I Ate Illegal Foods Around The World

Summary

Join me as I try the world's most dangerous and controversial banned foods! From Japan's toxic fugu fish and the spice of the Paqui One Chip, to the mind-altering miracle fruit and glow-in-the-dark sushi, this adventure is filled with extreme eating challenges. I'll also dive into foods banned for bizarre reasons like chewing gum in Singapore and lab-grown chicken in the U.S. With daring taste tests, wild food facts, and some serious heat, watch to see if I survive these culinary extremes!

Takeaways

• 😀 Puffer fish (fugu) is one of the most dangerous foods, requiring chefs to undergo extensive training to safely prepare it due to its deadly poison.
• 😀 The Miracle Fruit contains miraculin, a protein that temporarily alters taste perception, making food taste sweeter, which has led to its ban in certain products.
• 😀 The Paqui One Chip, made with extreme hot peppers, is so spicy that it has caused hospitalizations and been banned in some countries.
• 😀 The Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas offers extremely unhealthy food items like the 19,000-calorie octuple bypass burger, and controversially offers free meals to those over 350 pounds.
• 😀 Omega Mart, an art installation in Las Vegas, sells bizarre and banned food items like genetically modified sushi, stagnant water, and glow-in-the-dark food.
• 😀 Chewing gum has been banned in Singapore since 1992 due to public cleanliness issues, with severe fines for both chewing and selling it.
• 😀 Durian fruit is banned in places like public transport in Singapore due to its overwhelmingly strong odor, which many people find unpleasant despite its sweet taste.
• 😀 Prime Energy, an energy drink with high caffeine content, is banned in countries like Canada and New Zealand due to health concerns, but the drink's taste received mixed reviews.
• 😀 Lab-grown meat is banned in some countries to protect local farmers, and while it looks and feels like real meat, it tastes noticeably different and is less flavorful.
• 😀 Trolley Roadkill candy, discontinued due to animal rights concerns, featured gummies shaped like run-over animals and was criticized for its controversial theme.
• 😀 The American version of Pop Tarts is banned in the UK due to artificial food dyes linked to hyperactivity, with a larger, dye-free version of the product being created for sale in the US.

Q & A

Why is fugu (pufferfish) considered one of the most dangerous foods in the world?

Fugu is dangerous because it contains a potent toxin called tetrodotoxin, which can cause paralysis or death if consumed. Only trained and certified chefs are allowed to prepare it safely.

What is the miracle fruit, and why has it been banned by the FDA in some products?

The miracle fruit contains a protein called miraculin, which temporarily alters taste perception and makes food taste sweeter. The FDA has banned it in products because it could potentially undermine the sugar industry.

What makes the Paqui One Chip Challenge so dangerous?

The Paqui One Chip Challenge contains two of the world’s hottest peppers, the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper. These peppers are so hot they can cause severe physical reactions, including hospitalization.

Why is the Heart Attack Grill controversial?

The Heart Attack Grill is controversial because it serves extremely unhealthy foods, like the 19,000-calorie octuple bypass burger, and markets them as 'to die for,' despite the health risks involved. The restaurant has also gained attention due to several customer deaths linked to unhealthy eating.

What is glow-in-the-dark sushi, and why is it illegal to serve in California?

Glow-in-the-dark sushi is made by inserting genes from bioluminescent animals like jellyfish into fish like tuna. This genetically modified sushi is illegal in California due to environmental and health concerns about GMOs.

Why are tarantulas considered a controversial food, especially in Western countries?

While eating insects like tarantulas is common in some parts of the world, it is controversial in Western countries due to cultural taboos, and the FDA has banned the practice of selling wild-caught insects for human consumption in the U.S.

What is fire paan, and why is it considered dangerous?

Fire paan is a traditional Indian dish served while on fire. The flames are extinguished just before the paan is placed in the mouth, but due to the risk of burns, most restaurants refuse to serve it, and it’s generally seen as unsafe.

What led to chewing gum being banned in Singapore?

Chewing gum was banned in Singapore starting in 1992 because people were using it to cause disruptions, such as sticking it on train doors, which impacted the country's public transport system. Singapore’s strict cleanliness regulations also contributed to the ban.

Why is durian fruit banned in public spaces in certain Southeast Asian countries?

Durian fruit is banned in public spaces in places like Singapore and Thailand due to its extremely strong and offensive smell, which many people find unpleasant, often likening it to the smell of rotting garbage.

Why is Prime Energy banned in countries like New Zealand and Canada?

Prime Energy is banned in New Zealand and Canada due to its high caffeine content, which exceeds the legal limit for energy drinks in these countries. It contains 200 milligrams of caffeine per can, compared to 80 milligrams in a standard Red Bull.