Written by: Kat Gal
I was born and raised in Europe, lived and traveled across 4 continents and currently live in the U.S.
Call me a European snob, a health nut, or a hippy, but I still roll my eyes at some of the foods sold in the United States. Sure, it is true that processed and artificial foods can be found in parts of the world from busy European cities to tiny African villages, but it is a fact that that the U.S. seems to always be a behind.
There is not only too much of everything – including artificial colors, flavors and preservatives – but the list of foods (or rather, food-like products) that are sold freely in America, but are banned in other countries is growing.
Farmed raised salmon are being fed an unnatural diet consisting of grains, antibiotics and other drugs. To change their color to a more pleasant one, they are fed synthetic astaxanthin made from petrochemicals, which are not approved for human consumption. As a result, farm-raised salmon are banned in New Zealand and Australia.
Most Hawaiian papaya are GMOd to make them resistant to a ringspot virus. In animals, these GMOs can lead to tumors, organ damage, birth defects and premature death, which makes me question their health risks for humans. It is banned in the European Union.
Citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks are very popular in the U.S., however most of them are made with brominated vegetable oil (BVO). BVO is a synthetic chemical, a flame retardant that is also damaging to the central nervous system. It is banned in Europe and Japan.
It is shocking to think that in the U.S., there are over 3,000 types of preservatives, colors and flavorings that are being added to our foods. They not only make our food look, smell and taste unnatural, but they are also dangerous to our health and can lead to cancer, behavioral issues and birth defects. Austria and Norway have banned these substances.
Potassium bromate is linked to kidney problems, thyroid issues, nervous system damage, gastrointestinal issues and various cancers. It is used as an additive in bread and baked goods across the U.S., but is banned in Canada, the EU and China.
Olestra, also known as Olean, is a calorie- and cholesterol-free fat-like substance that is being used in many fat-free snacks, as well as in chips and fries. It can lead to leaky bowels, cramps and diarrhea. It is banned in the UK and Canada, but widely used in the U.S.
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are preservatives that have been shown to cause cancer in rats and may lead to cancer in humans as well. They are banned in Japan, some parts of the EU and in baby foods in the UK.
RBGH is a synthetic substance that increases milk production in cows. It may be dangerous to humans by how it can increase the risk of cancer. It is banned in the EU, Israel, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
Animals in the U.S. are often fed with arsenic-based drugs to make them grow faster and make their meat look more pink and therefore, more appealing. Though the FDA claims that these are safe drugs, some studies have shown that organic arsenic can turn into inorganic arsenic with harmful effects in humans. The EU bans this drug from being given to animals raised for human consumption.
What do you think about this list? Are you aware of other foods that are legal in the U.S., but are banned elsewhere in the world? Share your comments below, we would love to hear from you.
Source
Glenn was in an accident with a hockey puck that made it so his mouth had to be wired shut! While he was going through recovery he found that Organifi Protein sustained him in a healthy way where he was able to maintain his muscle mass while still be able to loose weight.
-Tragedy Turns to Opportunity, Weightloss and Holistic Health
Glenn was in an accident with a hockey puck that made it so his mouth had to be wired shut! While he was going through recovery he found that Organifi Protein sustained him in a healthy way where he was able to maintain his muscle mass while still be able to loose weight.
-Tragedy Turns to Opportunity, Weightloss and Holistic Health
