Most food bans target one specific risk: a choking hazard, a natural toxin, cancer in animal tests or animal welfare. Here are 22 real bans by country, with dates and sources.
United States
A US food law from 1938 bans sweets with a non food object fully hidden inside, so the FDA keeps Kinder Surprise under an import alert. Customs officers seize the eggs from luggage and mail. Kinder Joy is sold legally, because its toy sits in a separate half of the package.
United States · 1971
Since 1971 US rules have not allowed sheep lung in food, and lung is a classic haggis ingredient, so real Scottish haggis cannot be imported. The UK has asked Washington several times to lift the ban. American producers sell a version made without lung.
Singapore · 1992
Singapore banned the import and sale of chewing gum from 3 January 1992, after used gum stuck on door sensors disrupted MRT trains. Chewing gum is not illegal, bringing it in and selling it is. Since 2004 therapeutic gum, such as nicotine gum, can be bought from a pharmacist.
California, US · 2012
California passed a law in 2004 against selling products from birds force fed to enlarge their liver, and it took effect in 2012. A federal judge struck it down in 2015, an appeals court restored it in 2017, and in 2019 the US Supreme Court declined to hear the producers' appeal.
United States
Unripe ackee contains hypoglycin A, a natural toxin that can cause vomiting, very low blood sugar and in severe cases death. The FDA detains all ackee imports, canned, frozen or fresh, unless the processor is on its approved list, and treats products above 100 ppm of the toxin as adulterated.
European Union · 2022
In May 2021 EFSA said it could no longer rule out a genotoxicity concern for the white colouring E171, used in sweets, icing, gum and sauces. The EU removed it from its list of food additives in February 2022, with a full ban from 7 August 2022. Great Britain did not follow.
United States · 2024
BVO kept citrus flavours from separating in some fruit flavoured soft drinks. The FDA revoked its approval from 2 August 2024, after rodent studies linked it to thyroid harm, and gave makers until 2 August 2025. It had already lost its generally recognised as safe status in 1970.
United States · 2025
On 15 January 2025 the FDA revoked approval of Red No. 3 in food under the Delaney Clause, because high doses caused cancer in male rats. The FDA says that mechanism does not occur in humans, but the law leaves no choice. Food makers have until 15 January 2027 to remove it.
United States · 2010
On 17 November 2010 the FDA told four makers, including the maker of Four Loko, that caffeine added to their malt drinks was an unsafe food additive and that seizures could follow. The concern was that caffeine masks how drunk people feel. Four Loko dropped the caffeine and stayed on sale.
United States · 2022
The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act took effect on 23 December 2022 and bans buying, selling or owning detached shark fins anywhere in the US. Fishermen may still land whole sharks with the fins attached, and fins of smooth and spiny dogfish are exempt.
France
For years France refused the original Red Bull over its caffeine and the little studied ingredient taurine. From 1 April 2008 a version with arginine instead of taurine went on sale, and the original recipe with taurine followed later in 2008.
France · 1915, lifted 2011
France banned absinthe in 1915, when the wormwood in it was blamed for hallucinations and madness. A similar drink came back in 1988 but could not use the name absinthe, and in 2011 France formally repealed the law of 1915.
United States · 1987
Since 1987 a federal rule, 21 CFR 1240.61, bans delivering unpasteurised milk for direct consumption across US state lines. Inside each state the rules differ: some states ban raw milk sales completely, others allow them under conditions such as farm sales only.
United States · 2018
In June 2015 the FDA decided that partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of artificial trans fat, are not generally recognised as safe. Makers could not add them after 18 June 2018, with some uses given until 2019. Small amounts of natural trans fat remain in meat and dairy.
European Union
EU hygiene law, Regulation 853/2004, forbids placing fishery products from poisonous fish families on the market, including pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) and ocean sunfish. Pufferfish can contain tetrodotoxin. So fugu, served by licensed chefs in Japan, cannot be sold in the EU.
United States · 1960
Safrole makes up about 80 percent of sassafras oil, which once flavoured root beer. After FDA studies found it caused liver cancer in rats, an order of 3 December 1960 made any food with added safrole or sassafras oil adulterated. Root beer today uses safrole free flavourings.
United States · 1969
Cyclamate, 30 to 40 times sweeter than sugar, has been banned in US food since an order of October 1969, after a study linked a cyclamate and saccharin mix to bladder cancer in rats. The ban still stands, while the EU allows cyclamate as E952.
India · 2015, lifted 2015
In June 2015 India's food regulator FSSAI ordered a nationwide ban on Maggi noodles after state tests reported lead above the legal limit. On 13 August 2015 the Bombay High Court called the ban arbitrary and lifted it, on condition that new lab tests confirm lead below the limit.
Russia · 2014
In August 2014 Russia banned imports of beef, pork, poultry, fish, cheese, milk, fruit and vegetables from the EU, the US and several other countries, in reply to Western sanctions over Ukraine. Meant for one year, it has been extended repeatedly, most recently to the end of 2026.
Chile · 2016
Chile's food labelling rules stop foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fat or calories from using toys and other hooks aimed at children under 14. When they took effect on 27 June 2016, the health ministry said Kinder Surprise would not be sold. Ferrero argued the toy is the product, not a hook.
England · 2027
From April 2027 shops, vending machines and online sellers in England may not sell drinks with more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre to anyone under 16. Tea and coffee are excluded. The government confirmed the rule in July 2026, and sellers who break it face fines of up to 2,500 pounds.
France · 2011
A 2011 French decree on school meals stopped canteens from leaving ketchup, mayonnaise and vinaigrette out for children to help themselves. Sauces may only be served with the dish they belong to, and chips were limited to four meals in twenty. Ketchup itself was never banned.