food ingredients banned in other countries but legal in america
Food Ingredients Banned in Other Countries But Legal in America
We all love our Kool-Aid and chips, but these tasty delights have chemicals in them that are banned for consumption and usage in a number of countries around the world while being legal in the US. This Buzzle article lists out some food ingredients that are allowed in America but banned elsewhere.
Difference between Kraft's US Mac & Cheese and Kraft's UK Mac & Cheese?
The one sold in UK is free of artificial food coloring, as the substance is banned in the country.
Every time we open a packet of Skittles or order a portion of fries, do we ever think about the ingredients in it that are actually wreaking havoc with our body? Some ingredients in our favorite food are carcinogenic, cause nervous and digestive problems, and also lead to allergic reactions. By eating such food items, we are making ourselves walking targets to health problems.
Some countries in Europe have banned many ingredients that are the cause of health issues, so as to keep their population in the best of health. The food authorities in these countries have made sure that the food products being distributed in the markets are free from toxic chemicals that can affect the well-being of their citizens. Unfortunately, the US still allows the usage of certain chemicals as food additives. Many consumers in the US are unknowingly consuming these ingredients and aren't properly warned of the health concerns that could arise.
Artificial Food Coloring
We all love our sugar delights, especially those that are colored. But little do we know that the coloring used in these multicolored treats is harmful for our health. These foodstuff contain artificial food coloring, which are derived from petroleum, coal, and tar. Not all food colors are allowed in the US, but those that are approved are Blue No. 1 - Brilliant Blue FCF (E133), Blue No. 2 - Indigotine (E132), Green No. 3 - Fast Green FCF (E143), Red No. 40 - Allura Red AC (E129), Red No. 3 - Erythrosine (E127), Yellow No. 5 - Tartrazine (E102), and Yellow No. 6 - Sunset Yellow FCF (E110). There is a dispute about their side effects, but excessive consumption of these coloring agents has been linked to nerve cell deterioration, cancer of the brain, pancreas damage, etc.
Azodicarbonamide
This section is for those who live alone and survive on packed, ready-to-eat meals. The funny thing is, this additive is not a food additive. It is added to the plastic packaging that the food is packed in. So, if this chemical is not added in the food, why is it banned? Well, it is banned in many countries because it is used in the production of glass jars and plastic containers. Now, when these are heated during cooking or sterilization, azodicarbonamide decomposes into semicarbazide (SEM), which is potentially risky if consumed. In animal studies, SEM has shown weak carcinogenic activity at high doses.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
We all love our aerated and energy drinks, don't we? They quench our thirst and are an amazing accompaniment to our liquor. Unfortunately, these drinks have brominated vegetable oil, which is bromine mixed with vegetable oil. The flavoring that has to be added, especially the citrus ones, are oil-based. Hence, they are mixed with brominated vegetable oil so that they mix properly in the drink and do not float towards the top. There are certain harmful effects if this substance is consumed in excess (2 to 4 liters daily), like headaches, loss of muscle coordination, fatigue, kidney problems, etc.
BHA and BHT Preservatives
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are added to foodstuff to increase their shelf life, by preventing the oil in the products from oxidizing. There is a controversy surrounding these two compounds, as it has been researched that BHA has carcinogenic properties, whereas BHT has anticancerous properties. Since there is insufficient data surrounding this whole argument on whether these two preservatives are good for consumption or not, all we can do is try to eat food with natural preservatives to stay on the safer side.
Canthaxanthin
Who doesn't love to eat an amazing dish made from fresh, pink salmon? We all do! But do we know where salmon gets its pink color from? Wild salmon flesh is naturally pink due to its rich diet that has anthaxanthin, which is found in small krill and shellfish. This carotenoid (anthaxanthin) is completely natural and good for health. But farmed salmon unfortunately does not have the privilege to eat such a rich meal, and it is therefore, gray in color. Farmed salmon is fed pellets infused with canthaxanthin (which is an artificial carotenoid) to impart a pinkish coloring to its flesh. Excessive consumption of farmed salmon causes pigment collection on the retina, which can damage the eyesight.
Genetically Engineered Papaya
Hawaiian papayas were genetically modified to withstand the ringspot virus, which is known to be a complete crop killer. Although this papaya is fortified to resist this virus and survive droughts and floods, it has been found to be harmful. Numerous experiments that were conducted on animals say that after consumption of this fruit, the lab specimens suffered from bleeding ulcers, kidney and liver disease, intestinal damage, and other health conditions.
Olestra
If you are on a diet and are craving for some chips, choose the normal ones and not the fat-free ones. Why? Because the fat-free varieties have traces of olestra, a.k.a olean in them. What does this chemical do? It obstructs the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B12, etc. Excessive consumption of fat-free chips can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other digestive problems.
Potassium Bromate
Potassium bromate is a chemical compound that is added in very small quantities to the flour while preparing the dough. It is added so that the dough rises fast, thus cutting down on the production time. Excessive consumption of this is linked to kidney and nervous system problems. Potassium bromate is carcinogenic to rats and is likely to be carcinogenic to humans as well, but due to lack of data, the US Environmental Protection Agency has classified this compound as a potential human carcinogenic.
Ractopamine
The next time you buy lean meat, think twice, because if it is bred in the US, then there are chances of it containing ractopamine, which is a drug given to animals in their feed to increase muscle fiber size. If humans consume this drug, there are chances of them experiencing hyperactivity, muscle deterioration, and behavioral changes. It is advised that those with cardiovascular problems should steer clear of this chemical, as it may have adverse effects on them.
Roxarsone
Ever wondered why farm-bred chicken and pork are so plump and juicy? It's because of the chemical called roxarsone that is added in their feed to make them gain weight and kill the Coccidia parasites found in the gut of these animals. Why is it dangerous to consume? This chemical is an arsenical drug, i.e., this compound contains arsenic, which is poisonous to humans. Prolonged consumption of roxarsone may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in the hands and feet, partial paralysis, blindness, and cancer of the bladder, lungs, kidney, skin, liver, and prostate.
Synthetic Growth Hormones
There is a big confusion about the synthetic growth hormone given to cows to increase their milk production. The confusion is regarding rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) and rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin), which are actually one and the same. The consumption of this growth hormone by cows caused birth defects in newborn calves and led the cows to develop a bacterial infection called mastitis in their udders. The milk produced by cows treated with rBGH is said to contain higher levels of IGF-1 and BST. There have been some studies which state that IGF-1 may be linked to an increased risk of cancer.
With all the arguments and disputes regarding what food is good and what is not, it is very difficult to eat what you love. Everyone wants to remain healthy, so it is best to cut down on all the unhealthy food substances. If you talk to any doctor, they will say that eat whatever your body permits you to eat, and stay healthy by exercising well.