Fruits from foreign lands often seem strange, with indescribable flavors and bizarre appearances that seem straight out of a storybook. However, not all forbidden fruits are desirable – some are illegal or heavily restricted, subject to stringent FDA checks due to the presence of toxins, environmental concerns, or the risk of pests. 

As with the case of banned items, some restrictions are surprising and even laughable, including the banning of Kinder Surprise eggs due to the ‘non-nutritive’ item embedded within. Other bans are more reasonable, such as the pungent durian fruit, so malodorous that it is banned in many public places in Southeast Asia. Many times, travelers are not allowed to enter the US with fresh fruit and vegetables of any sort, so don’t think about sneaking in that durian. 

Here’s a list of fruits that are restricted in the U.S., and you’d probably be better off not eating anyways.  

 

1. Ackee Fruit     

This fruit makes a surprising appearance in The Mysterious Benedict Society when Rhonda, one of the members, gives a jar of canned ackee fruit to another character. Number Two (yes, that’s her name), argues, rightfully so, that ackee contains hypoglycin A – a toxin especially potent in its unripe state and can prove fatal if ingested. Despite its dangers, ackee remains popular in Jamaica because of its nutty, savory flavor, constituting as the main ingredient in the traditional dish ackee and saltfish. 

2. Miracle Fruit 

Native to West Africa, this bright-red fruit is safe to eat – it is the compound in the fruit that is banned. While fruit won’t grant you godly powers, it does have the ability to make sour food taste sweet by altering one’s perception. Specifically, it contains a glycoprotein (a type of protein attached to carbohydrates) known as miraculin, that is banned in the US. It was labelled as an additive, ostensibly from pressure by the sugar industry, and banned. Nowadays, sale is limited to whole berries, or powdered ones.

3. Salak (Snake Fruit) 

In Thailand, snake fruit is a popular street fruit, frequently eaten with shaved ice and syrup sugar. A fruit with a decidedly reptilian texture, it is characterized by a scaly exterior and a sweet, tangy interior that is a combination of pineapples, apples, and durian. Tourists who have visited Bali and tried snake fruit often become mesmerized by its addictive taste, elevating it to an almost mythical status. Unfortunately, the importation of fresh snake fruit is banned in the United States by the FDA, and unless you happen upon it at an Asian market, this unusual fruit remains elusive. 

4. Durian 

Banned in most airports and hotels and colloquially dubbed as the ‘Hell Fruit,’ durian emits a repulsive scent likened to a medley of the most unpleasant smells, including sewage waste and skunk odor. Simply put, it’s not worth the trouble of transporting this stinky fruit. The taste itself is more tolerable, if you can look past the rotten egg smell. When ripe, it has a sweet, fatty flavor reminiscent of cheesecake or a floral caramel. Buyer beware: it has a tendency to stink up your entire house. 

5. Buddha’s Hand       

While not outlawed, Buddha’s hand, a weirdly deformed citrus fruit, is hard to find. Several states have regulations prohibiting the shipment of citrus into their borders to reduce the risk of citrus diseases. Its protrusions of growth, which resemble tentacles, likely originated from a mutation in India before it was brought into China by Buddhist monks – and it smells divine. Inside, it is primarily composed of pith (the spongy, inner layer of the rind), with no juice. Its zest is incorporated into baked desserts to elevate the flavor profile. 

6. Mangosteen  

Mangosteen, known for its lychee-like texture, was once banned from the US out of the fear it would introduce the Asian fruit fly, an agricultural pest, into the country. In 2007, the ban was lifted, but fresh mangosteen remains uncommon. In Asia, they are discouraged from hotels, as the vividly purple juice can easily stain clothes. Unlike durian (questionably known as the king of fruits), it is rightfully lauded as the “queen of fruits,” garnering many positive receptions from people. 

7. Pangium Edule Fruit

Also known as football fruit, grows on the Pangium edule tree, a mangrove tree that bears large, poisonous fruit. Both the fruit and seeds contain cyanide – deadly without prior preparation. The process is lengthy: for a minimum of 40 days, they are boiled and then buried in a mix of ash, earth until they turn brown through fermentation. Because they take a long time to fruit even in their natural habitat, it is regarded as a delicacy in Southeast Asia. 

8. Manchineel Tree

This is one forbidden fruit that you’ll want to stay far away from. The fruits of the manchineel tree, one of the most poisonous trees on earth, will cause anyone who unwittingly consumes their fruits a painful experience. In worst cases, the throat will tighten and then experience an excruciating burning sensation, with symptoms worsening until the victim chokes to death. 

9. Deadly Nightshade 

If you eat a mouthful of black nightshade berries, you may be lucky if nothing happens. Unlike the notorious deadly nightshade, black nightshade (Solanum nigrum complex) can be eaten without any ill side effects. However, the unripe green berries and leaves of these plants contain trace amounts of toxins like solanine, which can be deadly if consumed. This guide provides more information on foraging for these berries. 

 

10. Rambutan

The flesh of this spiky fruit, which resembles a lychee, is generally safe to eat, although it was once banned in the fear that it may harbor pests and disease. However, its seeds should be avoided, as it contains trace levels of saponins, which can be toxic in large doses and have narcotic effects.