Ashley Hanson

Food Additives Banned in Europe but Legal in the United States Photo by​ ​Dan Gold​ on​ ​Unsplash American foods contain many additives that you won’t find in foods across Europe because the European Union banned them. They did so because certain additives have links to health problems and cancer. But why are they still available in the United States? The answer is simple; there’s a loophole. The Delaney Amendment was an amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1958. This act prohibited the further approval of food additives that had links to cancer, but it left an important loophole. This amendment only monitored additives used after its passing. Any additives approved before the amendment passed, whether or not they had cancer-causing links, are not regulated as food additives due to prior approval. In October of 2018, the Food and Drug Administration​ ​banned six artificial flavorings​. All six of these flavorings caused cancer in animals. While the FDA still insists that these flavorings don’t have risks for public health, they agreed to ban them after a lawsuit and petitions filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. However, there is a two-year grace period to remove these items from food. The following is a few ingredients you won’t find in European products but are available in American products. Azodicarbonamide ● Commonly found in packaged baked goods and pasta mix, this additive rapidly bleaches flour. It’s also popular for making plastic for yoga mats and sneakers. Azodicarbonamide​ ​has links​ to respiratory illnesses and asthma. The European Union banned it from foods and from any packaging that comes into direct contact with food. In the United States, you can find it in over​ ​500 products​. BHA and BHT ● BHA and BHT act as preservatives and flavor enhancers. They’re severely restricted and regulated throughout Europe. The United States put out a​ ​government report​ detailing various carcinogens, and it listed BHA as being “reasonably anticipated” for​ ​causing cancer​ in humans. BHT has mixed results. Brominated Vegetable Oil ● If you’ve had Mountain Dew, or if you’ve ever drunk sports drinks, you’ve had this additive. This additive helps stop ingredient separation. A​ ​spokeswoman​ for the Food and Drug Administration said this additive was safe in small amounts. However, it does contain​ ​bromine​. If you drink a lot of citrus-based soda or sports drinks, you could experience nerve issues, skin problems, and memory loss. Food Dyes ● The European Union hasn’t outright banned these dyes, but it requires any product that has them to carry a​ ​special label​ warning consumers of the risks.​ ​Dyes No 5, No 6, and Red Dye No 40​ fall into this group. They’re commonly found in icing, candy, cereal, ketchup, chocolate, mustard, and marshmallows. The FDA claims reactions to these dyes are rare, but it does admit that exposure can cause hives and itching. Olestra ● Olestra is a substitute fat commonly found in​ ​fat-free chips​. Canada and the United Kingdom banned this additive because it can reduce your body’s amount of fat-soluble vitamins. What’s more, it has links to causing gastrointestinal problems like cramps, anal leakage, and diarrhea. Potassium Bromate ● Popular in​ ​baked goods​, you can find this additive in cookies, buns, rolls, pizza dough, and any dough that has to rise prior to baking. It has links to being a​ ​carcinogen​ in humans, but it’s been in food since before the amendment passed in the 1950s. Brazil, Canada, and China also​ ​banned​ ​it. rBGH or rBST ● If you eat a lot of milk and yogurt, you could have had this growth hormone. It’s a common injection commercial farmers inject into cows to increase their milk production. It’s a​ ​growth hormone​ banned in Canada, the European Union, and Japan. This growth hormone can cause medical problems for the cows, and this can increase the antibiotic levels that seep into the milk. Additionally, it can increase the hormone IGF​ that has links to colon, prostate, and breast cancer. If you don’t make a point to read the ingredient list on your foods before you buy, you should start. You never know when you may find ingredients banned throughout Europe for their health risks. Avoid them if you can.