In the United States, there’s a widespread belief that our food standards are the pinnacle of safety and cleanliness. However, this confidence might be misplaced when faced with the realities of mass production and the use of hazardous chemicals. Due to these concerns, many countries cast a skeptical eye on American foods, even those stamped with USDA approval.
In this article, we’ll delve into the surprising truth about everyday American foods that find themselves on the banned lists of other nations. Join us as we explore these controversial items and uncover what might lurk in our seemingly innocuous meals.
American Bread
When it comes to bread, the U.S. takes a more is more approach, not just sticking to grains but adding a cocktail of additives, one of which is azodicarbonamide. This additive does double duty: it bleaches flour and gives dough its strength. Interestingly, it’s also a component in various industrial products, including yoga mats. The European Union, taking a stance on what it considers safe for consumption, has banned azodicarbonamide in food, drawing a stark contrast to America’s lenient regulations. This move underlines the EU’s commitment to keeping “yoga mat materials” out of its citizens’ diets.
Pork
Pork is central to the American diet, with each person consuming an average of 67 pounds yearly. However, the U.S. pork industry faces significant export challenges due to its use of ractopamine, a chemical added to feed to promote leaner pork faster. This substance is banned in over 160 countries due to concerns over its safety for human consumption.
Such bans have led to restrictions on American pork exports, with notable abstainers including the EU, China, and Russia. These countries have raised concerns over ractopamine’s potential side effects, such as tachycardia, headaches, and muscle spasms, posing a significant barrier to the global pork trade for the U.S.
M&Ms
M&Ms, known for their colorful coatings and “melt in your mouth, not in your hand” quality, have a unique issue in Sweden that’s not about health but trademark conflict. Introduced to Sweden in 2009, Mars found its product embroiled in a legal battle over marketing similarities with the Swedish candy Marabous, known for its lowercase ‘m’s and resembling Kit Kats more than M&Ms. This dispute led to M&Ms being banned in Sweden, showcasing a rare case where a product’s exclusion is due to intellectual property rights rather than health or safety concerns.
Interestingly, Marabous, with its royal endorsement and historical ties to wartime manufacturing, enjoys a prestigious status in Sweden, reminiscent of the respect usually reserved for Swiss chocolate. For those curious about Marabous, it’s available in IKEA stores in the U.S., offering a taste of the candy that challenged M&Ms on its own turf.
Chicken
In the U.S., combating pathogens on chicken often involves chlorine baths, a method intended to eliminate salmonella and other harmful bacteria. However, this practice has not been warmly received in the European Union. The EU’s primary concern isn’t the chlorine itself, which poses relatively low health risks, but the broader hygiene issues it attempts to mask.
The EU criticizes these pathogen reduction treatments (PRTs) as superficial solutions that fail to address the root causes of contamination, such as poor farm hygiene and low-quality feed. This stance reflects a deeper skepticism towards American food safety practices, emphasizing the need for comprehensive hygiene rather than quick chemical fixes.
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew, the emblem of an energetic, caffeine-fueled lifestyle, faces bans in Austria and Norway due to its use of tartrazine (Yellow 5), a dye linked to various side effects, including headaches and hyperactivity. This ban reflects a disconnect between the drink’s brand identity and health standards in some countries.
Interestingly, the Mountain Dew available in the EU deviates significantly from its American counterpart, reverting to a formula closer to its original 1940s version intended as a whiskey mixer. This shift underscores the cultural and regulatory differences influencing food and beverage products across regions, with European consumers experiencing a notably different version of this iconic soda.
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls
Little Debbie’s Swiss Rolls, a staple of American snack foods, pack not just rich chocolate and creamy filling but also a considerable amount of additives like Yellow 5 and Red 40. These dyes, present in doses of 32 milligrams per Swiss Roll, are linked to adverse effects in children, including hyperactivity and potential harm to white blood cells.
Such findings have prompted Austria and Norway to steer clear of these snacks, while the European Union has taken a different approach by allowing their sale but with warning labels that highlight the potential risks to children, similar to cigarette warnings. This precautionary measure underscores the growing concerns over the long-term health impacts of artificial food colorings, advising against their chronic intake despite the undeniable allure of these treats.
Special K
Special K, a cereal marketed for its health benefits, finds itself in an unexpected controversy, banned in Denmark and under scrutiny in the EU, not for what it lacks but for what it contains. Unlike the sugary cereals freely crossing borders, Special K has been criticized for its fortified vitamins and minerals content, to the extent that it’s classified as a genetically modified organism (GMO) in some regulations.
The Advertising Standards Authority in the UK has also called out Special K for overstating its folic acid content. Denmark’s outright ban since 2004 highlights concerns over the cereal’s unnaturally high levels of nutrients like vitamin A and zinc, which could pose risks, especially to vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women. This case illustrates the complex landscape of food regulations, where a cereal’s enhanced nutritional profile can lead to its prohibition.
Skittles
Skittles, the colorful candies that have brightened snack times for decades, come with their share of controversy. Not just playground myths, but genuine health concerns have been raised about the dyes used in these candies. Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, specific dyes found in Skittles, have been linked to hives and hyperactivity in children, prompting Sweden and Norway to ban them.
Moreover, the European Union is considering a ban due to concerns over titanium dioxide, an ingredient that enhances color vibrancy but has been linked to DNA damage and potential cancer risks. While the US has been slower to respond, recent actions, including a lawsuit in California against Mars, Inc., Skittles’ parent company, label the candies as toxic and unfit for human consumption. As the debate continues, perhaps it’s safer to opt for alternatives like Swedish Fish.
Steak Tartare
The allure of steak tartare, a raw meat delicacy, has faced regulatory scrutiny in Canada, highlighting a shift in how raw foods are perceived and regulated. Historically tolerated as a luxury dish, recent actions in New Brunswick signal a more stringent approach to food safety, especially amid public health crises like COVID-19.
Canadian regulations, requiring meat to be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, have been reinforced with cease and desist letters to restaurants offering steak tartare, emphasizing the risks of foodborne illnesses. This move marks a notable departure from past leniency, underscoring the prioritization of health and safety over culinary tradition.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, emblematic of American culture, is a popular beverage and a piece of global history. Its widespread recognition and consumption across the globe underscore its status as a quintessential American export. However, Coca-Cola’s absence in North Korea and Cuba highlights a different narrative, one where the drink symbolizes the reach of American capitalism rather than health concerns.
These bans stem from long-standing trade embargoes, with North Korea excluding Coke since 1950 and Cuba since 1962, following Fidel Castro’s seizure of supplies. Ironically, Cuba was among the first to bottle Coca-Cola outside the U.S., yet today, “Cuba Cola” has taken its place amidst a backdrop of black market Coca-Cola sales, illustrating the complex interplay between cultural identity, politics, and global commerce.
