Lisa O
Have you ever felt like there’s a new danger popping up every day? From ultra-processed snacks to alcohol and even roasted coffee—it seems like everything we eat might lead to some serious illnesses. Despite this, many harmful foods are still widely available in the American market. It’s up to us to spot these unhealthy options and avoid them. Here is a list of 30 American foods that are banned in other countries.
Milk: Banned in Many Countries for Harmful Hormones
Although rBST is becoming less common in the U.S., some dairy farms still use it to boost milk production. This hormone has been linked to some very serious health issues like higher rates of mastitis in cows—which can lead to milk being contaminated with pus and antibiotics.
Mountain Dew: Banned for Flame Retardant Ingredient
Mountain Dew isn’t exactly known for being healthy, but it gets worse with brominated vegetable oil. This ingredient, used in American sodas for decades, is actually a flame retardant. It can cause skin problems, memory loss, and nerve issues. Even though Coca-Cola and PepsiCo promised to ditch it back in 2014, they haven’t followed through yet.
Coffee-Mate: Banned for Heart-Damaging Oils
Coffee-Mate might seem like a great coffee addition, but it’s banned in several countries. The reason? It contains hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oils linked to serious heart diseases. Although the U.S. banned these ingredients in 2018, there are still plenty of products out there that haven’t been pulled from shelves.
Rice: Banned for High Arsenic Levels
Arsenic, a naturally occurring toxic metal, is readily absorbed by plants, and rice is particularly prone to accumulating it. It is a recognized carcinogen and poses significant risks to human health, including potential harm to brain development in infants and children. In response to these concerns, European authorities have implemented strict regulations on the permissible levels of inorganic arsenic in rice and rice-based products to ensure consumer safety.
Ground Beef: Ammonia-Treated Additive Restricted
Pre-packaged ground beef might be handy, but it often contains an additive known as “pink slime” (lean finely textured beef), which is treated with ammonia gas or citric acid to kill bacteria. While considered safe in the U.S., this additive is effectively banned in the European Union and Canada due to restrictions on ammonia use in food processing.
Boxed Mac and Cheese: Banned for Harmful Food Dyes
Your favorite box of mac and cheese might contain synthetic food dyes like Yellow #5 and #6, which have been linked to hyperactivity in children, potential cancer risks, and allergic reactions. While some major brands have switched to natural colorants, these dyes are still used in some products. Austria, Norway, and other European countries have banned or severely restricted these dyes, and the European Union requires warning labels on products containing them.
Bread: Banned for Cancer-Linked Chemical
What’s the issue with bread these days? Potassium bromate is a chemical that some bakers use to improve dough strength and speed up the baking process. However, it’s been linked to significant health risks, including cancer, kidney damage, and nerve problems. Due to these risks, potassium bromate is banned in Canada, China, and the European Union.
Frozen Dinner: Banned for Toxic Ingredient
Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is a chemical used in various food products like bread, boxed pasta, packaged baked goods, and sometimes frozen dinners. It’s primarily used as a dough conditioner and flour-bleaching agent. However, ADA has raised health concerns because it can break down into compounds that may trigger asthma and other respiratory issues, particularly in occupational settings. Additionally, it’s known for its industrial use in products like yoga mats and sneaker soles.
Papaya, Soy, and Corn: Banned for Genetic Modifications
In the U.S., genetically modified foods (often called GMOs) are common, especially in crops like soy, corn, and papaya. Some countries, like Russia, have banned the cultivation of GMOs entirely. The European Union also has strict regulations, requiring rigorous safety assessments and labeling for any GMO foods, including those from the U.S.
Chicken: Banned in Some Regions for Arsenic and Chlorine Practices
While chicken is a staple in many diets in the U.S., it faces restrictions in other parts of the world. Historically, some U.S. chickens were fed arsenic-based drugs to promote growth and improve the appearance of the meat, but this practice has been largely discontinued due to health concerns. Additionally, U.S. poultry is often washed with chlorine to reduce bacterial contamination, a method that is banned in the European Union over food safety and quality concerns.
Pork: Banned for Drug That Alters Meat
Ractopamine is a drug used in some countries to produce leaner pork by boosting protein synthesis and reducing fat. While lean meat might sound appealing, ractopamine has raised health concerns, leading to its ban in many countries. These regions prohibit pork products from animals treated with ractopamine due to potential health risks associated with the drug’s residues in meat.
Salmon: Concerns About Artificial Color and Antibiotics
Farm-raised salmon are often given synthetic astaxanthin to achieve the pinkish-red color that consumers expect, and antibiotics are sometimes used to prevent disease in crowded farming conditions. While these practices are regulated and considered safe by authorities in many countries, they have raised concerns about food safety, leading to strict regulations in some regions.
American M&Ms: Concerns Over Food Dyes
M&Ms are popular worldwide, but the ingredients can vary depending on the country. In the U.S., M&Ms use Blue Dye #2, which is approved by the FDA and considered safe in the quantities used. While food dyes like Blue Dye #2 are used in American M&Ms, they are not banned in other countries, though some regions have stricter regulations or require warning labels for certain dyes.
Sugar Cane: Concerns Over Harmful Herbicide Use
Atrazine is a commonly used herbicide in the U.S., particularly in crops like sugar cane. While it is effective in weed control, atrazine has been linked to serious health and environmental concerns, including birth defects, tumors, and contamination of water supplies. Due to these risks, atrazine is banned in the European Union, but it remains widely used in U.S. agriculture.
Chewing Gum: Regulated for Cancer-Linked Preservative
While chewing gum is restricted in some countries for reasons like littering, the additive BHA—used to preserve freshness—has raised health concerns in others. BHA, which is found in various foods, including gum, has been linked to cancer in animal studies, leading to its regulation in countries like those in the European Union. However, chewing gum itself is not banned solely because of BHA.
Apples: Restricted for Chemical Coatings
The shiny appearance of apples is often due to a chemical coating designed to keep them fresh longer. One such chemical, Diphenylamine (DPA), is used in the U.S. but has been restricted in Europe due to concerns about its safety. The European Food Safety Authority has imposed strict limits on DPA because of the potential formation of harmful by-products, which could pose a cancer risk.
Fat-Free Snacks: Health Concerns with Olestra
Olestra was once seen as a revolutionary ingredient, allowing people to enjoy fat-free versions of their favorite snacks like potato chips and French fries. However, it soon became clear that Olestra wasn’t without its downsides. Fat substitutes can block the absorption of essential vitamins and cause digestive issues. As a result, some countries, like those in the European Union and Canada, chose not to approve Olestra.
Froot Loops: Subject to Regulation for Artificial Dyes
Froot Loops are known for their bright colors, which come from artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1. These dyes have raised health concerns, particularly regarding their impact on children’s behavior and potential effects on nerve-cell development. As a result, countries like Norway, Finland, France, Austria, and the U.K. have stricter regulations on these dyes, requiring warning labels or encouraging reformulations.
Artificial Blueberry: Regulated for Petroleum-Based Dye
Artificial blueberries, often found in processed foods, can contain synthetic dyes like Blue 1, derived from petroleum. These dyes have been linked to concerns about hyperactivity in children and other health issues, though the evidence is mixed. As a result, countries like Austria, Norway, Finland, France, and the U.K. regulate these dyes more strictly, often requiring warning labels or encouraging the use of natural alternatives.
Maraschino Cherries: Regulated for Cancer-Linked Red Dye
Red Dye #40, commonly found in maraschino cherries, grenadine, and cherry pie mix, is a synthetic food coloring that has raised health concerns, including potential links to hyperactivity and cancer. While not banned, this dye is tightly regulated in European countries like Finland, France, and Austria. Products containing Red 40 in these regions must carry a warning label due to potential health risks.
Chocolate Milk: Controversy Over Carrageenan
Many brands of chocolate milk and other processed foods contain carrageenan, a thickener derived from seaweed. While generally considered safe by regulatory bodies, some studies have raised concerns that carrageenan might cause gastrointestinal inflammation. However, there is no strong evidence linking carrageenan to serious diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
Arby’s Sourdough Breakfast Items: Controversial Chemical Under Scrutiny
Azodicarbonamide (ADA), a chemical used to whiten dough and improve its texture, is found in some baked goods, including those used in fast food. While the FDA still allows ADA in food products in the U.S., concerns over its potential health risks have led to reduced usage. In contrast, the European Union has banned ADA in food due to these concerns.
Gatorade: Regulated for Artificial Food Dyes
Gatorade contains artificial food dyes like Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, which give the drink its distinctive color. In the European Union, these dyes are regulated, and products containing them must carry warning labels about their potential effects on children’s behavior. Although not banned, these dyes face stricter scrutiny in Europe, and products with them may be subject to additional labeling requirements.
Lucky Charms: Regulated for Artificial Colors
Lucky Charms gets its colorful appearance from dyes like Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40, which have raised health concerns. In the European Union, these dyes must carry warning labels due to potential links to hyperactivity in children and allergic reactions in sensitive people.
Ritz Crackers: Reformulated for Trans Fat Regulations
Ritz Crackers, a popular brand from Nabisco, historically contained partially hydrogenated oils, a source of trans fats linked to serious health issues like heart disease. Due to these concerns, trans fats have been banned or heavily restricted in countries like Switzerland, Austria, Iceland, Norway, Hungary, and Denmark. As a result, products like Ritz Crackers are often reformulated to comply with these regulations, ensuring they meet the health standards in those regions.
Cheese: Banned in Many Countries for Hormone rBGH Use
Some countries avoid American dairy products, including cheese and milk, due to the use of the synthetic hormone rBGH, which is injected into cows to boost milk production. This hormone is banned in over 30 countries, including those in the European Union and Canada, because of concerns about its potential links to increased risks of cancers like colorectal, breast, and prostate cancer.
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix: Previously Contained Trans Fats, Now Reformulated
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix used to contain trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils, which are linked to serious health risks. Although the FDA has largely phased out trans fats in the U.S., and many companies have reformulated their products to remove these harmful ingredients, it’s always good to check the label. Countries like Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark have strict bans on trans fats, leading to the reformulation of products for these markets.
Pillsbury Pie Crust and Biscuits: Subject to Regulations for Additives
Pillsbury’s ready-made pie crust and biscuits have historically contained additives like BHA, BHT, and trans fats, which have raised health concerns. BHA and BHT used to preserve freshness, are regulated in the European Union and Japan due to potential health risks, including cancer and effects on blood clotting. Trans fats, found in some older formulations of Pillsbury biscuits, are linked to heart disease and have been phased out in many countries.
High Fructose Corn Syrup: Used Less in Europe Due to Health Concerns
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is widely used in the U.S. but has been linked to health issues like obesity and Type 2 diabetes. While HFCS is not banned in the U.K. or Europe, its usage is lower due to previous production quotas, consumer preferences, and public health efforts aimed at reducing sugar intake. Some European countries have implemented taxes on sugary drinks, which indirectly discourage the use of HFCS in food products.