- Two US couples caught trying to bring suitcases filled to the brim with Fruit Roll-Ups into Israel.
- 650 pounds of the candy has been seized at Ben Gurion airport, Tel-Aviv, local news reported.
At least two US couples were caught trying to smuggle copious amounts of Fruit Roll-Ups into Israel earlier this week, as the country faces a shortage almost certainly related to a viral TikTok trend that involves filling the sugary snack with ice cream.
One couple was caught with 375 pounds of the candy, while a second couple was found with 72 pounds of Fruit Roll-Ups in their suitcases, Food & Wine Magazine reported.
A video posted on social media appears to show officials at Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, inspecting multiple suitcases filled to the brim with Fruit Roll-Ups, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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In a mix of Hebrew and English, a voice off camera explains that he is bringing the Fruit Roll-Ups for his family in the country. "It has something to do with ice cream," the voice says, according to The Times of Israel. The country's tax authority said the candy was later confiscated at the airport, the news outlet reported.
The Israeli Tax Authority did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Over the past week, a total of more than 650 pounds of the candy has been seized by Israeli customs.
It is very difficult to find Fruit Roll-Ups in Israel at the moment, as a Haaretz journalist recently reported that he went to multiple supermarkets and candy stores in Tel Aviv and was unable to find a single Fruit Roll-Up. "This is what the consumer frenzy looks like," he wrote.
Because many retailers are reportedly sold out, the cost of the coveted candy is being considerably driven up. At the moment, individually-wrapped Fruit Roll-Ups are being sold in Israel for more than $5 or $6 each, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. In the US, a box of 10 Fruit Roll-Ups usually costs about $3.
Earlier this week, the viral TikTok fad of filling Fruit-Roll Ups with ice cream even prompted Israel's Health Ministry to warn about the snack, saying people should think twice about that amount of sugar consumption.
The Ministry suggested cucumber rolls as a healthier alternative, per The Times of Israel.