Are forks illegal in Canada? The answer will surprise you.

Are forks illegal in Canada? A friend of mine asked me this question over the weekend, and he looked baffled as he inquired.

Well, he had probably seen the news and rumor floating around TikTok and Twitter that cutleries were banned in Canada.

According to these TikTok creators, they claimed that the unavailability of forks to purchase online was as a result of “The Great Canadian Fork Fight.”

Whether this is true or just a fallacy, we’ll soon find out in this article.

Are forks banned in Canada?

No hard feeling, but anyone would be confused as to the feasibility of this new policy. Anyways, this article will unveil what actually happened.

So if you would ask me, are forks illegal in Canada? I’ll gladly answer both in the negative and in the affirmative.

Yes, forks are illegal in Canada. And No, forks are legal in Canada. There are some solid explanations to these answers.

Brief history of the Canadian Law Prohibiting Forks

Historically, there was a Canadian Law that was promulgated in 1879 stating that a person can only eat using some specified utensils or their hands.

Anyone who found going against this law will be fined $200 CAD. This law is still in force (with a little twist) till today although not strictly enforced.

From the foregoing, it’s obvious that the use of utensils to eat in Canada is a long-standing convention, but the law barring the use of forks is fairly new.

On January 1, 1996, a new law came into force prohibiting eating with bare hands in public places in Canada. Meaning, eating with hands is illegal in Canada.

In the same year, it became illegal to use a fork to eat in public places other than your house or even carry it around with you.

As time passed by, this law was eased and no much attention was given to it again until recently.

Are forks legal in Canada?

You will recall that my answer to the question whether forks are legal or not in Canada were in two ways.

So in this section, we are going to consider how owning or using forks in Canada could be legal.

Owning or using a fork in Canada is legal. But you can only use it in a private setting. Let say in your house and not in public places.

In Canada, the most common type of forks used in Canada is carabiner-style forks. These forks can easily be converted into weapons.

As such, they can be used to cause serious bodily injuries. This, among other things is what the Canadian Government are trying to prevent.

Hence, using a fork in public is prohibited. Having said this, using of a fork to eat should be done privately in Canada rather than in public.

I’m sure this explanation is very clear and straightforward. After all, the possibility of using it to cause injury is very low at home.

Are forks illegal and banned in Canada?

Yes, Canadians are prohibited from using, owning, or moving around with forks in public places.

As strange and quirky as this rule may seem, don’t forget that it was made to protect the public interest.

A fork can easily be used as a weapon, and Canada has recorded several cases of a fork being used to cause serious body injuries.

On that note, forks are not allowed in public places since they are real threat to human safety.

If you will be visiting Canada any time soon, be sure to leave your forks behind. You may be arrested or fined for carrying a fork in Canada.

When did Canada finally ban the use of forks?

In 2015, the Canadian Government banned the use of forks totally in an attempt to protect the society and reduce pollution.

Many Canadian argued that forks are vital utensils and considered necessary, too, while eating.

The decision then was highly controversial and generated a lot of arguments and debate.

But upon all the arguments and debate, the Canadian Government stands by its decision.

The decision makers countered the people’s arguments stressing that forks are not always necessary as there are several other ways to eat food without forks.

Reasons why forks are illegal in Canada

Talking about the quirks and laws that are peculiar to the Canada jurisprudence, the law against the use of forks is one of them.

As you can see, the ban is only harsh and serious on any person using it in public places.

The reasons for this ban are, however, highlighted as follows:

1. Forks (most especially carabiner-style) are considered weapons in Canada and as such, illegal.
2. Carrying or moving around with a fork in Canada can be seen as a disorderly conduct.
3. Forks are considered illegal in Canada because they can be used to threaten or even stab someone to death.
4. If you are found moving around with a fork in Canada, you could be charged for unlawful possession of a weapon
5. Trading forks (whether online or offline) in Canada is also considered illegal.
6. Selling of forks in Canada will amount to an offence of weapon trafficking.
7. A fork can equally be used to commit theft, burglary or robbery as they can be used in place of a dangerous weapon.
8. It is possible to face severe penalties if you are caught using a fork in a crime.
9. Some prisons and correctional facilities in Canada see forks as a contraband item.
10. If you are found with a fork in prison, you are likely to face additional charges.

From the foregoing, one can be convinced that the Government decision on the ban is partially well taken.

Is it legal to eat with a fork in Canada?

This question has been answered along the line earlier on. Yes, you can eat with a fork in Canada but only in your house.

Conclusion

From the above analysis, you’ll agree that the question: are forks illegal in Canada cannot be answered in isolation?

It’s illegal to have or use it in public places but there’s no law prohibiting it from being used at home.