Curious about things banned abroad but totally legal in the U.S.? From your favorite snacks to everyday habits, several items and practices considered normal in America are outright banned in countries around the world.
Whether it’s food additives like potassium bromate, popular products like Mountain Dew and Coffee-Mate, or quirky behaviors like naming your baby “Apple,” international laws and health standards often clash with U.S. freedoms.
This list of 17 surprising examples reveals how cultural values, safety regulations, and public health concerns shape what’s legal across borders, highlighting just how unique American norms can be on the global stage.
1: Weird Baby Names
In the United States, individuals have the freedom to name their child whatever they please, with examples ranging from “Apple” to “Moon Unit”.
This means that any name a parent considers suitable for their child is permissible. However, other countries are not as permissive when it comes to naming conventions.
For example, in Denmark, parents are required to select a name for their child from a pre-approved list, which likely excludes the more unusual names allowed in America. This starkly contrasts the U.S.’s liberal stance on personal naming choices.
2: Potassium Bromate
Potassium bromate, a common bread additive, is completely legal in the U.S. and contributes to strengthening bread dough.
This legal status may explain why some Americans prefer European breads over domestic options. Conversely, European health experts deem potassium bromate toxic and a suspected carcinogen, leading to its illegality in European countries.
The additive is also banned in other nations, including India and China. This highlights a significant difference in regulatory approaches to food additives.
3: Ketchup With School Lunch
In American school cafeterias, ketchup is a staple condiment, so much so that banning it might incite student unrest or create a black market for it. However, in France, ketchup is off-limits at school unless it is served specifically with fries.
This restriction is not particularly burdensome for the French, as they are generally not enthusiasts of the sweet tomato sauce unless it accompanies fries. This illustrates a cultural difference in condiment consumption and school dietary policies.
4: Farm Raised Salmon
Much of the salmon found in U.S. grocery stores is farm-raised, including all fish labeled “Atlantic salmon”.
While farm-raised salmon offers nutritional benefits like being an excellent source of omega-3 and vitamin D, its legality varies globally.
To achieve an appealing pink color similar to wild-caught fish, American purveyors often add astaxanthin, a chemical.
However, countries such as New Zealand and Australia have not found enough studies to confirm astaxanthin’s safety, resulting in farm-raised salmon being illegal in their markets and restaurants.
5: Turning Right on Red
In the United States, turning right on a red light is generally permitted, though this is not universally true. In Europe and certain Canadian cities, turning right on a red light is illegal.
The same prohibition applies to Australia and New Zealand, where the equivalent action, turning left on a red, is banned.
Interestingly, there is a growing movement within major U.S. cities to make rights on red illegal. For example, it has already been banned in much of New York, and by 2025, it will no longer be legal in Washington, D.C..
6: Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is largely considered a sweet and non-controversial holiday in the U.S., associated with acts like buying roses and cards to celebrate loved ones.
Yet, not all countries share this perspective. The customs of Valentine’s Day can clash with specific interpretations of Islam.
Consequently, some nations, such as Pakistan, have made celebrating Valentine’s Day illegal. This demonstrates how cultural or religious viewpoints can influence the legality of seemingly innocuous celebrations.
7: Wheat Thins
Wheat Thins crackers, a popular snack in the U.S., are illegal in the U.K., Japan, and other parts of Europe.
The reason for this ban is the presence of BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), a preservative found in Wheat Thins and certain other grain-based products like Frosted Flakes.
Countries that have prohibited BHT believe it may be a carcinogen, even though this has yet to be definitively proven.
This highlights differing international stances on food preservatives and their potential health implications.
8: Adultery
While most Americans do not consider adultery morally correct, there is no law against it in most of the U.S.. Although 17 states do have legislation banning the practice, these laws are rarely enforced.
In stark contrast, individuals who commit adultery in other countries often face severe repercussions.
For instance, in Saudi Arabia, adultery can lead to execution, and in Pakistan, a death sentence is also possible.
Historically, women reporting abuse or assault in Pakistan sometimes faced counter-accusations of adultery, though recent legislative changes aim to improve this situation.
9: Twinkies
Twinkies are a beloved snack in the U.S., evidenced by widespread panic when they were thought to be disappearing from shelves.
However, their popularity is not universal. The European Union requires a warning label on Twinkies due to the presence of yellow dyes. Furthermore, Twinkies are not allowed to be sold in stores in Norway and Finland.
This demonstrates how varying food safety regulations and concerns about artificial ingredients can lead to significant differences in product legality across countries.
10: Incandescent Lightbulbs
Incandescent lightbulbs, despite being a foundational modern invention, have significant flaws. They are energy-intensive (“power-hungry”) and have short lifespans, making them an environmentally unfriendly lighting option.
As a result, many countries and regions worldwide have chosen to ban their sale. This includes Russia, Brazil, and the entire European Union, which have moved to prohibit incandescent lightbulbs in favor of more earth-friendly alternatives. In the U.S., however, they remain perfectly legal.
11: Coffee-Mate
In several European and Scandinavian countries, including Austria, Hungary, and various Scandinavian nations, sweet-flavored Coffee-Mate creamers are banned.
The reason for this prohibition is that Coffee-Mate contains hydrogenated oil, which is a significant source of trans fat.
Trans fat is considered one of the unhealthiest dietary components, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Despite U.S. Coffee-Mate labels stating “0 grams trans fat,” this is legally permissible if the product contains less than 0.5 grams per serving, a loophole exploited by small serving sizes.
12: Plastic Bags
In some parts of the U.S., such as California and Washington, single-use plastic bags are discouraged, often incurring a fine of up to 10 cents per bag at grocery stores.
However, other countries have implemented much stricter measures. China, for instance, outlawed thin plastic bags in 2008 and mandated that all bags be compostable by 2022.
Many other nations either impose fines for plastic bag use or only permit the use of sturdy, reusable plastic bag options, signifying a greater global push towards reducing plastic waste compared to the U.S..
13: Red Dye 3
Red Dye 3, a bright-colored food additive, is banned in Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union. Recently, California also implemented a ban on this substance.
According to an NPR report cited in the source, consuming red dye 3 carries significant health risks, including behavioral issues in children.
Despite these concerns and international bans, red dye 3 remains legal and widely used in many foods marketed to children in the United States.
14: Mullets
The mullet hairstyle, known for being “formal-in-front, party-in-back,” is perfectly legal in the U.S.. However, this is not the case globally.
In North Korea, mullets and other forms of “capitalist fashion” are against the law. Kim Jong Un’s government specifically cracked down on mullets, skinny jeans, and nose piercings in 2021.
Additionally, mullets are illegal in Iran, as are ponytails and other Western hairstyles. These bans reflect attempts by certain governments to control cultural expression and resist Western influences.
15: Tobacco
In the U.S., tobacco use is legal for individuals aged twenty-one or over, despite public health campaigns and warning labels.
However, the global landscape for tobacco is evolving. Bhutan previously had an outright ban on tobacco for several years, though this was temporarily lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The United Kingdom is implementing a policy to progressively raise the legal age for tobacco use each year, aiming to prevent anyone aged 14 or younger from ever being able to use tobacco products. Furthermore, France has announced plans to ban e-cigarettes.
16: American-Style Milk
Much of the milk supply in the United States contains artificial growth hormones known as rBGH or rBST.
These hormones are used to increase milk production. However, these growth hormones are banned in Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Canada, and Japan.
While countries with these bans can still import American dairy products, they are prohibited from using the hormones in their domestic dairy herds.
This means that while milk produced in these countries will be free of rBST or rBGH, imported American products may still contain them.
17: Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew contains an ingredient called BVO (brominated vegetable oil), which has been banned in nearly thirty countries worldwide.
BVO contains bromine, a natural element found in seawater. However, when consumed by humans in large quantities, bromine can have harmful effects.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bromine has a bleach-like smell, can irritate the skin, and cause breathing problems.
In beverages like Mountain Dew, BVO functions as an emulsifier, ensuring that all citrus acids blend evenly throughout the drink.
Alicia Richards