where it’s illegal: Europe and Australia

Why Pillsbury Breadsticks Are Illegal

The bread basket can often be one of the best parts of a meal. Unless, of course, it's Pillsbury Breadsticks and we're in the E.U., Australia or even Singapore, for that matter. 

Pillsbury Breadsticks, as well as other preserved bread products, contain a chemical compound called azodicarbonamide. While it is a food additive in many brand-name foods, it also happens to be used in a lot of foamed plastics, particularly items like yoga mats. That's why you won't come into contact with it in certain countries.

Raspberry Jell-O

Where it originated: New York

Where it’s illegal: Norway and Austria

Why Raspberry Jell-O Is Illegal

It may be one of your most memorable childhood snacks, but it turns out, raspberry Jell-O isn’t as innocent as it seems. The popular dessert happens to contain Red 40, one of the most popular food dyes that is made from petroleum. 

This particular coloring is illegal in Norway and Austria and is restricted in the rest of Europe. 

Chlorine-Washed Chicken

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: E.U.

Why Chlorine-Washed Chicken Is Illegal

Chicken is one of the most popular proteins in the world. In the U.S. alone, people eat more than 120 pounds of poultry per capita. But the chicken we eat in the U.S. is a little different from the chicken they eat in other parts of the world. Our chicken is washed in chlorine. 

Many chicken companies in the U.S. use chlorinated water to kill any bacteria on the chicken. But the European Union is staunchly against that. That said, not every company in the U.S. washes their chicken in chlorine, so take a scan of product labels before you purchase.

Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix

Where it originated: Minnesota

Where it’s illegal: Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway and Denmark

Why Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix Is Illegal

Raise your hand if you prefer boxed brownies over the real stuff! Admit it — they’re better! But while that may be the case, Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix isn't always the better choice. 

In fact, this dessert mix is banned in many European nations because it contains trans fats in the form of partially hydrogenated soybean or cottonseed oil. The U.S. has done its due diligence and banned trans fats as well, but it hasn't gotten them all. But Europe has banned Ms. Crocker for years and her fabulous brownie mix along with it.

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Where it originated: Canada

Where it’s illegal: E.U., Japan and Australia

Why Instant Mashed Potatoes Are Illegal

Everyone's favorite side dish, mashed potatoes, is the ultimate comfort food. But, apparently, Canadians think boiling potatoes in water is a bit too time-consuming to make. Enter instant mashed potatoes, which make it super convenient and easy to whip up a batch.

There are many countries that have mandated mashed potatoes be made the old fashioned way. Europe, Japan and Australia banned instant mashed potatoes because they contain the previously mentioned butylated hydroxyanisole preservative. While you'll find it in many U.S-produced foods, its presence in very nonedible things (like rubber) means that you won't find it on tables around the world.

Ritz Crackers

Where it originated: Pennsylvania

Where it’s illegal: Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway and Denmark

Why Ritz Crackers Are Illegal

One of America's favorite crackers isn't held in such high regard in countries across Europe. While we fawn over the buttery, flaky cracker (perhaps topped with a slice of our favorite cheese), Europe has banned the cracker because it contains partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, which is a trans fat. 

That’s something to think about before you reach for another tube of these bad boys.

U.S. Pork

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: E.U., Russia and China

Why U.S. Pork Is Illegal

Pork is a popular protein all around the world, including in the U.S. However, the pork we produce here tends to stay within our own borders thanks to the use of the drug ractopamine, which is used in the U.S. pork industry to promote leanness. 

While many experts in the U.S. say that ractopamine is safe for consumption, experts in the E.U., Russia and China have banned the use of it because it’s believed to cause hyperactivity and elevated heart rates.

Tostitos Salsa con Queso Dip

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: Norway and Austria

Why Tostitos Salsa con Queso Dip Is Illegal

A hot bowl of spicy queso is definitely a beloved American treat. But if your preferred brand is Tostitos, keep in mind that you won't find it in most places outside of the U.S. That’s because it’s made with the previously mentioned Yellow No. 5. 

The Food Standards Agency of the European Union named Yellow No. 5 unsafe for kids and has slapped a warning label on products that contain it. However, the dye is completely banned in Norway and Austria.

U.S. Beef

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: E.U.

Why U.S. Beef Is Illegal

Beef may be what's for dinner, but if it's beef from the U.S., Americans will be the only ones eating it. U.S. beef has been banned from the European Union thanks to the presence of synthetic hormones that have been used to help cattle grow in size. 

Studies suggest that these hormones can increase the risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer, which is why European nations prefer to eat homegrown beef instead. To avoid these hormones in the U.S., make sure the beef you consume is organic.

Lucky Charms

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: Norway and Austria

Why Lucky Charms Is Illegal

Back to those food dyes. As we know, Red 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 are all banned in Norway and Austria, which means you won't be catching any Lucky Charms while visiting those nations. 

The popular sugary breakfast cereal contains all three forbidden artificial colorings.

Durian

Where it originated: Southeast Asia

Where it’s illegal: Singapore

Why Durian Is Illegal

If you've heard of durian, then you know it has quite a controversial reputation. If you've encountered this Southeast Asian fruit then you fall into one of two camps: you either love it or despise it. 

Some people find it to be sweet and pleasant, while others find the taste and aroma to be evocative of rotten onions and raw sewage — it really depends on the person! To help protect the people who find it repulsive, Singapore has banned the fruit from public spaces and public transportation.

Gatorade

Where it originated: Florida

Where it’s illegal: Norway and Austria

Why Gatorade Is Illegal

If we learned one thing from this list, it's that many foods in the U.S. use artificial flavors and colors. 

Gatorade, for example, is yet another example of foods that use Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, which we know are absolutely nonstarters in Norway and Austria. 

Chewing Gum

Where it originated: Mexico

Where it’s illegal: Singapore

Why Chewing Gum Is Illegal

There's nothing worse than reaching under a table or bench and getting a fistful of someone's old gum. Fortunately, in Singapore, this is something that will never happen because chewing gum has been banned since the 1990s. 

The government banned the chewing treat in the 1990s in an attempt to prevent littering, spitting and graffiti as a means to keep the island clean.

Stove Top Stuffing

Where it originated: Indiana

Where it’s illegal: U.K and Japan

Why Stove Top Stuffing Is Illegal

The beauty of Stove Top stuffing is that you don't have to prepare the entire turkey with it. 

But while it may save us valuable time around the holidays, the popular Kraft product contains two preservatives — BHA and BHT — that have been banned in the U.K, Japan and other European countries due to their potential carcinogenic properties.

Casu Marzu

Where it originated: Sardinia

Where it’s illegal: E.U. and U.S.

Why Casu Marzu Is Illegal

There's stinky cheese and then there's casu marzu. While it may be a delicacy in Sardinia, you may need a strong stomach in order to consume it. This regional cheese is made by injecting fly larva into Pecorino cheese. The flies digest the cheese and speed up its fermentation. 

Needless to say, it's not the most appetizing sight, but experts agree that eating the cheese with the fly larvae inside makes the cheese even more scrumptious. If you do want to try it, you'll have to look outside the U.S. and the E.U., as both have banned the cheese because of sanitary concerns.

Little Debbie Swiss Rolls

Where it originated: Tennessee

Where it’s illegal: Norway and Austria

Why Little Debbie Swiss Rolls Are Illegal

What could possibly be controversial about Little Debbie? It turns out that one of America's childhood sweethearts contains food dyes Yellow No. 5 and Red 40. 

While the packaging in the E.U. requires a warning label, we know by now that Norway and Austria have no tolerance for the additives and have cast Little Debbie from their borders outright.

Haggis

Where it originated: Scotland

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Haggis Is Illegal

Scotland swears by its national dish — haggis. This traditional meal is made from the bits of what is left over — sheep's liver, lungs, heart, onions, oats and suet, which is all cooked inside the sheep's stomach. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it is a hearty meal that the Scots have had for centuries. 

Still, importing Scottish haggis to the U.S. has been banned since 1971, citing that livestock lungs are not suitable for human consumption.

Farm-Raised Salmon

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: Australia and New Zealand

Why Farm-Raised Salmon Is Illegal

Salmon is one of the healthiest things you can put in your body. Unless, of course, it is farm-raised salmon from the United States. Some farm-raised salmon in this country are fed the drug astaxanthin, which is what gives the salmon its bright pink color. 

This chemical, however, is banned in Australia and New Zealand. If you want to avoid consuming this petrochemical in the U.S., then wild-caught salmon is always the way to go.

Marmite

Where it originated: U.K.

Where it’s illegal: Denmark

Why Marmite Is Illegal

Marmite is a food spread that is made from yeast extract. It's actually a byproduct of beer brewing and was created by a German scientist in the U.K. 

Today, it is still a popular food spread in the United Kingdom. However, the spread is banned in the country of Denmark because it has added vitamins and minerals, which the country doesn’t allow.

Horse Meat

Where it originated: Europe and Asia

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Horse Meat Is Illegal

Believe it or not, it is considered a delicacy to eat horse meat in several parts of the world. Italy and France, in particular, have horse meat on the menus at some of the more traditional or regional restaurants. 

But the protein is technically banned in the U.S. for ethical reasons. The ban actually sits on the slaughtering of horses, not on the consumption of the meat. But by default, if you can't slaughter the animal, it would be pretty difficult to consume it.

Ketchup

Where it originated: China, U.S.in modernity

Where it’s illegal: France

Why Ketchup Is Banned

Ketchup isn't completely prohibited in France, but it is banned in French schools. The ideas was to prevent children from consuming too much high fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy ingredients found in ketchup. 

The only exception is if the menu serves French fries, which is not the most common food in the country's school cafeterias.

Shark Fins

Where it originated: China, other Asian countries

Where it’s illegal: Several U.S. states

Why Shark Fins Are Banned

The consumption of shark fins in China goes back to the 10th century. Shark fin soup is considered a delicacy in the country, a tradition that has followed the diaspora of Chinese people around the world. 

But many people have a problem with the dish because they deem it cruel. To save time and money, fishermen usually cut the fin from the live shark and then throw the hurt animal back into the water. Because sharks can't swim without their fins, they agonize slowly until they die or are eaten alive by other fish. 

This has caused 12 states, most notably California, to ban the consumption of shark fins. 

Rare and Medium-Rare Meat

Where it originated: Everywhere

Where it’s illegal: New Zealand

Why Rare and Medium-Rare Meat Is Banned

Do you love your steak rare? Then don't go New Zealand, where the government has deemed the term too dangerous for consumption. This is because the less meat is cooked, the more likely it is to have harmful bacteria. 

Dishes like steak tartar — a delicious raw meat — are also banned, as are burgers that are medium-rare. Sorry juicy meat lovers.

Fat-Free Chips

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: Canada, Europe

Why Fat-Free Chips Are Banned

Normal chips tend to be unhealthy, but Canada and Europe have deemed fat-free chips to be even worse. This is because to achieve the diet version, oil is substituted for Olesta, which is banned in several countries. 

Olestra has been shown to make it harder for the body to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K as well as can cause cramps and diarrhea. 

Irn Bru

Where it originated: Scotland

Where it’s illegal: Canada

Why Irn Bru Is Banned

Another banned Scottish food is the soft drink Irn Bru. While one could argue that all soft drinks are bad, Canada has banned Irn Bru from its borders for containing Ponceau Red 4R. 

This substance has been found to have a negative effect on people who suffer from asthma, and there is some evidence that it is a carcinogen. 

Raw Almonds

Where it originated: Middle East

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Raw Almonds Are Banned

The U.S. seems to have no issue allowing petrochemicals and other unnatural substances to be banned in other countries. But when it comes to unpasteurized natural foods, it loses its mind. 

Yes, even the almonds that you consume are pasteurized, presumably to avoid salmonella. In order to be sold, the almonds have to be roasted or steamed. Admittedly, they're just as delicious afterward.

Sprinkles

Where it originated: The Netherlands

Where it’s illegal: U.K., E.U.

Why Sprinkles Are Banned

The United Kingdom and the European Union have a vendetta against everyone's favorite donut and ice cream topping. 

The delicious and seemingly harmless sugar sprinkles contain E127, which is thought to cause children to be hyperactive. Speaking from personal experience, this seems pretty accurate, but we have no regrets.

Poppy Seeds

Where it originated: Mediterranean, Middle East

Where it’s illegal: Singapore

Why Poppy Seeds Are Banned

Touted for their supposed health benefits as well as deliciousness, poppy seeds are popular around the world. But if you're in Singapore, don't even think about trying to order this food.

Because drugs like opium, heroine and morphine are made with the opium poppy flower, its seeds are classified as illegal substances. It may seem dramatic, but given the terrible impact of British Empire's Opium Wars in East Asia, we understand why Singapore might be a bit paranoid.

Absinthe

Where it originated: Switzerland

Where it’s illegal: France, parts of Canada

Why Absinthe Is Banned

The famed drink of the Belle Epoque was widely rumored to have psychoactive ingredients that made people hallucinate or go mad. Colloquially called the Green Fairy, absinthe was blamed for Van Gogh's ear debacle, and people used to order it by asking for a "ticket" ... as in, a ticket to the asylum. 

This reputation led to it being banned in several European countries as well as the U.S., though that has since changed. Restricted forms of absinthe are available mostly anywhere, but laws prohibiting thujone or fennel — both important ingredients — in France and certain parts of Canada means pure (or "real") absinthe is illegal.

Black Pudding

Where it originated: U.K.

Where it’s illegal: U.S.

Why Black Pudding Is Banned

We'll be honest, we don't really understand the "why" here. Sure, a cake made with pig blood and barley may seem strange to some people, but that's not reason enough to ban it. 

This traditional British breakfast is actually delicious, but the U.S. decided it simply can't deal with it — which is a little shameless given that crow was once a favorite American dish. 

Coffee-Mate

Where it originated: U.S.

Where it’s illegal: Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Hungary

Why Coffee-Mate Is Banned

Sweden and Norway really don't like trans fats — and with good reason. This is why they, along with Iceland and Hungary, have banned the convenient Coffee-Mate cream, which helps whiten coffee without milk.

Some people live for their Coffee-Mate, but we'll argue that regular milk is better any day.

Ortolan

Where it originated: France

Where it’s illegal: France

Why Ortolan Is Banned

In a rare case of a country banning its own food, France has turned its back toward ortolan, a small bird that was once a delicacy in the country. 

Like foie gras, the method for cooking ortolan was pretty cruel. The songbird was force fed until it grew to twice its natural size, then drowned in brandy. Advocates for the ban cited this cruelty, as well as conservations, as reasons to make this dish illegal.

Salt and Pepper

Where it originated: Around the world (salt), South Asia and the Americas (pepper)

Where it’s illegal: Space

Why Salt and Pepper Are Banned

Almost every single country in the world uses salt and pepper as condiments. The magical ingredients can make any savory dish 10 times more delicious. 

Sadly for astronauts, the tiny specks of salt and pepper would float if ever used in space, and it would be virtually impossible to clean them up. The magic due has been banned because of this, though astronauts do have access to a liquid that tastes like it and that can be added to food — yeah, we don't think that sounds good either.

Non-Russian Cheese

Where it originated: Around the world 

Where it’s illegal: Russia

Why Non-Russian Cheese Is Banned

To boost its national economy, Russia passed a series of laws in 2014 banning the import of certain foods. Cheese was part of these foods, which is a tragedy given how delicious varieties of cheese from countries like France, Portugal and the U.S. are. 

Reportedly, Russian cheese producers have become creative in ways to make versions of international cheeses they can sell.

Samosas

Where it originated: India, Nepal

Where it’s illegal: Somalia

Why Samosas Are Banned

Why, oh why, would anyone ban one of the most delicious foods in the world? What kind of government would deprive its people in this way?

Sadly, Somalia actually had a good reason to ban samosas. The fault lies in traders, who were bringing expired samosas with meat that had already gone bad. Since it's impossible to tell which ones are good and which ones are bad, the government simply took the safe road.