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Queen conch -

The queen conch is a large marine mollusk that has been banned for recreational harvest in the US. It's often eaten in Turks & Caicos, even though it's an endangered species.

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Japanese puffer fish -

The Japanese puffer fish, also known as fugu, contains an extremely poisonous toxin called tetrodotoxin, which can cause paralysis and even death. Regarded as a delicacy in the sushi world, the consumption is almost entirely banned in the United States, except for a few sellers who are permitted to have a license.

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Bird’s nests -

A Chinese delicacy due to its high nutritional value, edible bird's nests are made from the solidified saliva of swiftlets. However, it's illegal in the US, as they can carry Newcastle disease or the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus.

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Unpasteurized milk -

Unpasteurized milk, also known as raw milk, hasn’t been pasteurized to kill bacteria, and can cause foodborne illness. The sale of unpasteurized milk is banned in many states, and some only allow sales of small quantities directly from farms.

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Foie gras -

The French delicacy is seen by many as unethical and has been officially banned in California. Foie gras is the fatty liver that comes from either ducks or geese. The liver is fattened by force-feeding the animal with grain and fat until the liver swells.

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Swan -

Swans are an endangered species, including the trumpeter, which is native to North America. While eating and hunting the tundra swan is legal in some areas of the US, the trumpeter is illegal to hunt.

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Whale meat -

In Japan, whale is considered a delicacy. But in many countries, including the US, the controversial meat is illegal. The US officially outlawed whaling in 1971.

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Brie -

Unfortunately, you won't find authentic brie in the Unites States, as it's made from unpasteurized raw milk, which the FDA has banned. You can, however, find American versions.

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Shark fins -

Shark fins are not banned in all states, however, the act of shark finning itself has been illegal in US waters since 2000. This is because it's considered an act of animal cruelty.

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Silver dragées -

Commonly found on baked goods, this silver sprinkle has been classified by the FDA as a non-edible. So while you can still buy it, you’re not supposed to consume them.

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Haggis -

Haggis is a Scottish savory pudding that consists of a mixture of sheep's heart, lung, and liver. Traditionally it's served within the stomach of the sheep. However, due to sheep lungs being banned, one can't eat traditional haggis in the US.

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Mirabelle plums -

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Bushmeat -

Bushmeat is meat from any animals hunted and slaughtered in Africa, such as antelopes, elephants, and gorillas. It’s banned in the US because it can carry fatal diseases, and encourages illegal trading.

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Casu marzu -

Casu marzu is a rotten cheese from Sardinia, Italy. The Pecorino cheese contains live maggots, which evidently facilitate its fermentation. Once the maggots hatch, they begin to eat through the cheese, which makes it softer. Both the EU and the United States have banned the cheese for health reasons.

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Horse meat -

It's not illegal to eat horse meat in the US, however, it's illegal to slaughter horses, which by default makes the consumption extremely challenging.

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Absinthe -

You can buy absinthe in America, but it's only legal as long as it is considered thujone-free. Thujone is a toxic chemical and a component that has long been part of the absinthe formula, which can cause hallucinations.

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Sea turtles -

Sea turtles are sadly caught and killed for their meat. Conservationists have estimated that 35,000 sea turtles are consumed annually in California alone. For this reason, the US has given them legal protection in its waters under the Endangered Species Act.

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Camembert -

Even if you can find American camembert cheese across the US, you won't find the authentic cheese Camembert de Normandie. The true camembert is unpasteurized, which doesn't meet the FDA's safety standards.

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Black pudding -

Just like haggis, this British favorite contains sheep’s lungs. This ingredient makes it illegal to export to the United States, even if it's popular in the United Kingdom.

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Beluga caviar -

Since 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services banned the importation of beluga caviar, as the Beluga sturgeon fish became an endangered species.

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Chilean sea bass -

The US only allows certified Chilean sea bass fishing boats to harvest and sell the fish, as it's endangered due to overfishing and therefore in decline.

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Mont d'Or cheese -

Made only once a year between August 15 and March 15, the tasty Mont d'Or can't be sold in the United States as it's made with unpasteurized milk.

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Sassafras oil -

The root bark of the sassafras plant has historically been used as medicine by Native Americans. However, the oil from sassafras, called safrole, is a known carcinogen, which as been banned by the FDA since the 1960s.

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Ackee fruit -

Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica. However, when it's unripe, the fruit contains high levels of the toxin hypoglycin A, which hinders the body from releasing blood glucose. This can induce vomiting, dehydration, or even death. But you can still purchase canned or frozen ackee fruit in the US that has low enough concentration of the toxin.

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Lazy Cakes -

In 2011, Lazy Cakes, a brownie with 8 milligrams of melatonin, faced a lot of scrutiny after children were hospitalized after eating them. Some states banned the snack, and the FDA warned the company that melatonin is not an approved food additive. They ended up changing their name to Lazy Larry.

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Époisses cheese -

The strong odored cheese isn’t sold in America in its traditional form. This is because it’s under 60 days old, making it a young cheese from unpasteurized milk.

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Kinder Surprise Egg -

The FDA banned the sale of all food products containing embedded, non-nutritive objects. The chocolate egg, which contains a non-edible toy inside, falls under that category.

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Ortolan -

This tiny rare bird was a former French delicacy, having been exclusively served to royalty. It became illegal in France in 1999, and the US banned its selling and importation.

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Redfish -

Redfish was a very popular fish that sadly became endangered for its overconsumption. Now it’s illegal to sell redfish in every state except Mississippi.

Sources: (Eat This, Not That) (Reader's Digest) (The Delite)

See also: Strange foods you won't believe people used to eat

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