It’s surprising to learn that many snacks commonly found on grocery shelves or in our pantries are banned in Europe due to health concerns. Research has linked several of these items to diseases, which explains their prohibition. Here are 15 foods still allowed in the USA but banned in Europe that you should be cautious about.
15. Chewing Gum
While many of us might keep some chewing gum in our pockets, it is banned in some countries in Europe as it contains a chemical called BHA. It is used to preserve food and avoid spoilage, but it’s also known to cause cancer, as seen in laboratory rats. While more research might be needed, some countries in Europe won’t take the chance of harming their citizens since it’s a snack that people can live without.
14. Mountain Dew
We all know that Mountain Dew isn’t the healthiest drink in the world, so it’s understandable why they’re banned in Europe. But actually, it’s the ingredient called brominated vegetable oil that’s been used by American sodas for decades. In some cases, this ingredient may possibly cause skin lesions, memory loss, or nerve problems.
13. Coffee Mate
Did you recall the last time that you didn’t use Coffee Mate creamer on your coffee? Surprisingly, this creamer that’s been part of our homemade coffee is banned in some European countries such as Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. The reason? Hydrogenated soybeans and cottonseed oils. Hydrogenated soybeans are fatty acids used in margarine and cooking oil. As for cottonseed oils, they are a banned ingredient in food as they’re only used in medications. These ingredients have been linked to heart diseases.
12. Froot Loops
Who knew that your typical breakfast cereal is banned in some parts of Europe, such as Norway, Finland, Austria, France, and the UK? It’s because of the artificial dye that comes with the colorful cereal loops that can cause interruption in nerve-cell development. These fruity dyes are used in a number of candies and cereals as coloring with artificial fruit flavoring. Some studies suggest that certain artificial dyes could potentially cause hyperactivity among children or disrupt cellular processes. And if you’re wondering, yes, Fruity Pebbles are also banned.
11. Artificial Blueberry
Who doesn’t love blueberry on snacks? This fruit is a typical dessert filling, but it can now be found on the snacks lying on the grocery shelves. This treat is banned in some countries in Europe since the blue dye that was used to color the filling is derived from petroleum, which is used to make gasoline, diesel, fuel, asphalt, and tar. This ingredient has also been linked with nerve-cell degeneration and brain cancer. So the next time you decide on creating a blueberry dessert, get real blueberries instead.
10. Chocolate Milk
A cold glass of chocolate milk seems like a good idea, right? But you might want to check on the ingredients of the product as some chocolate milk was found to have carrageenan, which is a type of seaweed that can cause inflammation that can lead to heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. The European Union found glucose intolerance and impaired insulin action which caused them to ban it.
9. Processed Meat
Another popular breakfast choice for many of us is bacon and meats, which usually come in branded packs of plastic. However, the European Union banned them after they were found to have sodium nitrate preservatives. It is a type of salt, so the meat could have a longer shelf life and also give them that smokey flavor. It has been linked to certain types of cancer, leading them to be banned in Europe.
8. Ketchup
French culinary is a whole different level of seriousness, so you have to understand why officials banned them in school cafeterias. In 2011, the French government pulled out all ketchup from school and college cafeterias to promote healthy eating among the youth and protect traditional cuisine. The government wanted the French youth to explore their country’s cuisine without artificially made condiments. Also, ketchup is high in sugar and sodium. It contains preservatives and artificial ingredients, which can make them unhealthy, especially for school children.
7. Little Debbie Swiss Rolls
This Little Debbie is something you’d reach out in your pantry, but as much as this product is popular, it’s surprisingly banned in Europe. The reason for this? It has Yellow 5 and Red 40 ingredients. Yellow 5 is a kind of lemon dye that can be found in candies, soft drinks, chips, and popcorn. While Red 40 is used in sports drinks and condiments. These dyes have gained approval from other parts of Europe. However, they remain a danger for children as they may cause allergic reactions, so a warning label is required. They’re outright banned in Austria and Norway, tho.
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6. Frozen Dinners
Surprise, surprise! While frozen dinners aren’t the healthiest food out there, they save us time from cooking our own meals on a busy day, but you might want to slow down on its intake. Azodicarbonamide can be found on these frozen dinners, which is used to make bleach flour, yoga mats, and soles of your sneakers. Yup, from that, it doesn’t look too safe to consume, as it is found to induce asthma, leading many European countries to ban it.
5. Gatorade
Gatorade is a common energizer sports drink in the US, but it’s actually banned in Europe due to an ingredient called Brominated Vegetable Oil or BVO. This ingredient has been linked with neurological problems, fatigue, and loss of muscle coordination and memory. It’s a chemical used to stabilize citrus flavoring in food and prevent the ingredients from separating. They have been banned in Europe since 2012 but they already tweaked the ingredient to remove the BVO. Still, they’re banned in some countries in Europe due to their use of artificial dyes.
4. Diabetic Baked Goods
Baked goods catered for diabetics contain artificial sweeteners or synthetic substitute sugars. These are food additives that provide the sweetness of sugar without actually using sugar. Some studies link it to Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease. However, it causes more harm than good. Artificial sweeteners that cannot be used are the following:
3. Ritz Crackers
Ritz Crackers aren’t actually the first thing on your mind when you think of unhealthy snacks. However, like any other snacks on the list, they’re banned in some countries because of a single ingredient, and for Ritz, it’s the Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil. This ingredient contains trans-fat, another banned ingredient because it’s high in cholesterol and may cause inflammation. They’re banned specifically in Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark.
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2. Pop-Tarts
Pop-Tarts toasted treats are another breakfast choice under the banned list for some European countries. They contain Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40 food dyes that have been banned in Austria and Norway since they are linked to cancer. These dyes have been used in making candies, cereals, and condiments. In other European countries, they’re just banned from consuming infants. In some countries under the European Union that are not banned, they are required to add a warning of its negative effects when consumed by children.
1. Kraft Mac and Cheese
Too bad you can’t have your favorite Kraft Mac and Cheese when you travel to Austria, Norway, and other European countries. This boxed Mac and Cheese contains the artificial dye Yellow 6, which is banned in some parts of Europe. It’s an orange-yellow dye used to make candies, cereals, and baked goods. This dye can cause hyperactivity, increase cancer risk, and allergic reactions. It can be found in other items, such as candy, drinks, pet foods, and even medications.
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From The Club
Now that you’re aware of why some of your favorite snacks are banned in Europe, you should take extra precautions when taking them. This list has taught me to always check the ingredients and nutritional facts when purchasing a product. There is no excuse for not knowing what certain ingredients are and how they harm our health since the internet search bar is free. In this day and age, we should be better informed of the food we put in our bodies and hopefully, these snacks tweak the harmful ingredients found in their products.
