By Toptenz.net
We are free to pick and choose what we want to eat each day, thanks to grocery stores and restaurants, but imagine not being able to eat a certain type of food because it was banned in your country.
10. Uncertified Chilean Sea Bass (Patagonian Toothfish)
At first, the uncertified Chilean sea bass was banned by 24 nations, including the U.S. due to the fact that it was extremely popular in restaurants as well as in the home and many feared it would become endangered. The fish is known for having flaky white flesh and a high fat content, which makes it tasty. Today, the fish is banned in even more countries due to the fact that it has become over-fished.
Does It Really Stick?
Of course this doesn’t stick as well as many would hope. We all know something that’s rare is seen as a prize possession. Those who are able to catch Chilean sea bass often sell them illegally at extremely high prices. Farmers also raise them in fish farms. Though not banned everywhere, many countries have a limit on who can import the fish. One must be certified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration before being able to legally provide the fish.
Want to Try It?
If you’re just interested in trying Chilean sea bass, you can surely find some that has been MSC-certified.
9. Foie Gras
Why It’s Banned
Foie gras is a delicacy made out of duck or goose liver. It is banned in Turkey, the European Union, and Israel due to a process called force-feeding. To make foie gras, birds are force-fed corn mash or some other type of food about 8 days before they are slaughtered in order to enlarge the liver and give it a fatty consistency. Many see this process as extremely cruel and harmful to the animal, as its body is not accustomed to eating so much food naturally in the wild. In 2005 foie gras was banned in Chicago, but the ban was lifted in 2008. Many states within the U.S. have attempted to have foie gras banned, but none have succeeded as of yet.
Does It Really Stick?
Yes and no. In the U.S., you can easily find foie gras if you visit the right restaurant. In other countries that ban the food, it may be much harder to find it. It’s not banned in the US right now, so there are farmers that own goose or duck farms and will force-feed them in order to have foie gras. Today the practice of force-feeding to have foie gras is widespread.
Want to Try It?
Find a local restaurant that serves foie gras and you’re ready to go. If you’re a little bit more daring (and rich), make your way to France where the dish originated and today is still seen as an important part of French cuisine. China is also the ideal place to visit to find this meal.
8. Shark Fins
Why It’s Banned
Though still in the process of being banned world wide, the slicing of shark fins is now banned in Scottish waters, as well as UK waters. In Hawaii, the practice is banned entirely due to the fact that 60,000 sharks were found dead each year. The practice, often seen as barbaric, has been banned in countries because it is seen as cruel and brutal and many species of rare sharks are becoming endangered, or even extinct. Shark fins are often used in shark fin soup which is seen as a luxury meal in most Asian countries. These sharks are also finned in Mexico, U.S., and U.K. waters.
Does It Really Stick?
As of now, it’s safe to say that a shark is finned each day. The laws banning the practice in larger countries are somewhat new and are still being put into place. Many times this practice goes unseen, as fisherman in random places will catch the shark, bring them to the shore or on the boat, cut off their fins, and put them back into the water, where they ultimately die.
Want to Try It?
If you’re looking to make Jaws your dinner, you’ll easily find shark fins offered in Asian countries, especially China. You could also travel to Mexico, where the shark fins are often traded. In the U.S. you can find shark fin soup, just at a very steep price.
7. Raw Milk
Why It’s Banned
Before the Industrial Revolution, raw milk was an everyday commodity. This means that the milk was not pasteurized. People didn’t have the technology yet, plus many urban families owned their own dairy animals, such as goats and cows. New methods of processing milk such as pasteurization led to the banning of raw milk. Today, improved farming conditions and better testing mean raw milk is less risky, but it continues to be banned in 22 states as well as Canada.
Does It Really Stick?
In many countries, you’ll find bottles of raw milk offered. In the U.S., there is a continuous debate raging on about the healthfulness of raw milk, while others insist that it is full of germs. In Europe, Asia, Africa, and other countries, you’ll often find raw milk and even raw cheese available. In the U.S., only 28 states allow the consumption of raw milk. This is usually done through cow shares (where consumers own part of a cow and share the costs and the milk it produces).
Want to Try It?
You’ve got plenty of options here. Slap on your cowboy hat, move out to the country, and join a cow share. Or you can buy a cow, or use someone else’s cow and just do a little milking with a cup in hand. Voila. For commercial raw milk, you may need to travel a little, but you’re sure to find a bottle of it somewhere.
6. Absinthe
Why It’s Banned
In the 1800s, absinthe was gradually banned in many locations around the world. This was due to a large increase in violence and hallucinations, as well as mental illness. However, absinthe made its comeback during the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is said that by 1905, there were over 40 distillers just on the Swiss border providing absinthe to France and Switzerland. Again in the 20th century, researchers looked at absinthe and considered it to be highly unsafe. Though many say it’s banned due to the 20th century’s temperance movement, scientists at the time stated that the drink contained thujone, which, even in the smallest quantities caused psychoactive ailments. In 1915, absinthe was banned in most European countries with the exception of a few. Today in the U.S., absinthe is distilled, but is only 75% and is usually diluted with water.
Does It Really Stick?
While traditional absinthe is no longer made, the spirit is still distilled in many countries, notably the Czech Republic, Switzerland, France, and Spain. As of 2008, there were about 200 different types of absinthe available. In the U.S., the drink was allowed to be commercially distilled again in 2007. People just can’t keep their hands off of the Green Fairy!
Want to Try It?
You can probably easily go to a city bar and find absinthe or a local liquor/spirits shop to find it. If you’re looking for the stronger stuff, make your way over to the Czech Republic or France, and you’re sure to make absinthe your mind’s best friend. Bottoms up! Artist: Victor Oliva
5. Wild Beluga Caviar
Why It’s Banned
In 2005, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service put a ban on the import of Beluga caviar from the Caspian Sea. Much like the redfish listed later on, the Beluga sturgeon was becoming endangered and in order to protect the creature, a ban was implemented. In 2007 the ban was lifted with restrictions, allowing 96 tons of the caviar to be sold throughout the world. Today, spotting this caviar is still difficult: just like the Beluga sturgeon fish itself.
Does It Really Stick?
You can find this type of caviar sold online from many different vendors. Or you could find one of those expensive restaurants that serve a tiny spoon of the caviar for hundreds of bucks.
Want to Try It?
If you’re really itching to try some Wild Beluga caviar, there are online companies that claim to offer it; though, you’ll be paying a pretty hefty price for some pea-sized eggs. One website sells the caviar for $2095 for 250g/8.8oz. On the other hand, you can, in the back of your mind, forget the “wild” part of the wild beluga caviar and purchase caviar from a beluga that has been farm raised. Or if you’re lucky, you can score some that has been slowly allowed back into the U.S. since 2007.