US Food Additives Banned in Europe
Did you know there are food additives that are banned in Europe, but legal for use in US products? These ingredients are not allowed in the EU because they are not considered safe, and are linked to cancer or other health-related issues.
At Trash Panda, we believe you deserve full transparency about what’s in your food in order to make educated choices about the products you buy. Here are a few of the ingredients that are banned in Europe that we flag in the app as “Potentially Harmful”:
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is listed as a known carcinogen under California’s Proposition 65, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes it as a possible human carcinogen. These designations are based on consistent evidence that BHA causes tumors in animals. The European Union classifies BHA as an endocrine disruptor because at higher doses, it can lower testosterone and affect thyroid hormones. A wide variety of foods contain BHA, including chips and preserved meats.
Found In: Hungry Jack Mashed Potatoes, Hormel Turkey Pepperoni Snack Bites, Jack Link’s Original Beef Stick Meat Snacks
Better Option: The New Primal Turkey Sticks
Brominated Vegetable Oil is an ingredient used in many sports drinks and sodas to add a citrus taste. You won’t find this ingredient in the European Union because it contains bromine — another additive that is linked to causing cancer. It builds up in the body and can cause headaches, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, and can even affect your memory. Therefore, we have flagged it as potentially harmful in the Trash Panda App.
Found In: Sun Drop, in addition to some generic and store-brands
Better Option: Olipop Ginger Lemon
Azodicarbonamide, or ADA, is another ingredient that is banned in Europe but not the U.S. It is commonly found in bread to bleach flour, but is also used to make plastic for products like sneakers and yoga mats. We flag this ingredient as harmful because it has been shown to break down during baking into chemicals that cause tumors in mice.
Found In: Ball Park Hot Dog Buns, Little Debbie Honey Buns, and Pillsbury Artisan Dinner Rolls, Sunbeam Large Enriched Bread
Better Option: Dave’s Killer Bread
Food Dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 are added to many sports drinks, including Gatorade, as well as many candies and cereals marketed to kids. Food dyes are legal in Europe, but are required to carry a warning the US does not require that the coloring agents “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” because they have been linked to neurobehavioral problems in children like ADHD.
Found In: Skittles, M&Ms, and even some brands of mustard and ketchup
Better Option: Smart Sweets candies are colored with fruit and vegetable juices
When putting products in your cart, take a second to turn the package over and look at the ingredients, or use the Trash Panda App to do it for you. There are plenty of better quality options out there, and by voting with our dollars we can support brands that are supporting our health!
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By: Olivia Mummery & Katie Intihar
