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5 Foods Allowed In The US Which Are Banned Elsewhere

As we strive to bring healthier options in our home, we’ve explored other countries food habits and were not all that surprised to learn that American grocery stores are filled with food items that are banned in other countries.

Ractopamine-tainted meat

Banned in 160 countries including Russia, China, and Great Britain.

The drug was recruited for livestock use when researchers found that the drug, used in asthma, made mice more muscular. This reduces the overall fat content of the meat. Ractopamine is currently used in about 45 percent of US pigs and 30 percent of ration-fed cattle.

Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH)

Banned in over 30 countries including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

RBGH which is dairy using cows which are given recombinant bovine growth hormone to increase production but is banned due to human health, which include an increased risk for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer by promoting conversion of normal tissue cells into cancerous ones.

Brominated Vegetable Oil

Banned in Europe and Japan.

Brominated Vegetable Oil was originally created and is still used as a flame retardant. In the US most citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks include this with the biggest drink with BVO being Mountain Dew.

Artificial food coloring

Banned in Norway, Austria, and soon the entire European Union.

Food companies are having to use more costly natural food coloring in these regions with the biggest one probably being Kraft and more specifically Kraft boxed Mac & Cheese which is using Paprika to give its product a yellow finish.

Farm-Raised Salmon

Banned in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and China.

Farmed raised salmon are feed grains which they do not eat in the wild plus a constant supply of antibiotics in order to give farm raised salmon the pinkish color that occurs in wild salmon naturally. They are fed synthetic astaxanthin which is not approved for human consumption in any country. China is the largest producer of farm raised salmon even though the ban their citizens from eating it.

This is probably one of the reasons Americans are not in the top 5 healthiest countries to live and why there are even more foods that are banned elsewhere but allowed in the US.

By Tim

Dad to two boys living in rural farm country.

7 replies on “5 Foods Allowed In The US Which Are Banned Elsewhere”

Wow, I know that we are told over and over again to look at labels and to eat more non-processed foods. This really shows the reasons why. Thanks for sharing. It will be still a long hard battle to get some of these items out of our foods. I think that some progress is being made, but still a long road.

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