Key takeaways:

• Each country has its own government agency that decides the health and safety of food additives.

• Some countries, like the U.S., consider most food additives to be safe until proven otherwise. Other countries test any new additives before letting them hit grocery store shelves.

• If you are trying to avoid certain food additives, it helps to know what to look for on nutrition labels. 

In the U.S., both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulate all foods and drinks for sale. Similarly, other countries have their own regulatory groups. While these groups also address the safety of foods and drinks, each one does so differently.

The FDA utilizes the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) approach. This means they consider food additives to be safe until shown otherwise — through new research or human reactions. This approach relies on expert opinions instead of proactive testing of new additives. Alternatively, the European Union will test new food additives to prove they are safe before they can hit grocery store shelves. 

This difference may be a large reason why some food products are available in the U.S. and not abroad. But what foods are actually banned in other parts of the world? 

1. Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a chemical that is commonly added to American foods. But many people do not recognize the name because it is usually hidden on nutrition labels. Terms like “artificial color” or “added color” may mislead you into consuming titanium dioxide without even realizing it.

Foods containing titanium dioxide can include:

• Candy

• Chewing gum 

• Sweets

• Cottage cheese

• Cake icing

• Soups

• Sauces

• Alcoholic beverages

• Other processed foods

Titanium dioxide is banned in the European Union. There is some research connecting titanium dioxide to health effects, such as lung cancer. However, additional research is needed to determine this relationship more. 

Today, it is still on the shelves in Canada and the U.S. But in 2023, California took matters into its own hands to ban Skittles for its use of titanium dioxide and other food additives. 

2. Brominated vegetable oil

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is used in citrus-flavored drinks in the U.S. This food additive is banned in Japan, the European Union, and the U.K. But the U.S. may not be far behind.

The FDA recently proposed a ban on BVO. This is because BVO may affect the thyroid, a gland in your neck that helps regulate your metabolism and other hormones. 

It is becoming less common to find BVO in drinks available today. But it’s still a good idea to review the nutrition label to look for this additive. 

3. BHA and BHT

Both of these chemicals act as preservatives in many foods throughout the U.S. You can find BHA and BHT in items such as:

• Breakfast cereal, including Kellogg’s Apple Jacks

• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

• Frozen foods, such as Stouffer’s frozen pizza

• Bugles corn chips

• Cake mix, including Pillsbury

BHA and BHT are banned in the European Union, but not the U.S. There is growing animal research showing that BHA and BHT may increase the risk of cancer. But human studies show mixed results, so more research is needed. 

Some companies that use BHA and BHT to improve shelf life include Kellogg’s cereals, Jiffy, Stouffer’s, and Pillsbury. Other brands may as well, so it is important to check your own food labels and see. 

4. rBST

Recombinant somatotropin (rBST) is a hormone used in cows to increase milk supply. Many dairy-based products — like milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream — may contain rBST. While it is currently allowed in the U.S., some U.S.-based companies — like Ben & Jerry’s — oppose the use of rBST in their products.

Europe and Canada have both banned rBST. Most research shows that rBST has little effect on human health, but it may cause health issues in the dairy cows. 

5. Artificial food dye

Not all food is as beautiful and colorful as you might believe. Food dyes are used to make food look more appealing and bright. There are some natural food dyes available, but many ultra-processed foods use synthetic food dyes. These include foods like candy, instant pasta, pretzels, and fruit drinks. According to the FDA, the use of artificial food coloring has increased over five times since the 1950s. 

There is growing concern that food dyes may affect behavior in children. At least one artificial food dye is known to be able to cross into brain tissue. And research shows removing food dyes from the diet can help reduce symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Food colorings also contain benzidine, which is linked to cancer development.

The European Union has not officially banned artificial food dyes. But it does require them to be labeled on all packaging. Some countries have completely banned artificial food dyes, but most just make companies label their dyes.

Even without legislation, some companies are taking the step to remove artificial food dyes from production. Grocery stores free of artificial food coloring include:

• Whole Foods Market

• Trader Joe’s

• Aldi

Some brands do not use artificial food coloring either. Examples include:

• Annie’s 

• Unreal Snacks

• GoGo Squeez

• Chomps Meat Sticks

• KIND 

How to identify ingredients on food labels

If you’d like to reduce your exposure to food additives, the best place to begin is with your food label. Nutrition labels hold a large amount of information, from the calories to sodium content and much more. 

The ingredients area of your nutrition label will tell you about food additives in your food or drink. But there are still some pitfalls:

• Things like food dyes, BHA, and BHT may be listed. 

• Dairy products may not show rBST directly on the nutrition label, but it must be noted on the product packing in some way. 

• Titanium dioxide may be more difficult to find, as it could be listed as another name including artificial or added coloring. 

If you have questions about a specific additive or food, don’t be shy about reaching out directly to the food brand to ask.