The Forbidden Menu: Foods and Drinks the U.S. Banned (and Why)

Madison
Sep 24, 2025
4 min read

Some foods and drinks are world-famous… and totally off-limits in the U.S. Thanks to strict regulations and red tape, these global delicacies are banned or heavily restricted. Some make sense, some will shock you, and some are just plain wild.

1. Four Loko: The “Blackout in a Can”

Remember the buzz—literally—around boozy energy drinks? Joose, Sparks, and especially Four Loko dominated college parties for a while. Rumor had it that one can had twice the caffeine of an 8-ounce Red Bull and the alcohol equivalent of four Budweisers. It earned the nickname "blackout in a can," and yes, it was banned in several states. The Washington Post reported that in 2014, the makers of Four Loko agreed with the FDA to remove caffeine from the formula sold in the U.S. Abroad, though? The original recipe is still a hit, especially in China, where it’s known as shi shen jiu, or “lose virginity liquor.”

2. Fugu: The Deadly Delicacy

If you like living on the edge, maybe spicy burritos aren’t extreme enough. Enter Fugu, the Japanese puffer fish that can paralyze and even kill if prepared incorrectly. According to Eater, its organs are loaded with neurotoxins from its diet of poisonous snails and sea creatures. In the U.S., very few chefs are licensed to serve it. In Japan, it’s a culinary art—and a risk worth taking if you’re brave enough.

3. Kinder Surprise Eggs: A Sweet Surprise You Can’t Have

Anyone who has traveled across the pond or even to Canada knows about Kinder Surprise Eggs. These hollow chocolate eggs from Germany hide a toy inside, far cooler than any Cracker Jack prize. The Huffington Post explains that the treats violate the Food, Drug, And Cosmetic Act of 1938, which bans candies with “non-nutritive” items inside. The real reason? Choking hazard. And if you try sneaking them across the border? Customs fines can reach $1,200 per egg. Ouch.

4. Haggis: Scotland’s Savory Pudding

Scotland’s iconic dish has been banned in the U.S. since 1971 because it contains sheep lungs, which the USDA won’t allow in food. Haggis is a hearty pudding of sheep heart, liver, and lungs mixed with oatmeal and spices, stuffed in a sheep’s stomach. Importing British lamb became a no-go in 1977 too, making authentic Haggis almost impossible to find on American plates.

5. Casu Martzu: The Maggot Cheese

Here’s one cheese that even the bravest among us might skip. Sardinia’s Casu Martzu is loaded with live maggots—and yes, that’s how you’re supposed to eat it. The Huffington Post explains that larvae live in aged pecorino cheese, giving it a unique flavor and texture. If the bugs are dead? The cheese has gone bad. Needless to say, this is banned here—and also in Italy itself.

6. Bushmeat: Exotic, but Deadly

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bans bushmeat—meat from wild animals hunted in Africa, like gorillas, chimpanzees, antelopes, and elephants. Despite the ban, illegal imports happen; Newsweek reported that from 2009–2013, U.S. Customs seized over 69,000 bushmeat items. Beyond legality, eating it carries risk of dangerous diseases not found in the U.S.

7. Raw Milk: The Controversial Classic

Raw milk is unpasteurized, meaning it skips the heat treatment that kills bacteria. In 1987, the FDA required pasteurization for products crossing state lines. Today, 18 states ban raw milk sales. The CDC warns it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even death. Yet raw milk enthusiasts insist the taste and health benefits outweigh the risks.

8. Absinthe: The “Green Fairy”

Romanticized in movies, absinthe is technically banned in the U.S. due to thujone in wormwood, which in the early 1900s was linked to seizures. By the mid-2000s, makers adjusted formulas to keep thujone below 10 parts per million, making it legal again. True absinthe must feature wormwood as a primary ingredient, giving it that aniseed-herbal bite—but technically, exceeding thujone limits would still make it illegal.

9. Cadbury Chocolate: The Great American Swap

Love Cadbury? Sorry, U.S. fans—you’re missing out. While Hershey makes chocolate under the Cadbury name here, it’s a different recipe than the British original. When Hershey bought U.S. Cadbury operations in the 1980s, imports of the authentic U.K. chocolate were halted. Brit devotees swear it’s far superior, but Americans will mostly never taste the real thing.

10. Unpasteurized Cheese: The European Treats We Can’t Have

The U.S. restricts cheeses made from raw milk unless they’re aged 60+ days. That means Camembert, authentic Brie, and other soft European cheeses can’t legally be sold here. The ban has led to some smuggling and home production for hardcore cheese fans.

11. Bird’s Nest Soup: A Rare Luxury

This Chinese delicacy uses nests made from swiftlet saliva. Believed to bring youth and long life, the nests are endangered, and bringing them into the U.S. is illegal due to pest and disease risks. If you want to try it, you’ll need a trip to Southeast Asia—and a deep wallet.

12. Cyclamate: The Sweet That Got Away

Cyclamate was an artificial sweetener 10 times sweeter than sugar, with no aftertaste. But in 1969, studies linked it to bladder cancer in lab rats, leading to a U.S. ban. The Brooklyn Brainery notes that later studies disproved this risk, and Canada and Mexico still use it. In the U.S., we’re stuck with Equal, Splenda, and Sweet ’N Low.

America may have strict food rules, but the rest of the world? They’re living their culinary best life. From “lose virginity liquor” to maggot cheese, there’s an entire menu of forbidden delights waiting beyond our borders.