You might assume that anything found in the food you buy at the grocery store is safe to eat, but it turns out that a closer look at the ingredients in your groceries can reveal some nasty surprises.
There are some ingredients that are currently used in commercial foods in the United States but have been banned in other countries for various reasons. Bess Berger, women’s health dietitian and owner of Nutrition by Bessreveals that the United States may not have the strictest ingredient regulations.
“Many Americans don’t realize that the standard of what we accept as food, or generally consider safe, is below the standard of many, many countries.”
That includes the following ingredients that you don’t necessarily want to consume on a regular basis.
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) “is a common additive in citrus soft drinks, like Mountain Dew,” says Berger. In fact, BVO “is sometimes used to prevent the citrus flavor from separating in soft drinks and other beverages,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
At the same time, BVO “contains bromine which may be associated with skin irritations, headaches, memory lossand impaired balance,” Berger notes, noting that Europe, India and Japan have banned the dubious ingredient. While its use is not illegal in the United States, PepsiCo Inc agreed to stop adding BVO to its Gatorade beverages after a teenager of Mississippi started a petition to encourage the company to remove the substance of potential concern, according to Reuters.
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If you were around and snacking in the ’90s, you may have heard that certain items, like “diet” versions of Pringles, Ruffles, and Doritos, were linked to various unfortunate health issues like cramps, diarrhea, and “loose bowel movements.” “. , or what was considered at the time as “fecal urgency” and “anal leakage,” according to mind string.
Apparently the source of the problem was olestra, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in early 1996. Intended to be used to replace grease in Calorie-free, fat-free, and cholesterol-free foodsIt turned out that olestra causes unfavorable side effects, so it is not used in Canada and the European Union, explains Izma Almasar, a nutritionist at Honest brand reviews.
An additive used in baking, potassium bromate is something you I could find in your bread. A review found in the scientific journal Food Chemistry further explains that it is “an oxidizing agent and one of the best and cheapest dough improvers in the baking industry.” It is also an additive that has been found to cause cancer in rodents. According to data published by the magazine Environmental Health Perspectivespotassium bromate “is carcinogenic in rats and nephrotoxic in both humans and experimental animals when administered orally.”
Although potassium bromate is still used in the United States, Almasar notes that it is banned in Canada, the European Union and China. living science points out that it is not used in Brazil or in other countries either.
Although butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) have complicated names, they are simply synthetic antioxidants used as food preservatives. BHA is found in processed foods and beverages such as meat, cereal, potato chips, butter, and beer, and BHT is used in meat and snack foods, as well as in chewing gum, baked goods, and dehydrated foods very well fit.
Although both BHA and BHT are widely used in the United States, they are known to cause allergic reactions. BHA too”interferes with hormonal functionwhile BHT is toxic to rodents, “can act as a tumor promoter in certain situations,” and has “results[ed] in adverse reproductive conditions [a]both are understandably banned in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, as well as in Europe, according to live strong.
Fortunately for those in the United States who might be concerned about consuming foods containing BHA or BHT, Almasar says that both are “considered safe for use in foods when the total antioxidant content is less than 0.02.”
There is a wide variety of colorants that are used to make our food more colorful and attractive. However, while the United States allows the use of colors such as yellow #6 and red #40 in products that might make it to your table, Berger says that many European countries do not allow this artificial coloring in their food.
“For example, if you buy M&M’s in Europe, they are colored with natural food coloring. The same goes for Skittles. Specifically, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 are prohibited,” he explains. “In addition, these colorants are common in sodas and sports drinks, and in icings.”
Why are they banned in Europe? According to Berger, “These food dyes are associated with hyperactivity and inattention in children.”
For more information about what may be in your food, be sure to read 25 Horrible Ingredients Everyone Still Uses, But Shouldn’t!
