Your Trader Joe’s seasoning could be confiscated for contraband.
Move over Trader Joe’s tote bags, because there’s a trendy new item reselling overseas, but it could get you in tons of trouble. South Koreans have been scouring store shelves, buying up the cult-favorite Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend on trips to the US.
But once the tourists return home, the popular seasoning is being seized by the government.
The Korea police have recently banned the blend from secondhand online marketplaces after the country said it contained narcotic substances, according to The Korea Herald. The Mapo Police Station in Seoul said the item was being sold on a huge trading platform called Karrot where police worked with the business to start blocking sales.
According to police, tourists were bringing the beloved bagel seasoning home as souvenirs as Americans add a dusting to a slew of foods like avocado toast, eggs, cream cheese, roasted vegetables, popcorn and more. But South Koreans are barred from selling, or enjoying it, after the spice tested positive for morphine and codeine.
The National Forensic Service found the seasoning has poppy seeds, which naturally contain trace amounts of morphine and codeine and are considered a controlled narcotic substance in Korea. This means if buyers or sellers are caught with it, they are likely subject to criminal punishment.
“Even if a product is legally sold overseas, it may be classified as a narcotic substance or a prohibited import in Korea, so particular caution is required,” a Mapo police station official told The Korea Herald.
Investigators reported some tourists bringing it back from America were unaware the delicious seasoning contained controlled substances, while others did know. Customers trying to purchase the product now will be met with “Transaction Restricted” messages on Karrot, one of South Korea’s largest online platforms.
Additionally, the item has been officially removed from websites in the country.
“Consumers should check the relevant regulations before selling or purchasing food products brought in from abroad. We will respond strictly if products containing narcotic substances are found to be circulating,” South Korean Police added.
The Post has reached out to Trader Joe’s for comment on the seasoning’s newfound ban but has not yet heard back.
Trader Joe’s rolled out the viral seasoning back in 2017, and is made of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, black sesame seeds and sea salt. After being introduced, the item immediately flew off shelves as foodies poured the savory, all-purpose topping onto nearly everything from meats to plain cottage cheese.
Despite South Korea adding the ban in 2022, just five years after its inception, it became a major point of contention after a traveler got their bottle confiscated at Incheon International Airport, the country’s major international airport.
It’s reported that before the ban, folks were reselling bottles of the bagel seasoning on Karrot for up to 8,000 won, which equates to about $5.62. In the US, the 2.3-ounce glass jar typically goes for $1.99.
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