10 Foods That Are Actually Illegal In The United States (Who Knew?)

Most large grocery stores in the United States are packed with a variety of foods from all over the world. People can shop for produce that’s not in season, and they can buy foods produced in far-off countries. If the nearby supermarket doesn’t have a special ingredient, niche shops offer items from all sorts of cuisines. So, it may be confusing to hear that some foods are illegal in the U.S., and you can only acquire them in other places.

Ackee Fruit

Ackee is Jamaica’s national dish, but you won’t find it in the U.S. unless it is frozen or canned. This red fruit is packed with vitamins, but it also contains a toxin called hypoglycin when it’s picked while unripe. Hypoglycin can cause vomiting and dangerously low blood sugar levels. In severe cases, it can cause death. For that reason, it’s illegal to sell fresh versions.

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Sassafras Oil

Sassafras itself is safe, and it’s commonly used as a spice, most notably in root beer. Native Americans reportedly used different parts of the plant as medicine. However, sassafras essential oil is outlawed because it contains a toxic compound called safrole with potential carcinogenic properties. Additionally, safrole and sassafras oil have been used to make psychoactive drugs like ecstasy, which is an illegal class-A substance in the United States. The sassafras root bark you see in health food stores does not contain safrole. 

Foie gras

Foie gras is a French delicacy with plenty of controversy. The dish features fattened duck or goose liver that requires force-feeding the birds through throat tubes until this organ expands ten times its normal size. Animal rights activists calls this practice cruel, and several states have made this food illegal as a result, namely New York and California.

Haggis

Haggis is the national dish of Scotland, and it is a savory dish traditionally made with a sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs stuffed into the stomach. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has no problem with haggis in particular; it’s the lungs that are the problem. It’s illegal to consume lungs in the U.S. because of the increased risk of foodborne illness from gastrointestinal fluids entering the lungs during the slaughtering process. American versions of haggis tend to include alternative ingredients such as ground lamb, beef kidneys, chicken livers, and other organ meats. 

Black Pudding

This dish may be common in the British diet but it’s unheard of in the States. Americans might think black pudding is a chocolatey dessert but it is actually a sausage filled with pig or cow blood. Manufacturers need to register and get pre-approval from the FDA to sell foods with high amounts of blood in the U.S. Americans traveling from the U.K. may return with blood sausage as long as it was commercially processed and contained in a jar or can. If it’s fresh, the USDA won’t allow it in. 

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Ortolan 

The ortolan is a small songbird that is a French delicacy despite its small offering of meat. However, many people oppose this dish for several reasons. First, the birds are trapped in dark rooms and force-fed until they are twice their natural weight. Then they are drowned and cooked in Armagnac brandy. And finally, the entire bird is consumed whole, except for the beak. Traditionally, diners cover their faces with towels as they eat the ortolan in one bite. These songbirds are illegal to sell as food in the U.S. and European Union, although demand on the black market is decreasing the species’ population.

Casu Marzu

Casu marzu is a type of Sardinian cheese with a strange ingredient: live maggots. This dish has a rich history, starting with shepherds who had nothing to eat but spoiled pecorina cheese with maggots. Fortunately, they enjoyed the aroma and creamy texture, and today, dairy farmers have perfected the art of making casu marzu. However, this cheese is illegal in the U.S. because the maggots may not get properly digested and harm the intestines. Surprisingly, casu marzu is also banned in the European Union, even Sardinia. 

Kinder Surprise Eggs

Kinder eggs are a type of confection with a surprise toy in the center. Fans of this product know better than to take a big bite of the chocolate egg, but unsuspecting consumers may not, turning the toys into choking hazards. As a result, they are banned in the States, but they are available in many other countries, including Canada. 

Shark Fins

As of 2022, shark fins are illegal to sell in the United States. Shark fins have a long history in many Asian cuisines and medicines; however, the trade has led to many shark species becoming endangered. Additionally, animal rights activists denounce the common method of harvesting this ingredient, which involves cutting off the fins and throwing the shark back into the ocean to die, since they are unable to eat, breathe, or defend themselves.

Fugu

Fugu is a dish made from an extremely poisonous pufferfish. The skin and organs contain a toxin called trodotoxin that can cause paralysis or even fatality. Japanese chefs need years of extra training for the license to serve this delicacy, which is served sashimi style. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this food is illegal in the United States.

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