Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel is being confiscated at the airport in Korea

Trader Joe’s signature Everything but the Bagel sesame seasoning blend may be a staple in the pantries of many American households, but travelers looking to share the popular topping with their relatives and friends in South Korea say they’re running into a sprinkling of trouble.

The product has been illegal there for two years, as poppy seeds are designated as a narcotic, according to Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Koreans on social media have recently been sharing accounts of a stricter approach at the airport.

At Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, one traveler posted a photo of a sign explicitly warning travelers about the Trader Joe’s seasoning. The sign includes a picture of the product, which has become popular worldwide thanks largely to social media.

The airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A representative told CNN that the country is cracking down on narcotic-related imports.

“Seed products with narcotic substances have always been banned from being brought into Korea. Recently, the customs offices have been strengthening crackdown on narcotic related items,” an airport representative told CNN.

The U.S. Embassy issued a warning on its website, too, saying, “Please note that food products containing poppy seeds, including popular bagel sesame seasoning blends, are considered illegal in Korea.”

A traveler said on X last month that authorities seized her Everything but the Bagel products when she entered the country.

“If you’re in the U.S., don’t buy this sesame seasoning from Trader Joe’s,” she said in an X post translated from Korean. “The ingredients contain poppy seeds, making you a drug holder when you enter Korea.”

“Crackers too,” she continued. “Everything will get taken away.”

A Korean travel blogger posted Monday on the Korean website Naver that she came back from a trip to the U.S. with 20 bottles of the seasoning, which contains sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic and onion and sea salt flakes and retails online for $1.99 for 2.3 ounces.

She intended to give them as gifts, but Incheon Airport customs flagged them and locked them up.

“I wondered what was going on, so I went to Incheon Airport customs, and there were already many people being inspected because of this product,” the traveler wrote. “There seems to be some confusion since it hasn’t been that long since the import ban was applied.”

Source : https://www.yahoo.com/news/trader-joes-everything-bagel-being-224345886.html

Comprehension

What is Trader Joe’s signature seasoning blend mentioned in the article?
Why is the seasoning blend illegal in South Korea?
How long has the seasoning blend been illegal in South Korea?
Where did a traveler post a photo warning about the seasoning?
What has the U.S. Embassy warned about on its website?
What happened to a traveler’s seasoning blend at Incheon International Airport?
What are the ingredients in the Everything but the Bagel seasoning blend?
What did a Korean travel blogger experience when she brought the seasoning back to South Korea?

Discussion

Why do you think poppy seeds are considered a narcotic in South Korea?
How might the import ban on the seasoning blend affect travelers from the U.S.?
What other products might be affected by similar bans in different countries?
How do you feel about customs regulations on food products when traveling?
What steps can travelers take to ensure they don’t bring illegal items into another country?
How important is it for travelers to be aware of the regulations in the countries they visit?
How do social media platforms influence the popularity of food products like the seasoning blend?
What would you do if you found out that a product you brought as a gift was illegal in another country?
How might cultural differences influence food regulations in different countries?
How can government warnings, like the one from the U.S. Embassy, help travelers?

Vocabulary

Staple - A main or important element of something.
Narcotic - A drug or other substance that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes.
Stricter - More severe or rigid in requirement or control.
Embassy - The official residence or offices of an ambassador.
Seize - To take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
Retails - Sells goods to the public in relatively small quantities for use or consumption.
Confusion - Lack of understanding; uncertainty.
Regulation - A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.