In a country where you are allowed to buy an assault rifle without background checks, you would think you could buy anything as long as you have the money. But that’s anything but the case. Even if you are a billionaire, there are just some things you aren’t allowed to purchase in America.
Here is a list of seemingly legal items that are banned in the US. Not only you won’t be able to find them in any stores (at least legally) in America, but you also aren’t allowed to bring them into the country (even if they are purchased legally in another country). Some of the items are banned due to potential health hazards, some of them due to environmental regulations and one even has a connection to the upcoming election! Check out these items and let us know if you think any of them should be allowed.
1. Kinder Surprise Eggs
You may have had them as a child and still occasionally see them around, but they are actually illegal. The US government has placed a ban on candies embedded with toys since 1938 as they are considered chocking hazards. These chocolate eggs, because of the tiny toys found inside, are unsurprisingly still best sellers in Canada, Europe and South America, especially when Easter rolls around.
2. Hilary: The Movie
This 2008 political documentary was banned by the Federal Election Commission from being aired on video-on-demand shortly before the 2008 Democratic Primaries. Apparently according to the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, films cannot mention a candidate within 30 days of a primary.
3. Haggis
Although this is a popular delicacy in the UK, most people in the US have no idea what it is because it has been banned here for more than 20 years. Haggis is a meat pudding containing a sheep’s innards minced with onion and spices. The problem, as you probably already guessed, is that the innards increase the risk of disease transmissions. So if you want authentic haggis, you may have to go to the UK to get it.
4. Absinthe
You may have seen these at boutique bars in the US, but chances are what you are seeing is not actual absinthe. This anise flavored spirit has an alcohol content that goes as high as 74%, which is almost twice as much as the most common liquors (whiskey and vodka). The hallucinogenic effect of absinthe is courtesy of the substance, artemisia absinthium, or “grand wormwood,” but it is also the culprit for seizures and muscle spasms.
5. Unpasteurized Milk
If you wish, most countries in the world allow you to drink milk straight from a cow. In the US, however, most states have a strict ban on the sale of unpasteurized milk because of health concerns. In the states that do allow for the sale of raw milk, weird laws such as only allowing it to be sold as pet food or that make it only available from pre-authorized diary farms usually exist.
6. Ackee Fruit
This fruit is so delicious that it became the national fruit of Jamaica. However, it is banned in the US because depending on its ripeness, ackee can fluctuate between tasty and deadly. If the fruit isn’t correctly ripened, it contains high levels of hypoglycin A and B that can be deadly.
7. Buckyballs Magnets
When the toy first came out in 2009, it became an instant sensation. Being able to reshape tiny magnetic balls into any shape you want made them a hit among kids. However, accidentally swallowing them can lead to perforation of the digestive tract. After three years on the market, the government decided to issued a ban on Buckyballs magnets.
8. Horse Meat
Although the US government never officially banned the sale and consumption of horse meat, the federal law prohibits using tax dollars on the inspection of horse meat. No meat in the US can be sold without government inspection, which makes horse meat a de facto ban.
9. Microbeads
Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particles made out of polyethylene. They were commonly used in exfoliating personal care products and cleansers. However, microbeads have recently been banned in the US because they can cause water pollution and pose a threat to aquatic animals.
10. Fugu
This Japanese fish is considered by many as the most delicious fish on earth, but it could literally kill you if it’s not prepared properly. More commonly referred to as the puffer fish, it contains a lethal amount of the poison tetrodotoxin. Fugu is banned in all but a short list of authorized restaurants for those adventurous eaters who want to take the risk.
11. Beluga Caviar
Overfishing has caused a dramatic drop in huso population worldwide, which led the US government to issue a ban on the delicacy in 2005. However, this rare caviar is still sold on the black market for as much as $200 an ounce because of the strong demand.
12. Mirabelle Plums
This sweet and juicy fruit comes from France and is vastly popular in many European countries. However, due to bizarre import laws (most likely for pest control concerns), this plum is banned from being imported into the US while many other similar fruits have no problems getting into the country. The good news: we have plenty of our own varieties of plums and they are just as good!
13. Casu Marzu
In the US, you can buy almost any variety of cheese, but casu marzu isn’t one of them. Even if it’s not banned, it might not be the type of cheese you’d be interested in eating anyway. Casu marzu originates from Italy and the cheese is made after being intentionally infested with fly larvae (maggots!). In addition, it’s made with unpasteurized milk, which is something banned in most states to begin with.
