Samosas Banned In Somalia

You thought it was just a delicious pastry-based snack, but it seems the humble samosa has different connotations to a group of extremist fighters in Somalia.

The distinctive triangular-shaped food has been banned by the Al-Shabaab group in war-torn Somalia, reportedly for bearing too much of a resemblence to the Christian Holy Trinity. The group announced the ruling last week, conveying the instruction via loudspeakers mounted on vehicles. It is unknown if tricycles, roadsigns and the Lord of the Rings trilogy will escape the purge on three-based objects.

However, this is not the first time that a foodstuff has been banned; here's a few more controversial cuisines...

1. Japanese Puffer Fish

This food is banned purely for your own good, as many of the fish's internal organs and other body parts contain large amounts of tetrodotoxin, a deadly poison that destroys nerve tissue. Banned throughout the EU, but still considered a delicacy in Korea and Japan, think carefully before you eat; Homer Simpson may have survived eating it, but you probably won't.

2. Foie Gras

Banned in the EU, Turkey and Israel, this goose or duck liver-based delicacy is outlawed on grounds of animal cruelty. Which, considering the technique used to create the fatty consistency involves force-feeding the animal to artificially enlarge its liver, doesn't seem too outrageous. If you're still keen, however, France and China are big fans of this dish.

3. Blackened Redfish

In an event that Gordon Ramsey can only dream of, the eating of this fish was banned after a redfish recipe by Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans in the 1980s became so popular that the animal was driven to the verge of extinction. Strict controls were implemented to safeguard its future and, to this day, the eating of the fish is banned in all US states, bar Mississippi.

Images: Rex