Top 12+ Banned Grocery Items That Were Once Everyday Staples

These once-common grocery items were pulled from shelves due to health risks, ingredient bans, or changing regulations.

Once found in pantries across the U.S., these food products were pulled off the market for safety or ethical reasons. They tell a story of evolving food standards and consumer protection. Here are 12 banned grocery items that used to be part of everyday American life.

1. Lawn Darts (Jarts)

Technically a toy, but often sold in grocery store seasonal aisles, these sharp projectiles caused numerous injuries. Their popularity soared in the '70s and '80s before fatal accidents led to a nationwide ban.

2. Kinder Surprise Eggs

These chocolate eggs with hidden toys were banned in the U.S. due to choking hazards. The embedded non-edible toy violated FDA rules against embedding foreign objects in food.

3. Artificial Red Dye No. 2

Used in countless candies and processed snacks, this synthetic dye was linked to cancer in lab rats. It was widely consumed until health concerns prompted a ban in 1976.

4. Trans Fat (Partially Hydrogenated Oils)

For decades, trans fats were in everything from margarine to microwave popcorn. Linked to heart disease, the FDA officially banned them in 2015 after years of warnings.

5. Ephedra Supplements

Marketed for weight loss and energy, these herbal supplements were once a grocery store and drugstore regular. After being tied to strokes and heart attacks, they were banned in 2004.

6. Rennet-Based Cheese from Unpasteurized Milk

Some imported soft cheeses, especially from Europe, were banned due to bacteria concerns. The FDA requires pasteurization for safety, especially for pregnant women and those with compromised immunity.

7. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

Used in citrus sodas like Mountain Dew to keep flavor evenly distributed, BVO was linked to nervous system issues. It was gradually phased out and banned in multiple countries, with the U.S. finally catching up.

8. Sassafras Oil

Once a main flavoring in root beer, this natural oil was banned due to safrole, a compound found to cause cancer in lab animals. Sassafras tea and extracts were once common in health sections.

9. Cyclamate Artificial Sweetener

Cyclamate was used in diet sodas and sugar-free products until it was banned in 1969 after being linked to bladder cancer in animals. Despite its approval in dozens of other countries, the U.S. kept it off the market.

10. Chinese-imported Baby Formula

In 2008, melamine-tainted formula from China caused kidney issues in infants, prompting a U.S. ban. The scandal rocked global supply chains and reinforced strict FDA import standards. While safe options exist domestically, trust took a major hit.

11. Pinks Slime in Ground Beef

Though technically legal, this ammonia-treated filler sparked public outrage after exposure in media reports. Major grocery chains pulled it from shelves due to backlash. Once used to stretch meat supplies cheaply, now it's viewed with suspicion.

12. Foie Gras (in select states)

While still legal in many areas, foie gras has been banned in California and other regions due to animal cruelty concerns. This delicacy, made from force-fed duck liver, was once a gourmet item in upscale grocery stores.