Complaining about the law is the unofficial American pastime, but things take a turn to the weird and wacky when it comes to the laws some people have made about food. Grab a sandwich, and enjoy this culinary craziness on your lunch break.
Related story Exclusive: Kristin & Jen of #IMOMSOHARD on Talking About Things No One Else Will Admit Out Loud
1. Something smells fishy
Image: Giphy
In Minnesota, a law dictates that men can’t do the horizontal hula with live fish. Not sure why it specifies only men and only live fish.
2. Don’t backpedal
Image: Giphy
In Marion, Ohio, it’s illegal to eat a doughnut while walking backward. Seems reasonable.
3. Drunk tank
Image: Giphy
Alaska prohibits both minors and moose from imbibing alcohol.
4. Dry ingredients only
Image: Giphy
In Maryland, it’s illegal to eat in the ocean. That totally explains sharknados.
5. Drinking difficulties
Image: Giphy
In Nigeria, it’s legal to get your drink on. You just can’t import or brew beer. But if it falls from the sky, by all means, imbibe.
6. No Tic Tac, no nookie
Image: Giphy
In the blessed town of Alexandria, Mississippi, it’s illegal for a man to have sex with his wife with onion, garlic or sardine breath. If his ladylove requests he brush his teeth, it’s not optional.
7. Mind your b’s and q’s
Image: Gifsoup
In Belgium, it’s legal to throw Brussels sprouts at tourists.
8. No seed spittin’
Image: Giphy
It may sound nice to enjoy a refreshing slice of watermelon on the beach, but don’t count on doing that in Rio Claro, Brazil, where these juicy red orbs are illegal.
9. Love by the pound
Image: Giphy
It used to be illegal in Idaho to give your best gal a box of chocolates weighing less than 50 pounds. That law being overturned is probably for the best.
10. Don’t spice it up
Image: Giphy
In Peru, chili sauce and other hot spices are banned from prison food to prevent its dangerous aphrodisiac effects.
11. Gotta bounce back
Image: Giphy
In Connecticut, it’s not really a pickle unless it bounces.
12. Soup for you?
Image: Giphy
If you’re a bar-owning Cornhusker, you should know you can’t sell beer unless you brew a kettle of soup at the same time.
13. Keep your hands to yourself
Image: Giphy
In Oklahoma, it’s not permissible to take a bite of another person’s hamburger. (That really should be a federal law.)
14. Non-lactose intolerant
Image: Giphy
Don’t move to Utah if you’re lactose intolerant. It’s illegal there to refuse to drink milk.
15. Don’t eat too fresh
Image: Giphy
In Massachusetts, it’s best to serve mourners footlongs than tea sandwiches, as you’re allowed no more than three sammies while attending a wake.
16. Don’t go nuts
Image: Giphy
In Boston, it’s illegal to eat peanuts in church. If you’ve ever been to Texas Roadhouse, that kind of makes sense.
17. Why did the chicken cross the road in Gainesville, Georgia?
Image: Giphy
To stand next to the guy with the fork. Since it’s illegal there to eat chicken with a fork, that’s definitely the smart move.
18. For here or to go?
Image: Giphy
For some reason, in Riverside, California, it’s illegal to walk down the street carrying your lunch at lunchtime (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
19. Abandon the bottle
Image: Giphy
In Concord, Massachusetts, it’s illegal to sell non-sparkling, non-flavored bottled water in plastic containers of less than 1 liter. Joggers beware.
20. The prank pizza job
Image: Giphy
You may think it’s funny to send an order of pizza, Chinese or other c.o.d. items to your unsuspecting pal or arch nemesis, but in Louisiana, that could cost you $500 and up to six months in the slammer.