Top 10 Bizarre Reasons Products Have Been Banned
#10: Video Game Consoles
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The debate whether video games were having negative long term health effects has long been a controversial subject. It's believed that concerns about children getting too reliant on gaming caused nearly all video game consoles to be banned from being sold or imported into China. Between the years 2000 and 2015, the notion of picking up something like an Xbox legitimately was practically impossible in the country. However, since the same regulations were not applied to PCs, computer gaming became immensely popular. Many gamers in China still stick with their PC’s today. It seems like an odd oversight to miss such a huge corner of the gaming market during what was already an unusually large ban.
#9: Scrabble
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Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian dictator who was notorious for implementing policies that made his citizen’s lives significantly worse. The strangest mandate that he allegedly gave was that Scrabble was not allowed in the country. Apparently, Ceaușescu found the game to be “overly intellectual”. It's hard to follow the logic behind the supposed ban of such an innocent game. Would a triple word score be that much of a threat to the ruler’s regime? Fortunately, it doesn't seem like Scrabble was kept out of the country for long. We’re glad Romanian citizens are free to argue about whether a word is spelled correctly on the Scrabble board.
#8: Certain Writing Utensils
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Those wishing to ship something to Tunisia will need to comb through a pretty lengthy list of prohibited items. For example, Tunisia prohibits import of certain jewelry, Aspirin, playing cards, and even lottery tickets. But perhaps the most bizarre ban involves the complete prohibitions of certain writing utensils. Included in the list are the likes of chalk and pencils. While the reasons those items are prohibited from entering the country vary, it’s still hard to grasp the reasons why. But since these prohibitions still appear to be in place, make sure to leave your favorite pencil at home before arriving in the country.
#7: Kinder Surprise
Beginning in 1974, Italian company Ferrero began manufacturing the now-iconic toy-snack combo Kinder Surprise. The item is incredibly popular with children and usually consists of a little toy snuggled between two halves of a milk chocolate egg. However, it’s banned in the United States. The country’s FDA banned the product owing to the inclusion of a non-edible item. Since kids and adults around the world seem to enjoy Kinder surprises safely, it weirdly feels like American citizens can’t be trusted not to eat the surprises inside. The U.S. has relented a little in recent years and allowed for “Kinder Joy” eggs to be sold.
#6: Specific Underwear
Citizens in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan had issues purchasing luxury lingerie when lacy underwear was prohibited from sale and import. The ban was instituted in February 2014 when a new law stated that garments touching the skin needed to contain at least six percent cotton. Since lace underwear doesn’t always conform to these standards, it was one of many undergarments thrown into the permanent clearance bin in the sky. Apparently, this head-scratching ban was put in place to keep people’s skin safe. But not everyone took kindly to the rule. It’s been reported that a few people were arrested while protesting this measure. Ultimately, the negative reaction to this restriction showed that people should get to decide whether an undergarment is safe or not.
#5: Marmite, Ovaltine & Vegemite
These items are certainly an acquired taste. Marmite and Vegemite are dark, sticky food spreads that can be salty and might taste like bouillon cubes. Ovaltine is a milk flavoring made from malt extract, sugar, and whey. Unfortunately, all three products were heavily believed to be banned from sale in Denmark. Not because anyone thought they were disgusting, but rather because the country prohibits the sale of food items fortified with additional vitamins. After rumors about the product bans...spread, Denmark’s Food and Veterinary Administration weighed in on the subject. Apparently, the foods could be sold if the respective companies applied for proper marketing permits. A failure to follow Denmark’s rules caused consumers to scramble for replacements when the products were first removed in 2011.
#4: High Heels
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These shoes are a popular luxury item, but you won’t see anyone wearing them at ancient Greek tourist sites. Although some might avoid wearing high heels while walking the Acropolis, there were apparently quite a few people who went for it. Back in 2009, Greek authorities banned high heels from the country’s ancient sites over concerns for the physical integrity of the historic locations. According to the director of Greek Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, “visitors must wear shoes that do not wound the monuments.” This unusual ban left us with one question: exactly how much damage did heeled shoes actually cause to these historical sites by themselves?
#3: Chewing Gum
There was a strange time in Singapore where people couldn’t stop ruining things with gum. Some citizens stuck the chewy substance on the door sensors of a multi-billion train system, resulting in disruptions and costly repairs. Others drove up cleaning costs by leaving gum everywhere from mailboxes to keyholes. To save money and time, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong restricted the distribution, sale, and import of chewing gum. The ban remained mostly intact for years. However, there are a few notable exceptions. Pharmacists can write prescriptions for dental and nicotine gum. And fortunately, gum containing calcium lactate for the strengthening of tooth enamel is also allowed.
#2: Blue & Skinny Jeans
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Jeans have been a fashion mainstay in the Western world since the mid 19th century. Unfortunately, these comfortable pants aren’t welcome in every part of the world. In North Korea, blue jeans were banned. The main reason they’re said to have been targeted is because of their associations to western society. Similarly, skinny jeans were banned in 2021 owing to their popularity in capitalist countries. We’re willing to bet that most people around the world don’t think these pants are anything more than a fashion statement. However, these odd bans make wearing jeans feel like a treasonous act.
#1: Buckyballs & Zen Magnets
These small spheres of neodymium magnets are used for everything from artistic pursuits to children’s education. But the products have gone through recalls because people have sustained injuries after swallowing the small magnetic spheres. In the wake of these incidents, neodymium magnets are illegal to sell in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Although they were briefly banned in the United States, Zen Magnets successfully appealed the decision. The potential danger of these ingested items is definitely serious. However, it still feels a little silly to think that the trouble all began because people couldn’t stop swallowing them. If everyone would’ve just kept these toys out of their mouths, this strange and serious ban wouldn’t need to exist.
