There are many ingredients added to food in the US which are banned elsewhere.
Coca-Cola has recently announced it is to stop using a controversial ingredient, brominated vegetable oil (BVO), in its Powerade drinks. This comes after a similar move from Pepsi last year, when it removed BVO from Gatorade.
Adding BVO to flavourings allows them to mix evenly with the rest of the liquid, ensuring a well-balanced taste throughout the drink. Unfortunately, BVO is also used as a flame retardant, and isn’t approved for consumption in the European Union or Japan. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the use of BVO as a food additive on an “interim” basis for decades. Meaning they believe it is safe, however, additional studies could prove otherwise, as in the EU.
So what other ingredients are commonly found in food in the U.S., yet banned in other countries?
1. Coloring agents (blue 1, blue 2, yellow 5, and yellow 6)
Found in everything from cereals, sports drinks, and cheese to pet food and medicine, colouring agents are used to make food appear more appetising. Food manufacturers such as Kraft use paprika extract, beetroot, and other colour additives thought be less dangerous, in their products sold outside the U.S. Both Austria and Norway have banned dyes, and warning labels are required on most products containing artificial dyes in the EU.
Health risks: Colouring agents have been linked to behavioral problems in children, as well as cancer and birth defects.
2. Bovine growth hormone (rBST and rBGH)
Injected into dairy cows to increase milk production, these hormones are found in approximately 25% of milk and dairy products produced in the USA. The use of these hormones has been banned in New Zealand, Australia, Israel, the EU and Canada.
Health risks: Milk from cows treated with rBGH has a significantly higher amount of the hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which has been linked to breast, colorectal and prostate cancers.
3. Olestra (Olean)
A fat substitute used to make low-fat crisps and chips, olestra interferes with the body’s ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. To balance this effect, the FDA requires these vitamins to be added to any product made containing olestra or olean. Their use has been banned in the UK and Canada.
Health risks: Adverse intestinal issues such as diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels have been reported.
4. Potassium bromate (brominated flour)
Added to bread products to help the dough stick together it has been linked with several serious health issues. It is also approved by the FDA for use in the malting of barley. However, due to the health risks it has been banned in China, the EU and Canada.
Health risks: Studies have linked it to cancer, kidney damage, thyroid tumours, and damage to the nervous system.
5. BHA and BHT
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are preservatives which prevent oils in food from becoming rancid. They are commonly found in cereals, nut mixes, and some breads or rolls. BHA is banned from infant food in the UK, and both are prohibited in Japan and parts of the EU.
Health risks: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program’s Twelfth Annual Report on Carcinogens (2011), BHA “is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen …..” it is also thought to trigger hyperactivity and allergic reactions.