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It is very illegal. Like, violating the Geneva Conventions level illegal:

https://definitions.uslegal.com/b/booby-traps/

It's true that booby traps are not allowed by the Geneva convention but that convention only applies to conduct in a war. I'm curious what law applies in the US.

I imagine the castle doctrine would apply. Kevin McCallister could have justifiably killed the burglars in Home Alone. It was actually rather nice of him to just use non-lethal booby traps.

The Geneva part was a bit of a joke.

The laws vary by state, some allow you to use traps as long as they don't cause serious harm, while others don't let you use them at all. No state allows you to set a lethal booby trap.

Here is the California law about them: https://law.justia.com/codes/california/2005/pen/12355.html

A civilian booby trapping their lunch in a non-wartime setting is not a Geneva Conventions violation level of illegal.

The question was about booby traps on your property in general, not about food.

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