A is playing out in the real world on the other side of the Pacific. On July 9, South Korea’s MBC News happening at airports involving an in-demand stateside spice: Trader Joe’s . The über-popular American seasoning includes a combination of white and black sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, poppy seeds and sea salt flakes.
It’s gained a cult-like following that’s spawned copycat recipes, more than one and even . According to MBC, people who have tried to bring the shakers into South Korea have had their TJ’s haul confiscated by border authorities, and it’s all because of the poppy seeds. “Please note that food products containing poppy seeds, including popular bagel sesame seasoning blends, are considered illegal in Korea,” a warning on the U.
S. Embassy & Consulate in the Republic of Korea travel guidelines. The blend has been banned in South Korea since Jan.
2022, according to a notice on Korea’s Ministry of Food Safety website. Still, it’s seen a recent uptick in popularity from who are excited to bring a little piece of America back home. Representatives for Trader Joe’s did not immediately respond to TODAY.
com’s request for comment. According to the U.S.
Embassy, attempting to travel into Korea with contraband products could spur a “criminal investigation resulting in fines, entry and exit bans, or even imprisonment.” The Embassy also recommends people traveling from the U.S.
to Korea refer to the republic’s for more guidance. Repres.
