Why Is Mexican Bologna Illegal In The US?

Of anything being trafficked from Mexico to the United States, bologna might not ring any bells as a possible cause for concern. And, yet, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has sometimes had its hands full with folks trying to sneak enormous chubs of prohibited deli meat across international lines. This is an issue that isn't nearly as humorous as it sounds, to hear their earnest commentary on the matter. Alongside ostensibly more troublesome contraband like prescription pills, exotic plants, and even wildlife, the import of bologna from Mexico into the U.S. is banned. Busts of trafficked bologna can be big news down in Texas, where the problematic pork product is being smuggled. When confiscated, the offending bologna is destroyed, usually by burning. Meat that otherwise would be sold for over $100 a roll goes up in flames, which must seem egregiously wasteful to the uninformed.

What's the problem, exactly? Can't folks source the best ingredients to make the deli-worthy bologna sandwich of their dreams? Apparently not, as there are concerns that Mexican bologna, not being held to the stringent food safety standards of the USDA, could carry diseases like foot-and-mouth or African swine fever, which can infect both humans and livestock populations north of the border. Pork, overall, can be a dangerous meat if you aren't exactly sure of its provenance and handling, being susceptible to more insidious diseases than other forms of animal protein.

The logical next question has a simple answer: yes, in the opinions of many folks, Mexican bologna is better than the American version. While the difference between bologna meat and mortadella in the United States can be a matter of pork content (mortadella has more), Mexican bologna is notably more "porky," with a stronger, more succulent flavor that's hard to pin down. The Mexican brand Chimex is particularly well-known, being redder and, to some, more delicious than the slices of meat you can pick up at your local stateside deli. Just like Tennessee rag bologna is its own spin on classic bologna, so is Mexican bologna a step up from the homogenized fare peddled by Oscar Meyer and other big conglomerates. While you can pick up gourmet versions of other deli meats that offer an elevated bite, there really isn't any "fancy" bologna option in America, a sad fact that can lead folks to sniff out black market meat.

This is the part where we tell you that, while culinary daring is a quality we generally admire, you should probably stay away from illegally imported Mexican bologna. Not only are you indirectly contributing to illicit activities, but, more significantly, you could be placing your health at risk. Even if the meat itself isn't infested with anything, when folks smuggle it into America, they may take risky shortcuts with refrigeration or storage. You surely don't want to risk food poisoning, let alone any of the scarier diseases that pork can carry.