10 American Foods that are Banned in Other Countries

[ASForum]

http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/11944-banned-foods.html

 

Author

Dr. Mercola

Americans are slowly waking up to the sad fact that much of the food sold in the US is far inferior to the same foods sold in other nations. In fact, many of the foods you eat are BANNED in other countries.

Here, I’ll review 10 American foods that are banned elsewhere.

Seeing how the overall health of Americans is so much lower than other industrialized countries, you can’t help but wonder whether toxic foods such as these might play a role in our skyrocketing disease rates.

BANNED FOODS #1: Farm-Raised Salmon

 

If you want to maximize health benefits from fish, you want to steer clear of farmed fish, particularly farmed salmon fed dangerous chemicals. Wild salmon gets its bright pinkish-red color from natural carotenoids in their diet. Farmed salmon, on the other hand, are raised on a wholly unnatural diet of grains (including genetically engineered varieties), plus a concoction of antibiotics and other drugs and chemicals not shown to be safe for humans.

This diet leaves the fish with unappetizing grayish flesh so to compensate, they’re fed synthetic astaxanthin made from petrochemicals, which has not been approved for human consumption and has well known toxicities. According to the featured article, some studies suggest it can potentially damage your eyesight. More details are available in yesterday’s article.

Where it’s banned: Australia and New Zealand

How can you tell whether a salmon is wild or farm-raised? The flesh of wild sockeye salmon is bright red, courtesy of its natural astaxanthin content. It’s also very lean, so the fat marks, those white stripes you see in the meat, are very thin. If the fish is pale pink with wide fat marks, the salmon is farmed.

Avoid Atlantic salmon, as typically salmon labeled “Atlantic Salmon†currently comes from fish farms. The two designations you want to look for are: “Alaskan salmon,†and “sockeye salmon,†as Alaskan sockeye is not allowed to be farmed. Please realize that the vast majority of all salmon sold in restaurants is farm raised.

So canned salmon labeled “Alaskan Salmon†is a good bet, and if you find sockeye salmon, it’s bound to be wild. Again, you can tell sockeye salmon from other salmon by its color; its flesh is bright red opposed to pink, courtesy of its superior astaxanthin content. Sockeye salmon actually has one of the highest concentrations of astaxanthin of any food.

 

 

 

#2: Genetically Engineered Papaya

 

Most Hawaiian papaya is nowgenetically engineered to be resistant to ringspot virus. Mounting research now shows that animals fed genetically engineered foods, such as corn and soy, suffer a wide range of maladies, including intestinal damage, multiple-organ damage, massive tumors, birth defects, premature death, and near complete sterility by the third generation of offspring. Unfortunately, the gigantic human lab experiment is only about 10 years old, so we are likely decades away from tabulating the human casualties.

Where it’s banned: The European Union

Unfortunately, it’s clear that the US government is not in a position to make reasonable and responsible decisions related to genetically engineered foods at this point, when you consider the fact that the Obama administration has placed former Monsanto attorney and Vice President, Michael Taylor, in charge of US food safety, and serious conflicts of interest even reign supreme within the US Supreme Court! That’s right. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is also a former Monsanto attorney, but refuses to acknowledge any conflict of interest.

#3: Ractopamine-Tainted Meat

 

The beta agonist drug ractopamine (a repartitioning agent that increases protein synthesis) was recruited for livestock use when researchers found that the drug, used in asthma, made mice more muscular. This reduces the overall fat content of the meat. Ractopamine is currently used in about 45 percent of US pigs, 30 percent of ration-fed cattle, and an unknown percentage of turkeys are pumped full of this drug in the days leading up to slaughter. Up to 20 percent of ractopamine remains in the meat you buy from the supermarket, according to veterinarian Michael W. Fox.

Where it’s banned: 160 countries across Europe, Russia, mainland China and Republic of China (Taiwan)

Since 1998, more than 1,700 people have been “poisoned†from eating pigs fed the drug, and ractopamine is banned from use in food animals in no less than 160 different countries due to its harmful health effects! Effective February 11, 2013, Russia issued a ban on US meat imports, slated to last until the US agrees to certify that the meat is ractopamine-free. At present, the US does not even test for the presence of this drug in meats sold. In animals, ractopamine is linked to reductions in reproductive function, increase of mastitis in dairy herds, and increased death and disability. It’s also known to affect the human cardiovascular system, and is thought to be responsible for hyperactivity, and may cause chromosomal abnormalities and behavioral changes.

Read about the benefits of grass-fed beef compared to standard feed lot beef.

 

#4: Flame Retardant Drinks

 

If you live in the US and drink Mountain Dew and some other citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks, then you are also getting a dose of a synthetic chemical called brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which was originally patented by chemical companies as a flame retardant.

BVO has been shown to bioaccumulate in human tissue and breast milk, and animal studies have found it causes reproductive and behavioral problems in large doses. Bromine is a central nervous system depressant, and a common endocrine disruptor. It’s part of the halide family, a group of elements that includes fluorine, chlorine and iodine. When ingested, bromine competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. This can lead to iodine deficiency, which can have a very detrimental impact on your health. Bromine toxicity can manifest as skin rashes, acne, loss of appetite, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Where it’s banned: Europe and Japan

According to the featured article:

“The FDA has flip-flopped on BVO’s safety originally classifying it as ‘generally recognized as safe’ but reversing that call now defining it as an ‘interim food additive’ a category reserved for possibly questionable substances used in food.â€

 

 

 

#5: Processed Foods Containing Artificial Food Colors and Dyes

 

 More than 3,000 food additives — preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients — are added to US foods, including infant foods and foods targeted to young children. Meanwhile, many of these are banned in other countries, based on research showing toxicity and hazardous health effects, especially with respect to adverse effects on children’s behavior. For example, as reported in the featured article:

“Boxed Mac & Cheese, cheddar flavored crackers, Jell-O and many kids’ cereals contain red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6 and/or blue 2, the most popularly-used dyes in the United States. Research has shown this rainbow of additives can cause behavioral problems as well as cancer, birth defects and other health problems in laboratory animals. Red 40 and yellow 6 are also suspected of causing an allergy-like hypersensitivity reaction in children. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that some dyes are also “contaminated with known carcinogens.â€

Where it’s banned: Norway and Austria. In 2009, the British government advised companies to stop using food dyes by the end of that year. The European Union also requires a warning notice on most foods containing dyes.

In countries where these food colors and dyes are banned, food companies like Kraft employ natural colorants instead, such as paprika extract, beetroot, and annatto. The food blogger and activist Vani Hari, better known as “Food Babe,†recently launched a Change.org petition2 asking Kraft to remove artificial dyes from American Mac & Cheese to protect American children from the well-known dangers of these dyes.

 

#6: Arsenic-Laced Chicken

 

Arsenic-based drugs are approved for use in animal feed in the US because they make animals grow quicker and make the meat appear pinker (i.e. “fresherâ€). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated these products are safe because they contain organic arsenic, which is less toxic than the other inorganic form, which is a known carcinogen.

Where it’s banned: The European Union

The problem is, scientific reports surfaced stating that the organic arsenic could transform into inorganic arsenic, which has been found in elevated levels in supermarket chickens. The inorganic arsenic also contaminates manure where it can eventually migrate into drinking water and may also be causing heightened arsenic levels in US rice.

In 2011, Pfizer announced it would voluntarily stop marketing its arsenic-based feed additive Roxarsone, but there are still several others on the market. Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the FDA calling for their removal from the market. In the European Union, meanwhile, arsenic-based compounds have never been approved as safe for animal feed.

#7: Bread with Potassium Bromate

 

You might not be aware of this, but nearly every time you eat bread in a restaurant or consume a hamburger or hotdog bun you are consuming bromide, as it is commonly used in flours. The use of potassium bromate as an additive to commercial breads and baked goods has been a huge contributor to bromide overload in Western cultures.

Where it’s banned: Canada, China and the EU

Bromated flour is “enriched†with potassium bromate. Commercial baking companies claim it makes the dough more elastic and better able to stand up to bread hooks. However, Pepperidge Farm and other successful companies manage to use only unbromated flour without any of these so-called “structural problems.†Studies have linked potassium bromate to kidney and nervous system damage, thyroid problems, gastrointestinal discomfort, and cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies potassium bromate as a possible carcinogen.

 

#8: Olestra/Olean

 

Olestra, aka Olean, created by Procter & Gamble, is a calorie- and cholesterol-free fat substitute used in fat-free snacks like chips and French fries. Three years ago, Time Magazine3 named it one of the worst 50 inventions ever, but that hasn’t stopped food companies from using it to satisfy people’s mistaken belief that a fat-free snack is a healthier snack. According to the featured article:

“Not only did a 2011 study from Purdue University conclude rats fed potato chips made with Olean gained weight, there have been several reports of adverse intestinal reactions to the fake fat including diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels. And because it interferes with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, the FDA requires these vitamins be added to any product made with Olean or olestra.â€

Where it’s banned: The UK and Canada

 

 

 

#9: Preservatives BHA and BHT

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are commonly used preservatives that can be found in breakfast cereal, nut mixes, chewing gum, butter spread, meat, dehydrated potatoes, and beer, just to name a few. BHA is known to cause cancer in rats, and may be a cancer-causing agent in humans as well. In fact, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program’s 2011 Report on Carcinogens, BHA “is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.†It may also trigger allergic reactions and hyperactivity, while BHT can cause organ system toxicity.

Where it’s banned: The UK doesn’t allow BHA in infant foods. BHA and BHT are also banned in parts of the European Union and Japan.

#10: Milk and Dairy Products Laced with rBGH

 

Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is the largest selling dairy animal drug in America. RBGH is a synthetic version of natural bovine somatotropin (BST), a hormone produced in cows’ pituitary glands. Monsanto developed the recombinant version from genetically engineered E. coli bacteria and markets it under the brand name “Posilac.â€

It’s injected into cows to increase milk production, but it is banned in at least 30 other nations because of its dangers to human health, which include an increased risk for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer by promoting conversion of normal tissue cells into cancerous ones. Non-organic dairy farms frequently have rBGH-injected cows that suffer at least 16 different adverse health conditions, including very high rates of mastitis that contaminate milk with pus and antibiotics.

Where it’s banned: Australia, New Zealand, Israel, EU and Canada

“According to the American Cancer Society, the increased use of antibiotics to treat this type of rBGH-induced inflammation ‘does promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but the extent to which these are transmitted to humans is unclear,’†the featured article states.

Many have tried to inform the public of the risks of using this hormone in dairy cows, but their attempts have been met with overwhelming opposition by the powerful dairy and pharmaceutical industries, and their government liaisons. In 1997, two Fox-affiliate investigative journalists, Jane Akre and Steve Wilson, attempted to air a program exposing the truth about the dangers of rBGH. Lawyers for Monsanto, a major advertiser with the Florida network, sent letters promising “dire consequences†if the story aired.

Despite decades of evidence about the dangers of rBGH, the FDA still maintains it’s safe for human consumption and ignores scientific evidence to the contrary. In 1999, the United Nations Safety Agency ruled unanimously not to endorse or set safety standards for rBGH milk, which has effectively resulted in an international ban on US milk.4 The Cancer Prevention Coalition, trying for years to get the use of rBGH by the dairy industry banned, resubmitted a petition to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, in January 2010.5 Although the FDA stubbornly sticks to its position that milk from rBGH-treated cows is no different than milk from untreated cows, this is just plain false and is not supported by science. The only way to avoid rBGH is to look for products labeled as “rBGH-free†or “No rBGH.â€

 

[3bears]

But it other countries doctors don't make so much money

[Christoph Pahl]

I miss an important point.  I once spent 2 weeks in the US, training some handstands, handstand pushups and the like in my hotel room. After 7 days I noticed a nice hop in strength which even grew in the second week. Something like 12 repetitions instead of 10, about twice the effect of taking creatine. I was pretty happy, but back in Europe, this was lost again in some weeks. And it took me years to understand it.

 

Training is good, but doping works faster - hormones in beef food are widely used in the US but banned in the EU.

[Kevin Conley]

Most of those are still in debate, and have not been proven harmful. I have looked into a few of them, only to see that farmed fish is not perfect, but slowly getting better. The risks heavily outweigh the risks as far as we know from studies (up till now), as most of us will die of CVD, so omega 3s would do some good. The low levels of harmful substances are not likely to do harm. Of course....I wouldn't eat it if I could pay for wild.

 

As for GMO, I still have yet so see a study showing they are bad. If anyone has any peer-reviewed links, please post!!

[Keilani Gutierrez]

likewise. i've taken an active stance in really getting to know my food and im starting to see that with a little bit of active thinking, some foods can be made safe and others, you just have to forget about them...except for poptarts. those i just can't let go.

[FREDERIC DUPONT]

[Sean Whitley]

I spent a little time in the USA this year and was always surprised when I looked at the ingredients list for anything. Salads, bread, most things I checked had sugar and high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredients on the list, and usually artificial colours. Why does salad need corn syrup and artificial colours?! Unfortunately, as I was travelling around I couldn't cook properly, and I blame nearly two weeks of all that junk in my system for my first migraines in many years. It seemed to trigger a few other peoples migraines also

[Connor Davies]

I don't understand the american food system.  It seems to me like the FDA just gets bought out by major food companies, who love to cut corners and not get called out on it.  There's a lot of back and forth between running major corporations and running the FDA.  You don't even need to step down from the board of directors.  It's a system that's inherently corrupt.

 

Also, you treat your farmers worse than dirt.

[Bill Köhntopp]

if it helps, we in the EU, me in Germany are eating a lot of crap, too

it's normal to buy imitation cheese or meat consisting of many meat-parts glued together in a chemical way...UARGH!

[Josh Schmitter]

if it helps, we in the EU, me in Germany are eating a lot of crap, too

it's normal to buy imitation cheese or meat consisting of many meat-parts glued together in a chemical way...UARGH!

...now if we could just get back to the good ol' days where they only used organic Elmer's glue. (That's our standard school glue in the states, not sure if it's an international standard )

[Kevin Conley]

While agree the USA has a lot of food issues, when I lived in Asia, and traveled in Europe, it was quite easy to find crap food everywhere. The center of any grocery in any country was filled with processed food. Not any country I went to was exempt.The US groceries just happen to be larger, so a larger preportion is processed over all.

 

The prepared food is where I agree though. Why is there sugar in a salad?! Americans by and large do however, seem to be less aware/care less about the poor nature of much of the food. That though might just be my personal bias though.

[Colin Macdonald]

I spent a little time in the USA this year and was always surprised when I looked at the ingredients list for anything.

It's not just the ingredients on the list, the entire food chain is based off corn. And when my wife and I were back in Canada for a few weeks, we noticed even the vegetables seem to be bred to be sweeter. Carrots, zucchini, broccoli, everything we tried had a similar sweet taste, vegetables in Italy are more bitter with more complex flavours. And the fresh corns was the worst, it wasn't a little sweet, it was dessert sweet, I couldn't even eat it.

 

 

While agree the USA has a lot of food issues, when I lived in Asia, and traveled in Europe, it was quite easy to find crap food everywhere.

 

There's crap food all over the place here in Italy. It's still easier to cook at home with affordable good ingredients than it is in North America, but the garbage is still pervasive. People who drink coke with their meals, industrial french fries, hot dogs and sugary snacks for kids can be found everywhere.

[Bill Köhntopp]

(That's our standard school glue in the states, not sure if it's an international standard )

I don't think so

[Elliot]

I miss an important point.  I once spent 2 weeks in the US, training some handstands, handstand pushups and the like in my hotel room. After 7 days I noticed a nice hop in strength which even grew in the second week. Something like 12 repetitions instead of 10, about twice the effect of taking creatine. I was pretty happy, but back in Europe, this was lost again in some weeks. And it took me years to understand it.

 

Training is good, but doping works faster - hormones in beef food are widely used in the US but banned in the EU.

lol come on now

[Sean Whitley]

I miss an important point.  I once spent 2 weeks in the US, training some handstands, handstand pushups and the like in my hotel room. After 7 days I noticed a nice hop in strength which even grew in the second week. Something like 12 repetitions instead of 10, about twice the effect of taking creatine. I was pretty happy, but back in Europe, this was lost again in some weeks. And it took me years to understand it.

 

Training is good, but doping works faster - hormones in beef food are widely used in the US but banned in the EU.

This could have just been from the immense portion sizes of stuff there (I doubt this happens just in south west USA). More food therefore more protein, more carbs etc?  I went to a diner for breakfast most days I was there and I thought my home traditional english breakfast was quite a lot of food, but two plates of food for a breakfast was quite an eye opener. Restaurants offered boxes to take home unfinished evening meals. I'm sure if I'd been training while there I would have noticed some strength increase from all the excess carbs and protein

[Bill Köhntopp]

sounds like the humans are feeded like fat stock in usa

[Jon Douglas]

I was certainly surprised by the size of a salmon pub meal I had in Arizona. Huge!

 

Unrelated, was very surprised to discover not one but two pubs with staff who knew how to pour a pint of Guiness properly (temp, time, consistency)

[Connor Davies]

Unrelated, was very surprised to discover not one but two pubs with staff who knew how to pour a pint of Guiness properly (temp, time, consistency)

To be fair, most pubs in the UK have staff that can't pour a pint of Guinness properly.  I have a friend that works a bar and he always takes it upon himself to teach them how to do it properly.  Most of the time they don't seem to appreciate the lesson....

[Jon Douglas]

To be fair, most pubs in the UK have staff that can't pour a pint of Guinness properly.  I have a friend that works a bar and he always takes it upon himself to teach them how to do it properly.  Most of the time they don't seem to appreciate the lesson....

Well, this was certainly a pleasant surprise

[Christoph Pahl]

I didn't eat more or very different than in Europe. I discussed my finding with some US guy - he told me that young girls get problems from these male hormones.

 

The effect of taking creatine is not large - but I can see it, as I'm logging my training in details since years. And there I saw an effect which was larger.

[Joseff Lea]

I was accredited by Guinness as s "approved barman for serving Guinness" or something in a random inspection they did at a pub I used to work in
The UK certainly has some awful food, the quality of some vegetables (especially tomatoes I find) in most supermarkets are terrible. It helps if you buy in season and get to know the people supplying your food. There is no reason that you cannot eat very well in a developed county, it might just be easier in some than others. Japan I found to be amazing in the way that their "junk" food, things like instant noodles and fried beef are actually very good and the meals are almost always fairly balanced. Compare that with a donner kebab or something else that you might consume on a friday night and the difference is staggering!  

[FREDERIC DUPONT]

I miss an important point.  I once spent 2 weeks in the US, training some handstands, handstand pushups and the like in my hotel room. After 7 days I noticed a nice hop in strength which even grew in the second week. Something like 12 repetitions instead of 10, about twice the effect of taking creatine. I was pretty happy, but back in Europe, this was lost again in some weeks. And it took me years to understand it.

 

Training is good, but doping works faster - hormones in beef food are widely used in the US but banned in the EU.

 

Steroids used in US cattle farms don't degrade in water as was previously thought, and become an environmental hazard.

https://www.gymnasticbodies.com/forum/topic/12957-10-american-foods-that-are-banned-in-other-countries/

[Afiya Zia]

I don't like the idea of harvesting wild salmon for health-related purposes. I'll eat other fish, simply because the damage caused to land and marine ecosystems is awful.