51 Famous Things You Wouldn’t Think Were Banned In The U.S.

Like it? Share it!

Facebook

Pinterest

Reddit

Twitter

Google+

Ortolan

Atlas Obscura

The Ortolan is a tiny songbird that hails from France. It’s so tiny that it’s said to be no bigger than a human thumb. They are also considered a delicacy due to their very rich yet subtle hazelnut flavor, which in olden times, was only served to royalty. But since 1999, the U.S. decided to ban them mostly because of the way they are prepared for eating. A CNBC report shared that these tiny birds are kept in complete darkness for weeks, or even blinded, while they are made to eat so much fruit and grain until they become incredibly fat. This is when they are placed inside Armagnac brandy while still alive until they drown to death, marinating them completely before they are roasted for eating.