That Trader Joe's seasoning in your cabinet? It's banned in South Korea — and tourists are finding out the hard way

Food & DiningSouth Korea is seizing a famous Trader Joe’s seasoning from travelers at the border — what you need to know before you flyFind out which Trader Joe's seasoning will get confiscated internationally. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) (Associated Press)By EmilyAnn Jackman | ejackman@pennlive.comAdvance Local Express DeskIf you’re traveling to South Korea, be mindful of what Trader Joe’s seasonings you pack. That’s because South Korean police are blocking sales of Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel seasoning blend after tests detected morphine and codeine. South Korean police are targeting listings of the trendy item on a popular secondhand marketplace after authorities detected controlled substances in the product.The Mapo Police Station in Seoul identified listings for the seasoning on Karrot, a major secondhand marketplace, and worked with the company to block transactions involving the product. Karrot removed related listings beginning July 27. For tourists who scoured store shelves in the U.S. for the popular seasoning blend and bought it on trips there, the seasoning would be seized by the South Korean government upon returning to South Korea. The seasoning blend contains sesame seeds, garlic, onion, sea salt flakes and poppy seeds. An analysis by South Korea’s National Forensic Service found morphine and codeine in the product — both controlled substances under South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act. Now, travelers are prohibited from bringing the seasoning into South Korea. According to authorities, tourists were bringing the seasoning home as souvenirs, but South Koreans are barred from selling it or consuming it. Police said some sellers had brought the seasoning back from overseas trips before listing it for resale. Both buyers and sellers could face criminal charges for possessing or trading the product. Investigators believe many sellers were unaware the seasoning contained prohibited substances, according to Fox Business. Although poppy seeds do not naturally contain opium, they can become contaminated with opium alkaloids, including morphine and codeine, during harvesting. South Korea first began restricting the seasoning in 2022 over concerns related to the seasoning’s poppy-seed content. “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 police official said, according to The Korea Herald. “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.”Generative AI was used to draft this story, based on data provided by Fox Business. It was reviewed and edited by Advance Local.EmilyAnn Jackman is a trending reporter for Advance Local Media. She handles the top trending topics on social media, as well as breaking stories in food news, pop culture and entertainment news that goes viral...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.