10 Foods Banned Around the World That You Are Eating In The U.S

If you look at the ingredients in Subway's bread you will find a dangerous chemical called Azodicarbonamide- the same stuff used to make yoga matts, shoe rubber, and synthetic leather (yum?) Other countries have banned the use of Azodicarbonide because the World Health Organization has deemed it unsafe to eat, yet the FDA still allows American food companies to use it.

Last week, food blogger Vani Hari started a petition that demanded Subway remove this ingredient from their bread. After appearing on CNN, ABC news and The Today's Show, and drawing attention to this issue, Hari received over 85,000 signatures to her petition and ultimately got Subway to comply.

According to Hari in the video below, "it would be illegal for subway to sell this sandwich in the UK, Europe or Australia…one country will fine you half a million dollars [if you use it]". 

Fortunately, Hari brought enough attention to this issue that Subway has agreed to remove the chemical from their bread. But what's scary is that this is not just happening with subway. There are so many other foods sold in the U.S that contain ingredients that are banned in other countries for being deemed detrimental to your health. Americans are not being protected and this is wrong and unjust. Why should other countries eat the same food but with safer ingredients? That just doesn't seem fair now does it?!

Here is a list of ingredients that are also banned in other countries but the FDA allows in the U.S:

1. Blue #1 Food Coloring

     Can be found in: cereals, Nutri-Grain bars, candy, drinks

     Where is it banned? Norway, Finland, France

2. Blue #2 Food Coloring

     Can be found in: M&M's

     Where is it banned? Norway, Finland, France

3. Yellow #5, Yellow #6 Food Coloring

     Can be found in: Kraft Mac & Cheese

     Where is it banned? Norway, Austria

4. Red #5 Food Coloring

     Can be found in: red salad dressings, fruit cocktail, maraschino cherries, cherry pie mix, ice creams, candy

     Where is it banned? Norway, Austria

5. Brominated Vegetable Oil

     Can be found in: soda and sport drinks

     Where is it banned? IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES

6. Potassium Bromate

     Can be found in: Cheaply produced breads, hotdog and hamburger buns

     Where is it banned? Europe, Canada, China

7. Olestra

     Can be found in: many fat free potato chips

     Where is it banned? UK and Canada

8. BHA and BHT

     Can be found in: Cereals, nut mixes, butter spreads

     Where is it banned? part of the European Union and Japan

9. rBGH and rBST

     Can be found in: dairy products such as yogurt and milk

     Where is it banned? Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Israel, European Union

10. Arsenic

     Can be found in: chicken feed, some rices and juices

     Where is it banned? European Union

After reading this list I know you must be thinking, "then what the hell is safe to eat?" And that's exactly the problem. We live in a country where sadly there is just so many chemicals and toxins allowed in our packaged foods. According to an array of sources, these ingredients have been linked to cancer, ADHD, skin rashes, acne, loss of appetite, fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, thyroid problems, and shown to alter the central nervous and endocrine system. Citizens of other countries are protected and yet we, in the words of Vani Hari, are getting "dupped".

No food company, grocery store or outside of a food package will tell you these things and to be honest, it's up to you what you want to do with this information. But make the decision to do your best to stick with organic, natural food products and please please please spread the word about this injustice!

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please comment or message me your reactions!

Lauren

Sources:

http://articles.mercola.com/bannedfoods

http:abcnews.com/11foodsbanned

http://yahoo.com/5foodsamericanseatbannedaroundtheworld