Ban ingredients and chemicals that are toxic for our health and in our food such as the following:
Several chemicals and ingredients are legal in American food but are banned or restricted in other countries due to health concerns. Here are some of the key examples:
1. Potassium Bromate - A dough conditioner that makes bread rise higher, potassium bromate is banned in the EU, Canada, and China due to concerns it may be a carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as “possibly carcinogenic” to humans.
2. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) - Often used in citrus-flavored sodas to stabilize ingredients, BVO contains bromine, which can build up in the body and potentially cause health issues. It’s banned in the EU and Japan but is still allowed in the U.S.
3. Artificial Food Dyes - Dyes like Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, and Red No. 40 are widely used in the U.S. for coloring processed foods but are banned or require warning labels in the EU due to links to hyperactivity in children and possible carcinogenic effects.
4. rBGH and rBST - Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) and recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) are used in the U.S. to increase milk production in cows. They are banned in Canada, the EU, and Japan over concerns about animal welfare and potential links to cancer.
5. Azodicarbonamide (ADA) - Used as a dough conditioner in bread, ADA is also used in making yoga mats and shoe soles. The EU and Australia have banned it in food due to respiratory issues and concerns it could break down into a carcinogen when heated.
6. Propyl Paraben - A preservative found in baked goods and other foods, propyl paraben is banned in the EU as it can disrupt hormone function, potentially affecting fertility.
7. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) - These preservatives, found in chips, cereals, and gum, are banned in the EU and Japan because they may be carcinogenic.
8. Ractopamine - A feed additive used to promote leanness in pork, beef, and turkey, ractopamine is banned in over 160 countries, including China and the EU, due to potential cardiovascular and behavioral effects.
9. Olestra - A fat substitute found in some low-fat potato chips, olestra can cause digestive issues. It’s banned in the UK and Canada over health concerns, including its interference with the absorption of vitamins and nutrients.
10. Arsenic-Based Drugs - Used in poultry production to promote growth and improve pigmentation, arsenic-based drugs are banned in the EU. Chronic arsenic exposure has been linked to various cancers.
These ingredients highlight the differences in food safety regulations worldwide, with the U.S. often taking a more lenient approach, allowing them unless evidence shows a direct and significant risk to health. Other countries often take a precautionary approach, banning or restricting potentially harmful additives until they are proven safe.