Forbidden Foods that are Banned ...

[IceWizard]

Forbidden Foods that are Banned
in the State of Texas







BELUGA CAVIAR.

According to an article in the New York Times, beluga caviar once cost $200
or more per OUNCE. However, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services decided to
ban the import of beluga caviar, which came from the Beluga Sturgeon,
an endangered species.







Casu Marzu.

Until today, I didn't even know this existed, and now that I know what is I'd
rather not know. Casu Marzu is sometimes referred to as the 'rotten cheese.'
That's a good name for it because casu marzu apparently contains live maggots.
Um, if you'd like to learn more, please feel free to CHECK THIS OUT. I...I just can't.







ACKEE.

According to Eat This, Not That, 'Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica. However,
when it's unripe, the fruit contains high levels of the toxin hypoglycin A, which
inhibits the body's ability to release blood glucose (blood sugar). This can cause
people to fall into a state of hypoglycemia, a condition where glucose levels are
too low, which can induce vomiting, ultimately cause dehydration,
and even result in death."

The FDA banned it in 1973, although you can still get it through certain pre-approved channels.







Ortolan.

I don't know about you, but I can't imagine looking at a tiny bird around the size
of a thumb and thinking 'That could be dinner!' But, ortolan is a wee songbird
that was considered a delicacy in France for years. It was eventually banned by
the EU and then in the United States.







ABSINTHE.

It's been referred to as 'the green fairy,' and is known to have hallucinogenic elements.
The cause is the "chemical thujone, which is a chemical found in the wormwood herb
that's used to make the alcohol," according to an article from Eat This, Not That.

You may have seen absinthe on drink menus, however. So here's the deal.
'Absinthe' is still a legal beverage in Texas IF it contains no more than 99 parts of thujone.







Haggis.

More like GAG-IS. Sorry, sorry. If you're a fan of haggis, I apologize. I love many Scottish
things very, very much, but this isn't on the list. And you won't find it on the menu in
Texas. At least, not in its traditional form--47 years ago, it was banned in the U.S.

Eat This, Not That describes it this way:

"Haggis is a savory pudding that consists of a
mixture of sheep's heart, lung, and liver, among other ingredients such as oatmeal,
minced onion, suet, and stock. The pudding is typically presented and served to guests
within the stomach of the sheep."

No, thank you.







Shark Fin.

So, here's the thing. Shark fin isn't COMPLETELY banned in the U.S. Only 12 U.S.
states have an official ban on their sale, but 'shark finning' has been banned.

And rightly so, in my opinion.

It was common for a shark's fins to be removed only for them to be thrown
overboard. That is a cruel act. There are some loopholes, though. That means
you could still find, shark fin soup, for example on some menus.
But some of us certainly won't be ordering it.







Japanese Pufferfish.

I don't look at this picture and think that looks like food. But that's just me.

An article from Stacker reports that "According to the FDA, Japanese pufferfish
contain tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, central nervous system toxins that "are
more deadly than cyanide."

It may be served in fine dining restaurants in Japan, but you're not going to
find it on most menus in Texas. I say 'most,' because there are a select few
dealers allowed to sell the fish in America--which frankly surprises some of us.







Horsemeat.

Unless I was truly without any other way of sustaining myself and was on the
verge of starvation, I can't imagine any scenario where I could bring myself to
consume horsemeat. That just doesn't seem right somehow.

So, it's not illegal to EAT horse meat, but it is illegal to slaughter them for meat.
That ban was renewed by President Trump back in 2018.

[IceWizard]

Sassafras Oil.

Why is sassafras oil forbidden?

According to an article shared by Eat This, Not That,

"There is a compound in sassafras oil called safrole,
which is a known carcinogen. The FDA set a ban on sassafrass oil back in the 1960s.
However, extracts from the roots of the plant are still legal as long as they
do not contain safrole."







Sea Turtle.

NO, please don't eat the sea turtles. Don't they face enough challenges just trying
to stay alive when they're firstborn and scrambling toward the ocean to avoid being eaten?

Well, they are eaten in places around the world. However, they are an endangered
species and thus protected in the U.S., including Texas.







Bushmeats.

What? Bushmeats The very short description is the minimally processed meat of
wild animals--even those you'd never expect to see on a menu in Texas. We're
talking about bats, for example. Or non-human primates.

Yeah, not allowed legally for consumption in Texas. Thank goodness.







Queen Conch.

I remember seeing one of these beautiful conch shells, which once contained a
sea snail, in my parent's room when I was growing up and trying to 'hear the ocean.'

It never crossed my mind that someone would have considered the meat that was
once inside food. But then again, many of us eat scallops and oysters, etc.
And apparently, some people enjoy the taste.

However, queen conch meat is a banned food in Texas.
Why? It stems from problems arising from over-fishing.

[Charon]