Some foods are banned in other nations because of cultural, sustainability, religious purposes; others for downright strange and weird reasons. For instance, Singapore bans chewing gum because people would leave chewed gum everywhere. For more than 20 years, Singapore declared it illegal to sell or chew gum. However, in 2004, Singapore changed the law allowing citizens to obtain a doctor’s prescription for the 9,000-year-old substance. Another strange example of banned foods in other countries is the use of ketchup in French schools. Chairperson of the National Association of Directors of Collective Restaurants, Christophe Hebert, said this about ketchup’s influence on France’s future generations: “We have to ensure that children become familiar with French recipes so that they can hand them down to the following generation” (The Telegraph). However, when it comes to proving wholesome, healthy, and quality food products in the U.S., American food manufacturers fall short in comparison with other countries around the world. For instance, many of the banned foods in other countries are processed in North America using dangerous practices; most of them contain genetically-engineered ingredients, growth promoters, and harmful additives.
Banned Foods Around the World
American health is deteriorating and spiraling down when compared to other industrialized countries, causing greater than before health care expenses and increased rates of preventable diseases. The following are some banned foods that governments ban or strictly prohibit because of health concerns and in response to inhumane preparation processes. Milk produced in the U.S. is on the list of banned foods in the European Union, Australia, Canada, Israel, and New Zealand. Nevertheless, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the synthetic version of the hormone bovine somatotropin (BST), naturally produced in the pituitary gland of cows, which helps them produce milk. Monsanto, an American multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation developed the synthetic version of BST called recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). However, in an attempt to protect its citizens from genetically modified milk, the United Nations Food Safety Agency banned rBGH milk in the 101 nations worldwide it represents. It is believed that exposure to rBGH in milk products increases the risk of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Added to the list of banned foods are U.S. arsenic-based drugs approved as animal feed. Claims are that they make the meat fresher, pinker, and speed up animal growth. More than 70 percent of nine billion broiler chickens in the U.S. were fed the arsenic-based feed drug Roxarsone in 2007. Chronic arsenic exposure has been found to cause kidney damage or failure, an increased risk of miscarriages, infant mortality, low IQ and blood pressure, skin lesions, headaches, anemia, and an increased risk of diabetes. Arsenic-based drugs are on the list of banned foods in the European Union.
Dangerous Foods That Target Children
Banned foods by some countries are also targeted for young American children and infants. Many of these banned foods contain more than 3,000 food additives that researchers have linked to increase the risks of cancer, behavioral and birth defects, in addition to allergy-like hypersensitivity reactions in children. Synthetic ingredients, colors, flavoring, and preservatives are considered health risks and are found in macaroni and cheese, children’s cereals, Jell-O, and cheddar-flavored crackers. The most popular dyes used in the U.S. are blue 2, yellow 5 and 6, and red 40. Australia and Norway added these food additives to their list of banned foods. The British government requested all food manufacturers refrain from using dyes in food products by the end of 2009. In addition, the European Union requires foods containing dyes must also have a warning label. Banned foods containing potassium bromate in other parts of the world are allowed in the U.S. baked goods. Potassium bromate is linked to increased risks of cancer, thyroid problems, and kidney and nervous system damage. In the U.S., commercial bakeries use enriched brominated flour containing potassium bromate claiming it helps make the bread stand up on bread hooks better, while making it more elastic. Food products containing potassium bromate, like some bread, wraps, bagel chips, rolls, and breadcrumbs are banned foods in China, the European Union, and Canada. Some of the citrus flavored sodas and sports drinks sold in the U.S. contain the flame retardant brominated vegetable oil (BVO) and are listed as banned foods in other nations. BVO is found in drinks like Gatorade, Mountain Dew, Fanta Orange, Squirt, and Powerade, to name a few. BVO is linked to schizophrenia, birth defects, organ damage, hearing loss, and growth damage. Toxic levels of bromine may cause cardiac arrhythmia, acne, skin rashes, loss of appetite and fatigue. Furthermore, BVO can cause cancer, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, and iodine deficiency. Japan and most countries in Europe added BVO to their list of banned foods; whereas, the U.S. still allows this dangerous chemical in a variety of soft drinks. In the ’80s, nutritionists, dieticians, and healthcare professionals found that fatty foods caused increased risks of obesity, diabetes, and other maladies. A crusade to reduce the amount of unhealthy fats in food took place across the country. In 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the food additive olestra, which is an ingredient used to help eliminate fat in a variety of food products. Time magazine reported olestra as one of the worst inventions. The Cleveland Clinic advises, “…foods touted as fat free or low fat are usually poor alternatives to an already low-nutritional value food such as fat free ice cream and olestra-laden potato chips.” The United Kingdom and Canada banned foods that contain the fat substitute known as olestra, or also referred to as olean. Olestra is free of calories and is used in “fat-free” products like French fries, chips, and Frito-Lay’s light chip products. Olestra causes digestive difficulties, such as diarrhea, fecal urgency, anal leakage, gastrointestinal disturbances, as well as looser and more frequent bowel movements. Olestra rapidly reduces and drains blood levels of important fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins, A, D, E, and K. Learning more about banned foods in other industrialized countries can optimize your health. Make it a practice to avoid potentially harmful, dangerous, and questionable food products that inundate American grocery shelves. For that matter, completely avoid all processed foods and choose raw, whole, and organic foods. If you choose to eat meat and poultry products, organic, grass-fed beef and poultry raised on pastures are healthier choices. If you would like to help your family and friends control their health, share this information about banned foods with them in order to assist them in making better and healthier alternatives as well.
