The information in this post shouldn’t have come as a surprise. But when you see it in writing it really kind of smacks you in the face. It is the hardest thing to believe that the FDA would approve food and food additives that could bring harm to us. And yes, many of us eat these foods/additives without a second thought. We must be mindful of the things we ingest and how those things affect us; positive or negative.
Banned Foods
Citrus sodas - Some of the common citrus sodas contain brominated vegetable oil (BVO), a flame retardant. BVO is banned in the European Union. High levels of BVO could impact the thyroid negatively.
Certain Breakfast Cereals - Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is an additive used in some cereal products. Some animal studies have shown BHT to have carcinogenic effects, as well as a link to kidney and thyroid problems. This is why countries like Japan and the EU have reportedly banned this preservative.
Cow’s milk – Cows are injected with a growth hormone called rBGH (the recombinant bovine growth hormone). According to the American Cancer Society, rBGH is a manmade product meant to increase how much milk cows produce. This growth hormone is fully banned in the EU and Canada.
Red dye #40- Red dye 40 is a synthetic food dye. This and other dyes have been linked to allergies, migraines, and mental disorders in children. Used in things like maraschino cherries which are banned in Austria, France, Finland, Norway, and the UK.
Chicken – Chlorine-washed chicken, a common practice in the US to kill bacteria, is banned in the European Union due to concerns over food safety. EU regulations focus on preventing contamination throughout the entire production process.
Beef – Pre-packaged beef has a filler called pink slime which is a meat by product prepared with ammonia gas. US beef is banned in the EU.
GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisms which are widely used in US food production. Several countries, including France, Germany, and Japan have imposed strict regulations or outright bans on GMO crops due to concerns over potential environmental and health risks. Some of the crops are papaya grown in Hawaii, soybean and sugar beet.
While the United States has robust food safety regulations, it's important to recognize that certain foods and additives allowed in the US face bans or restrictions in other countries due to concerns about health risks, environmental impacts, and consumer safety. Remember as Americans we have freedom of choice and when we know better, we do better.
Sources used for this article: Resources I used for the following list are Eat This Not That, the National Library of Medicine, McGill Office of Science and Society, and Dr. Bobby Price.
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