I’ve always considered myself a bit of a foodie. I read food blogs, attend special tasting events, and even plan vacations around attending particular restaurants. There is little I won’t try once.
That’s why it’s such a bummer that these 9 international foods are forever banned in the U.S. From rotting cheese, to banned horse meat, who wouldn’t want to try these out, too?
1. Haggis.
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Found in Scotland and banned in the U.S., it contains sheep lungs. This violates federal food safety regulations set in place since 1971.
2. Foie Gras
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Foie gras is the force-feeding of ducks and geese through feeding tubes in order to engross their livers with fat. California banned foie gras in 2012. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law just last week.
3. Shark Fins
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Getty Images/iStockphoto Lcc54613
Scientists estimate that specific shark species were decimated by up to 90% due to this Chinese speciality. It was banned in the eight states that make up the majority of the U.S. shark fin market.
4. Casu Marzu
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This (rotting) Italian cheese is a banned delicacy here in the States. Why? Because it’s purposefully filled with live maggots who eat, lay eggs, and grow. It’s then served without killing the maggots. YIKES!
5. Fugu
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Getty Images/iStockphoto De Visu
(Mostly) banned in the U.S., you need a license and intense training to cook this Japanese puffer fish, which contains potentially lethal amounts of tetrodotoxin that can stop your heart.
6. Ackee
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The national fruit of Jamaica is banned in the U.S. when imported fresh, as it has the potential to cause severe effects on the body to the point of coma or death when not ripe. However, importing it as frozen is fine.
7. Beluga Caviar
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The U.S. implemented a ban on imports of beluga caviar in 2005 in order to protect the species after years of overfishing. However, at $200 an ounce, you probably didn’t notice.
8. Horse Meat
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Federal law prohibits tax dollars being spent on USDA inspection of horse meat or slaughterhouses. USDA inspections are required to be allowed to sell meat in the U.S., so these obstacles effectively ban horse meat from appearing in restaurants and supermarkets.
9. Kinder Surprise Chocolate Eggs
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Found in Germany, Italy, and other European countries, it’s banned in the U.S., as there’s an inedible toy in the center.
(via BuzzFeed)
I guess I’ll be planning some international trips in the near future to cross these off my bucket list. Though I don’t know if a chocolate egg with a prize is worth a trip…
