9 American Foods That Have Been Banned in Other Countries
No one else is eating them, why the hell are we?
You want to believe you can put your trust in anything the FDA approves, but that's not necessarily true. The following foods are commonly eaten in America (seriously—probably on a daily basis, too), but have been outlawed in other countries due to their toxicity to humans. If you're eating anything on this list, it might be time to rethink your diet.
Artificial Food Dyes
Where it's found: Cereals, baked goods, candy, sports drinks, soda, macaroni and cheese, and more
Why it's bad: Dyes might make your food look pretty, but they're made from chemicals derived from petroleum, and in case you didn't know, that's also used to make gasoline, diesel, and tar. If it fuels your car, it shouldn't fuel you.
Farmed Salmon
Why it's bad: If you're doubling up your salmon intake because of all the amazing health benefits of those omega-3 fatty acids, you need to consider if you're buying wild-caught or farm-raised. Farmed salmon are raised on an unnatural diet of grains, antibiotics, and other drugs, leaving the fish with gray flesh, which is then pinkened with synthetic astaxanthin made from petrochemicals.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
Where it's found: Sports drinks and citrus flavored soda
Why it's bad: The main ingredient is a poisonous chemical that is toxic and corrosive to the body, having been linked to organ system damage, birth defects, schizophrenia, and more (if those weren't terrifying enough).
Olestra
Where it's found: Fat-free potato chips and French fries
Why it's bad: Lower calorie counts aren't always worth it when the product is made with cooking oil substitute Olestra, which inhibits your bodys ability to absorb vitamins.
Azodicarbonamide
Where it's found: Frozen dinners, boxed pasta, packaged baked goods, various breads
Why it's bad: This chemical, which helps bleach flour quickly, is also used in foamed plastics, and has been linked to asthma.
Synthetic Hormones (rBGH and rBST)
Where it's found: Milk and dairy products
Why it's bad: You've probably heard about the dangers of synthetic hormones by now, so it's borderline insane that they're still legal in the United States. Cows treated with them can become infertile and develop inflamed udders, so if we think humans are immune to the effects, we're wrong. The hormones have been linked to breast, colon, and prostate cancer, so it's definitely not something to mess around with
BHA & BHT
Where it's found: Cereal, gum, butter, meat, mixed nuts
Why it's bad: They help keep food from becoming rancid, which is good in theory, but these chemicals have been proven to cause cancer in rats, and the risk of causing cancer in humans is not one worth taking
Arsenic
Where it's found: Poultry
Why it's bad: Arsenic in chicken feed promotes growth and boosts pigmentation, which in turn makes the chicken flesh look much more pink (and probably appear healthier), but it's anything but. Arsenic is classified as a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, so eat at your own risk.
Potassium Bromate
Where it's found: Wraps, rolls, flatbread, bagel chips, breadcrumbs
Why it's bad: Made with the same harmful chemical as brominated vegetable oil, brominated flour helps with decreasing baking time and cost, but is the convenience worth the risk of kidney damage, cancer, and nervous system damage?
Sienna is a Deputy Editor at Hearst, where she oversees the commerce team's coverage of wellness, home, tech, fashion, parenting, and more. She lives in California with her husband and two littles.
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