Every country has its customs and … a list
of banned food ingredients. Yep. “You can’t always get what you want… But if you try sometimes, you just might find,
you get what you need”. Or not. Things you can always find on the shelf of
your local grocery store might be off limits somewhere else in the world. That’s not just a cultural phenomenon, but
a matter of health and safety, so listen up – you might want to reconsider your list
the next time you go shopping. 1. Chicken In Europe and Great Britain, selling chicken
treated with chlorine has been banned since 1997. Since 2010, chlorinated chicken has also been
banned in Russia. Chicken is washed with chlorine to prevent
salmonella and other bacterial infections. In Europe, this method is considered dangerous
because a high chlorine content may cause carcinogens (that is, any substance capable
of causing cancer) to form in poultry, and that can be harmful to human health. 2. Cereal bars Cereal bars, oatmeal, and the like are considered
to be among the healthiest foods, rich in essential vitamins and minerals worldwide. However, in Denmark, these products have been
banned since 2004! According to the Danish Veterinary and Food
Administration, they contain an excess of “toxic” substances, which can have an
adverse effect on children’s livers and kidneys if consumed regularly. 3. Farmed salmon Salmon that was born and raised in the wild
is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and is good for you, no doubt. The farm-raised version, however, has a diet
of grains, antibiotics, and other medicines, which makes the fish greyish. To give it the attractive-looking pink shade,
it’s then processed with synthetic substances. No wonder farmed salmon is banned from a list
of countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Recently, salmon farming has also been banned
in Washington state. 4. Soy sauce According to a study published in Science
Direct in 2016, 82% of all grown soybeans are genetically modified. The effects of GMOs on the human body haven’t
been fully studied, but GMOs are prohibited in some European countries, Russia, the Persian
Gulf countries, and other states. What’s more, soy sauce can also contain
ethyl carbamate, a dangerous carcinogen. 5. Meat Quite often, the meat of cattle, pigs, and
turkeys is produced with ractopamine. This hormone allows an animal to gain weight
faster. Scientists believe that this meat can be harmful
for people and lead to cardiovascular diseases. Meat produced with ractopamine is banned in
160 countries, including the EU countries, China, and Russia. 6. Chips Potato chips containing olestra, a synthetic
fat substitute, are banned in Canada and Europe. It doesn’t add fat, calories, or cholesterol. But, this supplement prevents the body from
absorbing useful substances and vitamins, and can lead to severe stomach issues. One Journal reported two cases when healthy
kids had stomach problems while, and after eating, potato chips containing olestra. Note that it’s often used in the production
of potato chips marked with the word “light.” It can also be found in certain sorts of cheese,
margarine, crackers, ice cream, and other products. 7. Apples An inspection conducted by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture in 2014 found that 80% of apples contain diphenylamine (also known as DPA),
which helps fruits stay fresher for longer so they can be exported all around the world. In Europe, DPA is considered to be a harmful
substance that may cause cancer, which is why apples that contain it have been banned
there since 2012. 8. Chewing gum It’s easy to guess that chewing gums have
chemical ingredients in them to make them taste so sweet without conventional sugars,
and stay edible for so long. The two preservatives many chewing gums contain:
BHA and BHT, are banned in Japan and parts of the European Union. Both of these chemicals have been shown to
give rats cancer, and might have a similar effect on humans. By the way, chewing gum is also outlawed in
Singapore since 1992, but it’s not because of its composition. The authorities banned it to keep the city
streets clean and stain-free. 9. Gelatin sweets According to the European commission, gelatin
sweets in small cups are extremely dangerous for children because they’re a choking hazard. These sweets may also contain konjac, a fiber
that swells when it comes into contact with moisture and may get stuck in the throat. In this case, it’ll be impossible to give
the Heimlich maneuver. This treat is banned in Europe, Australia,
and other countries. 10. Citrus flavored soda Brominated vegetable oil is the main ingredient
in orange colored soda and is a toxic poisonous chemical. It helps the citrus flavor stay crisp, and
prevents separation, but builds up in the human body. Large amounts of BVO-containing soda can give
you some really serious health issues: from skin and nerve problems, to memory loss. That’s why it’s banned in Europe and Japan. 11. Bread A lot of US manufacturers of bread, wraps,
rolls, breadcrumbs and the like add potassium bromate to bleached dough to make it more
elastic. It helps them reduce baking time and cost,
but can give its consumers serious kidney and nervous system damage when consumed in
large quantities. No wonder it’s banned in Brazil, Canada,
China, and the EU, and some other countries across the world. 12. Boxed pasta Certain kinds of boxed pasta, frozen dinners
and packaged baked goods contain azodicarbonamide (also known as ADA, E927). It’s banned in Europe and Australia. ADA is used to make flour white, and helps
to keep products fresher for longer. This supplement may cause allergies and asthma. 13. Raw milk Raw, or unpasteurized milk, is so common in
Europe, especially in Austria and Switzerland, you can buy it from a vending machine there. However, it’s been banned in about half
of the United States for the past thirty years. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
warns it can contain harmful bacteria and germs that can give you some serious stomach
diseases and, in some rare cases, cause life-threatening illness. 14. Dairy products Raw milk is illegal in much of the US, but
the synthetic hormone rBGH contained in many dairy products isn’t. This hormone is supposed to increase milk
production, but is known to cause infertility and antibiotic resistance in cows that are
treated with it. You can’t be 100% sure it won’t have a
similar effect on humans. rBGH is also linked with certain kinds of
cancer. No wonder it’s banned in Canada, Israel,
and the European Union. 15. Instant mashed potatoes To produce instant mashed potatoes, butylated
hydroxyanisole (ВНА or Е320, to make it easier) is often used. The National Institutes of Health conducted
several studies and concluded that this preservative is potentially harmful to human health. ВНА can also be found in other products
like frozen foods, soups, and mayonnaise. This substance is banned in Japan and some
European countries. 16. Artificial food dyes
A lot of foods, from cereals and baked goods, to candy and soda, have artificial dyes in
them. They do make food look prettier, but they’re
produced out of chemicals derived from petroleum. Yes, the same petroleum used in gasoline production. It’s no wonder they’re highly toxic and
can be really dangerous for your health, causing allergic reactions and nerve cell deterioration. So they’re banned in countries like Austria,
Finland, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom. 17. Margarine Consuming trans fats may lead to metabolism
issues, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases. The highest percentage of trans fats are found
in margarine. They make up around 15% of the total weight
of the product. Trans fat foods are prohibited in Canada,
Denmark, and Switzerland. In many other countries there are laws restricting
the amounts allowed in food. And a Bonus of Banned Foods: Not all foods are banned because of the ingredients
they contain. In some cases, it’s a matter of traditions
or animal rights. For example, the French delicacy, foie gras,
or fatty goose liver, is banned in some European countries, Israel, India, Argentina, and some
American states. The reason for the ban is animal abuse: birds
are kept in tiny cages and forcibly fed using a tube until their livers get 7-10 times bigger. At French schools, serving ketchup is limited
to once per week to accompany French fries. It’s done so to preserve local culinary
traditions. As for Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs, they’re
off limits in the US because of legislation. A 1938 law bans any inedible objects inside
food products to prevent small children from choking on them. Interestingly, a lot of people try to break
this law every year, carrying tens of thousands of Kinder Surprise eggs across the US border. But they shall not pass. Some fans even file petitions to change legislation,
but have been unsuccessful so far. But don’t fret, a new version of the sweet
treat was recently released in the US, with 2 separately wrapped halves, that prevent
the toy from coming into contact with the chocolate. And how about you? cAre there any foods on the list you’re
ready to give up, or have an opinion about? Let me know down in the comments! If you learned something new today, then give
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