The United States boasts many of the most popular food companies in the world, but that doesn’t mean they are necessary good for human health in any way, shape or form.
Many U.S. products are chock full of ingredients that have been deemed harmful in independent studies including artificial colors, genetically engineered foods and foods made with GMO ingredients, foods made with BHT, a controversial flavor enhancer, and many more.
It’s not often that foods are banned here in the U.S., but overseas, many countries simply don’t tolerate certain additives in their food supply. Their focus is on protecting the consumer from these ingredients, rather than allowing a cheap profit to be made.
The following ten items are foods that are or have been banned overseas. All of them are highly likely to contain genetically engineered ingredients, which are banned throughout the continent of Europe, along with other ingredients that have led to bans in several countries.
Without further ado, here is the list:
1. Frosted Flakes, Honey Bunches of Oats, and Rice Krispies-
These breakfast cereals are made by Kellogg’s, a company that has been the subject of protests and boycotts in the U.S. due to its use of GMOs and other unnatural ingredients.
These three cereals in their American form are banned in Japan and the European Union because of the flavor enhancer BHT, which has been studied for its potential carcinogenic effects.
2. Stove Top Stuffing-
These Kraft products contain BHT and BHA, which have been linked to abnormal blood clotting.
The controversial preservatives are banned in the UK, Japan, and several European countries.
3. Drumsticks Frozen Dairy Desserts-
Nestlé Drumsticks are a popular treat to say the least. They grossed over $92 million in U.S. sales in 2021 according to Statista.com.
But these cones contain carrageenan, an ingredient linked to digestive distress and even cancer that has been limited in its use in the European Union.
4. Skittles-
These candies contain the artificial food dyes Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40. Foods that contain the dyes are banned in Norway and Austria completely, and banned for infant foods in the EU.
5. Gatorade-
Gatorade contains food dyes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. These artificial colors are banned for kids and infants in the EU, and must contain warning labels. They are also banned in Norway and Austria.
6. Pop Tarts-
These sugary breakfast tarts are made by Kellogg’s, and almost certainly contain GMO ingredients banned throughout the EU.
They also contain Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Red 40, which are partially banned in the EU.
7. Bread with Potassium Bromate-
If your bread has this ingredient, there’s a strong chance it is banned overseas yet still allowed in the States.
Potassium bromate is added as a dough strengthener that creates a higher rising action that reduces baking time. If your bread has a bright white color, it likely contains it. Potassium bromate is banned in Peru, the UK, Canada and many other countries.
8. Mountain Dew-
Mountain Dew used brominated vegetable oil (BVO) as an emulsifier. This ingredient is banned in Japan and the EU because it contains bromine, which is found in brominated flame retardants.
9. Arby’s Sourdough Breakfast Bread, Croissant and French Toast Sticks-
Arby’s uses azodicarbonamide as a dough conditioner. It is banned in Europe and was used by Subway until a campaign from blogger Vani Hari, aka the Food Babe, campaigned for its end in Subway breads.
10. Coffee Mate-
This product typically contains partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil. They are banned in Switzerland, Iceland, and Denmark among other countries. Trans fats were banned by the FDA in 2018 but still linger in our food supply because products produced before 2018 are still allowed to contain them.