Top 10 Banned Foods Across the World That You Might Not Know

Food is the most vital requirement for every living being. If we do not have shelter over our heads or clothes to wear, we could still survive. But without food, a person cannot live more than 20 days. 

It provides nutrients and energy for the proper functioning of body organs, maintaining health, and it is the very basic need for our physical and mental growth. 

Ever traveled to any country and ordered your favorite snack or food only to find that the food is banned in that country. Being the most important thing for survival, food has become a major business worldwide; thus, it has lost its purity. 

It is interesting to know that one country might prohibit the consumption of certain food, while another will be perfectly fine with it. While some countries ban foods due to political or religious reasons, some countries ban foods due to health concerns. 

Research has shown that many foods can lead to certain heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc. This is because the contaminants in the food hamper the body’s metabolism. Not only this, local foods that are commonly found in stores are unsafe too. 

For example, Chips containing trans-fat are unhealthy and increase the level of cholesterol in the body. Raw milk contains bacteria that can cause food poisoning; sweet jelly cups can lead to choking the plastic cup. 

People should be more aware of what ingredients are there in the food, what it is made of, and the side effects it may cause. 

Are you wondering which foods are banned and why? 

From mouth-watering kinder joys to chewing gums, here is a list of the top 10 banned foods for many different reasons in different countries, including some of which you might have eaten more than once. 

10. Beluga Caviar

The luxurious Beluga Caviar costing more than $200 per ounce has been banned in the US due to endangered fish species. So This food item might be off-limit for some people, but it is a means of showing off for some.

They are mainly found in the Caspian and the Black Sea basins. Their population is reducing in number rapidly due to humans. Humans eat them for their own benefit, and despite knowing that they are critically endangered, they still practice fishing. 

Only the US has emerged as one of the countries showing concern for this endangered species. The US Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) banned the sale of all beluga products since 2005.

9. Artificial Trans Fat

More than 20 million people die every year because of cardiovascular diseases. One main reason researchers found was that people tend to be inclined towards fast foods containing Artificial Trans Fat.

Most commonly eaten chips, fast-food items, and pastries have “trans-fat” in them. Trans fat is considered to be the worst of all fats.

If the level of trans fat is more in your diet, you are likely to increase heart problems by 21 percent. The increase in cholesterol can lead to heart attack, stroke as well. It has also been scientifically proven that diets high in trans-fat can increase the death rate by 28 percent. 

It is high time to reduce all the diets which have trans-fat in them. Due to these reasons, in September 2018, Canada officially outlawed artificial trans-fat from all food items. They were categorized as a “list of contaminants and other adulterating substances.” 

Many countries have banned and regulated trans fat, including Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, and the UK.  

8. Fugu Fish

This fish is the most dangerous and can lead to the death of the person consuming it if not cooked properly. This Japanese delicacy has been prohibited as it contains tetrodotoxin, which is 1000 times more poisonous than cyanide. Fugu is banned in the US and many other countries. 

Even if a tiny amount of this poison is consumed, it is enough to take the life of the person consuming it. 

You can prepare this dish only if you have a license. Chefs who have the license have practiced for years to prepare fugu. They know the procedure to reduce the amount of tetrodotoxin. 

7. Arsenic Laced Chickens

Arsenic, a naturally occurring element, is actually poison for our bodies. Intake of acute arsenic poisoning can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, cardiac problems, etc. 

You must be wondering the reason for adding poison to chicken. To fatten up the chicken at an unnatural rate, drugs are given to them. These drugs even make their skins look pink.

Consuming high levels of arsenic effects: 

• Skin
• Immunity system
• Nervous system
• Liver
• Kidney
• Respiratory System

The European Union outlawed the sale and consumption of arsenic-laced items. No matter how small a quantity of arsenic is injected into the chicken, consuming even a small amount of poison is disturbing. 

6. Chewing Gums

Singapore is well known for having strict rules and regulations which are designed for maintaining law and order. Therefore, it is curious to know about many obscure items banned in Garden City. Banning chewing gums tops the list. This was done to maintain public spaces clean. 

The ban was imposed in 1992 when the politicians saw that people started sticking gum on the door sensors on Mass Rapid Transit trains, due to which the train stopped working properly. 

The law is so strict that people caught selling chewing gum have to spend 2 years in prison or pay a fine of $1,000. However, from 2004, people have been able to buy chewing gums for medical reasons only, such as nicotine gum to give up smoking.

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5. Kinder Surprise 

These little treaties, popular among children, are filled with milk chocolate and consist of a little plastic toy inside it. 

So why are they banned?

Citing health concerns, in 1938, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act in the US banned all candies which contain non-nutritive objects. 

The main reason for the ban was that the small parts of the toy could be a choking hazard for the children. These kinder Surprises are legal in Canada and Mexico, but importing in the US is illegal.

However, in 2017, Ferrero’s Kinder joy became available in the US, but the chocolate and toy were separated. 

4. Horse Meat

For those who relish eating meat and other non-vegetarian products, here is a little information for you before you order horse meat in the US and UK. 

Though eating horse meat is not outlawed, the killing of horses is considered taboo in these countries due to their long history and culture. Horses became a mythological creature that was highly valued by the Native Americans. 

Even nowadays, some people in the US do not eat horses. They consider them as their pets and think it is inappropriate to eat them. However, horse meat is considered to be a delicacy in many European countries. In fact, China has the largest market for horse meat. 

3. Foie Gras

Foie gras is a popular delicacy in France and is prepared by the liver of ducks and geese. However, this food item is banned in many European countries, the UK, the US, and even India. 

The method or procedure through which it is made can make the duck’s liver expand up to 10 times its normal size. This cruelty which the duck or goose goes through is considered against humanity, and it is unsettling to eat. 

2. Haggis

Scotland’s national Savoury pudding Haggis is not allowed onto American tables for almost 40 years. The food has been banned since 1971. The delicacy is made of sheep’s heart, lungs, and liver, minced with onion, oatmeal, several spices, and seasonings. 

Traditionally, it was prepared by sheep’s stomach, but now it is cooked using artificial casing.

The food was banned in America as the country’s Food Standards Agency prohibits livestock lungs, which was the main ingredient in the pudding. 

1. Unpasteurized Raw Milk

Milk and its products provide great nutritive value, but raw milk or unpasteurized milk can depreciate your health because of the presence of microorganisms. 

Citing health concerns, the US banned unpasteurized raw milk as it can carry harmful bacteria Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, and others that cause foodborne illness, often called food poisoning. 

Even though researches have shown the effects of consuming raw milk, many prefer raw milk over pasteurized milk. 

In fact, in Canada, people go to prison for supplying raw milk. In Australia, as well, is it not allowed to consume raw milk or even sell it. However, farmers can consume raw milk but are not allowed to sell it. 

Apart from these foods, there are many cuisines which have been in controversy in different parts of the world. However, it is astounding to see that the foods which can be normally consumed in one nation are completely banned in the other. 

It is good to know food items that have been outlawed. Who knows, it might help you in the future if you are traveling to one of these countries.