In the United States, Everything but the Bagel seasoning is a favorite from Trader Joe's, known for the savory goodness it adds to foods from salmon to waffles. But in South Korea, the trendy topping is generating a different kind of buzz as fans realize it is actually contraband.
South Korea' s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has the bagel seasoning on its list of "hazardous foods purchased overseas;" in recent weeks, some South Koreans who have had it confiscated at the airport have warned other Trader Joe's aficionados about the consequences of importing it.
South Korean law classifies poppy seeds, an ingredient in the seasoning, as a narcotic, meaning possession is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of about $36,000. While punishment is rare, it seems those coming to the country will have to bring anything but Everything but the Bagel.
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