Samosa To Tomato Ketchup: 5 Bizarre Food Bans Across World

Food is said to be an identity of a culture. Menus and food items vary widely across the globe depending on the environment, health, social, socio-economic or environmental reasons. There are some bizarre reasons why certain foods are banned in some countries and allowed in others.

From Indian samosas being banned in a South African country to tomato ketchup ban in France, here are five food items that are banned in some countries and allowed in others for some bizarre reasons.

Samosa - Somalia

The famous Indian samosa, which is a triangular shaped potato and other veggies stuffed fried snack, is banned in Somalia in South Africa. As per reports, the triangular shape is considered to be a symbol of Christianity to ‘Al Shabaab group’ and it did not go well with the group because they thought it resembled the Christian Holy Trinity. The group banned samosas in Somalia back in 2011.

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Cow Meat- India

Indians have strong views on religion and it indulges deeply in the culture, according to which slaughtering and butchering of cows are punishable offences in the country. However, it is not officially banned across the country, different states have different laws regarding the same. While slaughtering, butchering, and consuming cow meat or beef is strictly banned in Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Punjab, and Gujarat, people in West Bengal, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, Manipur, and Mizoram enjoy the delicacies of beef.

Chewing Gum- Singapore

It has been over decades since Singapore banned the sale and consumption of chewing gums in the country. However, it is not actually illegal but very difficult to find one. Back in 1992, Singapore banned chewing gums to avoid litters of gums in public arenas. Nearly a decade later, in 2004, the ban was partially removed to allow chewing gums for some dental and anti-nicotine purposes.

Tomato Ketchup- France

Back in 2011, France, the wonderland for foodies, banned tomato ketchup in the country to prevent French cuisine from getting overshadowed by the sauce.

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Kinder Joys- USA

The egg-shaped little bundles of joy Kinder Joy, filled with chocolate balls and cream on one half and on the other half with plastic toys, is banned in the United States. The US government banned the chocolate in the country because they reportedly violate the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) prohibition against "non-nutritive objects" inside it. As per reports, the ban was imposed to protect children from choking after swallowing the toys as well.

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