Food Lifestyle Social Issues

12 Banned Foods Americans Should Stop Eating

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15 min read
Summary

Many foods sold in the United States are banned or fiercely regulated in other countries due to potentially harmful additives, growth promoters, genetically engineered ingredients, herbicides, or dangerous ingredients. Find out what you need to know about these foods and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

As shocking as it seems, it’s not uncommon in the United States to find types of food and ingredients that are outright banned in other countries. Certain food production practices that are outlawed elsewhere are also permitted in the US. While other nations enforce stricter regulations to protect public health, the US often takes a more lenient approach, allowing additives and practices that many experts deem questionable.

Meanwhile, healthcare spending (much of it on treating symptoms of chronic disease) is vastly higher in the US than in any other country on Earth. Yet, the US has significantly lower life expectancy than other similarly developed nations. Increasing levels of food allergies and behavioral disorders are also cause for concern. These conditions and diseases are often highly preventable by addressing diet and lifestyle. Could the difference in food safety standards be a factor in these troubling trends?

To understand why the US allows ingredients banned elsewhere, we’ll explore what makes these substances controversial, how they’ve been regulated abroad, and what this reveals about US food policies. By examining the ingredients banned abroad but still permitted in the US, we can better understand what might fuel America’s growing health crises — and what you can do to protect yourself and the people you care about.

How Countries Regulate Food Safety

Washington, D.C., USA- January 13, 2020: FDA Sign at its headquarters in Washington DC. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the USA.
iStock.com/JHVEPhoto

When it comes to food safety regulations, countries take diverse approaches that reflect their particular priorities, values, and governance systems.

The European Union (EU) operates under a “precautionary principle.” Essentially, it takes a proactive stance, implementing strict regulations on food and chemicals to safeguard public health even when scientific evidence about potential harm isn’t conclusive.

If there’s a hint of risk, the EU will likely ban or heavily restrict the ingredient or additive until its safety can be established. If they aren’t sure, it is better to err on the side of protecting people from potential harm.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States follows a very different philosophy. It relies on regulatory impact analysis to determine whether a particular ingredient should be allowed. When considering regulation, benefits and downsides are measured against costs and savings.

This means that those who point out potential danger have the burden of proof. They need to provide concrete evidence of harm before any bans or restrictions are implemented. This is why some additives banned in Europe remain in US food products — they’re considered “safe” within certain usage thresholds because the financial burden of replacing them is deemed more significant than any negative health consequences.

These contrasting approaches reflect bigger-picture priorities. The EU leans toward protecting public trust and erring on the side of caution, while the US gives food and drug companies the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, in the US, this means consumers often need to do their own research, read labels carefully, and make informed choices about what they put on their plates.

Check out How to Read Food Labels: Your Complete Consumer Guide for more comprehensive advice on what to look out for.

The Problems With FDA Regulation

McDonald's fries in US vs UK
McDonald’s fries ingredients in the US vs UK. Source: McDonald’s

As much as we would like to believe that everything on grocery store shelves is safe to put in our bodies, the truth is sometimes different. The food supply in the US (and in many other nations, too) is full of chemical flavorings, additives, colorings, and other questionable ingredients.

But before we look at what foods you should stop eating, let’s explore why the US government lets this happen in the first place.

Generally Recognized As Safe

The answer lies in the FDA’s regulatory process — or lack thereof — for approving food additives. Through a system known as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS), food companies can use new chemicals and food additives without FDA oversight or approval. GRAS was first implemented in the 1950s, and little has changed in its requirements since then.

What are the requirements for a substance to be considered GRAS? So long as “the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe…,” new ingredients are fair game.

Any lawyer reading that quote is probably hyperventilating right now at the vagueness of the terminology. What makes someone a “qualified expert,” for example? And how do those experts “generally recognize” anything?

In practice, food and chemical companies often convene their own “expert” panels to decide whether an ingredient will pose harm. Many of these panels contain scientists with financial ties to all manner of industries — even the tobacco industry (“experts” who may have, at one time, recommended that cigarettes were safe!). Based on a panel’s recommendations, companies may decide to share the results of the panel’s assessment with the FDA. But by law, they’re not required to do so.

Most of the chemicals and additives on the GRAS list have never been tested on humans for long enough to produce meaningful data. Therefore, they can’t be guaranteed safe under the FDA’s requirements. So, it’s no surprise that some GRAS-approved substances have not withstood the test of time.

Take trans fats, for example. By​​ the time the FDA started using the GRAS classification, they were grandfathered in as GRAS. They were marketed as cooking oils and added to foods like frozen pizza, peanut butter, packaged snack foods, and margarine. Unfortunately, we later learned that trans fats were causing upwards of 500,000 deaths per year from associated heart disease.

In 2015, the FDA finally decided that trans fats, or partially hydrogenated oils, were unsafe. It gave food manufacturers a few years to remove them from the food supply. Since the ban, many food companies have replaced trans fats with ingredients like palm oil, which has its own set of concerns.

The reason that many banned foods are still allowed in the US often comes down to money. Companies producing or using ingredients banned abroad may lobby to keep these substances on the market, arguing that restrictions would harm economic competitiveness or innovation. Additionally, these industries often resist stricter labeling laws that could inform consumers about potential risks, citing fears of decreased sales.

So, what can you, as a consumer, do? For one thing, be aware of this list of banned foods that are still in the US food supply.

12 Banned Foods That Are Still Widely Used in the US

Below are some of the most commonly used food ingredients and industry practices allowed in the US but banned or highly regulated elsewhere.

1. Bleached Flour

A stock photo of sifting flour
iStock.com/KellyJHall

In the United States, bleached flour is widely used in baked goods such as breads, cakes, cookies, and pastries and sold directly to consumers for home baking. The bleaching process involves treating flour with chemicals like chlorine gas or benzoyl peroxide (which you may recognize from TV commercials for some over-the-counter acne medications — yum!) to achieve a whiter color, softer texture, and finer grain. While this process may enhance the flour’s look and feel, health concerns have been raised due to potential chemical residues and byproducts remaining in the food.

Cake flour, in particular, may retain chemicals due to the bleaching process. One study found trace amounts of alloxan in 24% of chlorine-bleached flour samples tested. Alloxan is used in laboratory settings to induce diabetes in animal models for research. (Our view on animals in medical research is here.) Studies show it can damage the pancreas’ insulin-producing beta cells. The concern is that chronic exposure, even at low levels, might contribute to insulin resistance or impact pancreatic function, particularly in people with existing metabolic dysfunction.

Yet despite the damage they may pose, these chemical bleaching agents are on the GRAS list in the US. In contrast, the EU banned chemical bleaching agents, including chlorine, bromates, and peroxides, in the 1990s. Similarly, the United Kingdom and China prohibit benzoyl peroxide and other chemical whiteners in food products.

For more on flours, including plenty of non-bleached flours, check out our article, Is Flour Healthy? Sifting Through 24 of the Most Popular Types of Flour.

2. Dough Conditioners

A professional Digita SLR photo of breadbasket with delicious crispy Austrian, German, Swiss buns. There are traditional buns inside the breadbasket. Breadbasket placed on a blue table mat with a red towel. Post processing with adobe Photoshop. shot taken using Canon camera.
iStock.com/Lal Nallath

Some of the chemicals used to bleach flour are also dough conditioners. Potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide are often used to improve the strength and texture of bread dough used in white breads, rolls, and “egg breads.” However, they may also pose a serious health risk.

Potassium bromate is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a category 2B carcinogen, meaning it’s “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” (Their report cites studies showing carcinogenicity in rats, mice, and hamsters.) Exposure to dough conditioners like azodicarbonamide may also cause respiratory disorders like asthma and other breathing difficulties.

Based on this evidence, potassium bromate is banned in China, India, and Brazil, among other countries. Azodicarbonamide is banned in Australia and Europe. Recently, a few US states have also taken action to protect their citizens from these chemicals. In 2023, California became the first US state to ban potassium bromate and other additives from food. New York also introduced a similar bill that is still pending in the state senate’s Agriculture Committee.

3. Brominated Vegetable Oil

iStock.com/jfmdesign and subjug with modifications

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) acts as an emulsifier in certain colorful sports drinks and citrus-flavored sodas (such as Sun Drop). Chemical companies originally patented BVO as a flame retardant — part of a class of chemicals with a host of adverse health effects on children, adults, and animals.

The FDA never actually deemed BVO as GRAS, but it was approved for food use anyway, as long as its concentration never exceeded “5 parts per million in the finished beverage.”

Studies have shown that the main chemical in BVO, bromine, accumulates in human tissue and breast milk and can cause neurological effects over time. Bromine toxicity can lead to skin rashes, appetite loss, and heart problems, as well as major organ damage and birth defects. Bromine also competes with iodine for receptor sites in the body, which can increase the risk of iodine deficiency, autoimmune disease, and even certain cancers.

BVO has been used in food and beverages in the US since 1977 when the FDA first approved it. However, it’s banned in the European Union, India, Japan, and recently Canada. The good news for fans of safe food is that the FDA revoked the allowance of BVO in food effective August 2, 2024, after reviewing the results of a study conducted between the FDA and the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Food manufacturers were given one year to comply, so BVO is still in the food supply as of this writing.

4. Propylparaben

Muffins in grocery store, supermarket or bakery in plastic packaging background food photo. Assorted variety of different kinds of muffins.
iStock.com/Elena Treshcheva

In the United States, propylparaben is used as a preservative in a variety of packaged and processed foods to prevent spoilage. It’s also used as a stabilizer in water-based cosmetics, although the use of parabens in personal care products has recently been restricted in the US and EU.

Animal studies have shown that propylparaben may affect male sex hormones. In a 2002 study, researchers found that it significantly lowered sperm counts in rats. Cornell University research indicated that exposure to parabens may also be linked to breast cancer.

Environmental Working Group senior scientist Johanna Congleton, PhD, reports, “It is of great concern to us that the use of an endocrine-disrupting chemical in our food is considered safe by our own government… Studies show that chemicals that disrupt hormone signaling can lead to developmental and reproductive problems.”

In 2006, the European Food Safety Authority banned the use of propylparaben in food and limited its use in cosmetic products. Although it’s on the FDA’s GRAS list, propylparaben is another food additive that California banned starting in August 2025.

5. BHA and BHT

Breakfast cereal balls mix texture background, crunchy corn cereals collage, color crispy corn balls pattern, pink, yellow or brown and white corn flakes collage
iStock.com/Oksana Ermak

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are popular artificial antioxidants used to preserve dry mixes, cereals, dehydrated potato products, and dry pet foods to increase their shelf life. They’re also found in product packaging, where they can leach into food.

BHA and BHT are endocrine disruptors — meaning that they can alter the normal function of your hormones, especially thyroid hormones, and lead to disease. The IARC also lists BHA as a class 2B carcinogen — “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

Most countries have at least Allowed Daily Ingestion (ADI) levels for both BHA and BHT, which set amounts that are considered acceptable (although not necessarily safe) in food. The European Union also has a partial ban on the use of BHA and BHT in food and beverages for infants and young children. 

6. Synthetic Food Dyes

Unhealthy products. food bad for figure, skin, heart and teeth. Assortment of fast carbohydrates food and softdrink
iStock.com/beats3

Synthetic food dyes, such as blue 2, yellow 5, and red 40, are used to enhance the coloring of certain foods and ingredients to make them more appealing to consumers. Some foods commonly containing food dyes include beverages (like juices, sports drinks, and sodas), candy, and glazes used in baked goods and sweets. They’re even used in seemingly trivial cases: making mustard more yellow, salmon more pink, and jarred pickles the perfect shade of yellow-green. (Again, the food industry maximizes profit rather than focuses on human well-being.) And don’t even get me started on maraschino cherries, which get their vibrant hue from a chemical derived from petroleum distillates or coal tar!

Research has linked the consumption of certain synthetic dyes to an increased risk for numerous health conditions, like kidney, brain, and bladder tumors and hyperactivity in children. Studies show the FDA’s acceptable daily intake for using these dyes in food and beverages may be outdated, leaving children at increased risk.

It’s not like all our food was gray or beige until someone invented artificial colors. US food manufacturers used natural food dyes until the mid-19th century when they turned to cheaper chemicals that turned food into even brighter colors.

Some synthetic food dyes are banned in the UK or highly regulated in Europe and Australia, where more natural coloring compounds are used. In most of the world, for example, the beverage Fanta contains actual fruit juice and is dyed naturally. However, American Fanta is colored with petroleum-derived artificial dyes like red 40 and yellow 6.

Promisingly, some US states are beginning to take matters into their own hands regarding food dyes. Once again, California is leading the charge, banning six synthetic food dyes from schools: red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1, blue 2, and green 3. Ten other states have legislation in the works as well.

7. GMOs

Corn and lab equipment. Concept for biofuel research.
iStock.com/Bill Oxford

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), also known as bioengineered (BE) foods, have been around since the 1980s to allegedly “improve beneficial characteristics in plants such as increased yield, drought tolerance or improved taste, for example.”  But the reality has been much different for farmers — and for the health of farmworkers and consumers.

One of the most common herbicides used with GMOs is glyphosate, the primary active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup. Glyphosate exposure and consumption are linked to cancer. Several people won cases alleging that glyphosate caused their cancer. Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup, is currently fighting cancer lawsuits in multiple states. California alone has over 4,300 Roundup cases.

GMO crops are widespread in the US — most US-produced soy, sugar beets, corn, canola, cotton, and alfalfa are GMO crops. But many European countries and others have banned or regulated them due to public safety concerns. The only GMO crop cultivated in the EU is a type of corn used for animal feed.

In total, 64 countries around the world require GMO labeling. And there are bans or major restrictions in place in Algeria, Austria, Belize, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Venezuela.

For more in-depth information on GMOs and pesticides, read our article, What Are GMOs or Bioengineered Foods? And Are They Safe?

8. Antibiotics

Close up of a syringe veterinarina is holding to vaccinate a cow in a barn.
iStock.com/tomazl

In the 1940s, it was discovered that antibiotics promoted growth in cattle and other meat-producing animals. Farmers included antibiotics in feed to increase yields for saleable meat. Although the USDA banned antibiotics as growth promoters in 2017, their usage has not been tracked. They are still allowed to prevent and treat illness in livestock.

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) often give animals antibiotics to control the disease resulting from overpopulation and overcrowded environments. Antibiotics also function as growth promoters, which could be a bonus to encourage their use.

Ractopamine is an antibiotic used in the US for pigs, cows, and turkeys. It has been banned in 122 countries, including Russia, mainland China, Taiwan, and many European states. In addition to promoting antibiotic resistance, it has been linked to reproductive and cardiovascular damage in humans, as well as chromosomal and behavioral changes.

The EU, Mexico, and New Zealand also have blanket bans on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) for livestock.

Unfortunately, as with other drugs given to animals, these chemicals don’t just go away when the animal is slaughtered. Some of them make their way into the meat sold in stores. But getting a side of drugs along with your meat isn’t just a one-time problem. The overuse of antibiotics, whether prescribed directly by a doctor or ingested through our food supply, can have serious consequences. The more antibiotics are used when they’re not necessary, the more likely it can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

For more on antibiotics in food, see our article, The Surprising Truth About Antibiotics, Factory Farms, and Food Recalls.

9. Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides

a farmer in a protective white suit treats white cabbage with pesticides against diseases and pests, pest control and plant diseases to obtain a large harvest
iStock.com/Anton Skripachev

Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are widely used on crops in the US food system to keep them free of bugs and diseases. However, many pesticides harm people, insects, animals, and the environment.

Organophosphate pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, are particularly problematic. Initially developed by the Nazis for chemical warfare, these compounds were later adapted for agricultural use. Numerous studies over the years have connected prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos and other organophosphates with lowered IQ and attention deficits in children.

Chlorpyrifos was recently banned in the EU and several other countries because of its neurotoxic effects, especially on children. And the US EPA banned it in 2021. However, a US federal court reversed the ban in 2023, and it is still widely used on US crops.

Fungicides like carbendazim are also banned in the EU and Australia but still permitted in the US, even though they are associated with reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption.

The continued use of these chemicals in the US is largely due to lenient regulations, lobbying by the Big Ag industry, and a focus on cost-benefit analysis. While these substances may provide short-term benefits for farmers, their potential long-term health risks and environmental impacts highlight the need for stricter oversight and alternative farming practices.

For more on pesticides, check out these articles:

The US Still Uses Many Pesticides Banned in Other Countries

Pesticides in Food: What You Should Know and Why it Matters 

EPA Identifies Three Common Pesticides Pushing Endangered Species to the Brink

10. Olestra

Macro shot of potato chips
iStock.com/dtimiraos

Olestra, or Olean, is a cholesterol-free fat substitute created by Procter & Gamble (P&G) in the 1990s. Its creation was to “address one of our nation’s most important health goals — our need to reduce dietary fat intake…” according to Suzette J. Middleton, P&G’s senior nutrition scientist at the time. It’s still used in snacks like fat-free potato chips, prepackaged popcorn, and french fries in the US.

But over the years, Olestra has been known to cause extremely unpleasant digestive reactions, like diarrhea and leaky bowels, because it’s not meant to be digestible. Consuming a lot of it can also lead to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as carotenoids.

Olestra’s use in food is banned in Canada and Europe.

11. Synthetic Hormones

Male farmer pouring milk in canister at dairy farm with cow in background
iStock.com/SimonSkafar

Synthetic hormones like rBGH and rBST are widely used in the US dairy industry. The primary reason for this is to increase milk production in dairy cows. However, rBGH and rBST increase IGF-1 levels in humans and may increase the risk of developing cancer. Additionally, cows treated with rBGH are more likely to develop mastitis, an udder infection requiring treatment with antibiotics.

The use of growth hormones in food is banned in Canada, the EU, and other countries.

12. PFAS

San Diego, California, United States - April 21st 2011: This is a photo taken in the studio on a white background of a variety of unhealthy foods. Ready to eat convenience food that is regular consumed can lead to obesity and health problems.
iStock.com/skodonnell

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals with grease, water, and heat-resistant properties. PFAS have been used in fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and takeout containers. But their resilience comes at a cost. PFAS are also known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment (including drinking water) and human bodies. Ingestion of these chemicals is linked to severe health issues, including cancer, immune dysfunction, and developmental problems.

The European Union, Denmark, and Canada have banned or are phasing out PFAS, reflecting a more precautionary approach to public health. However, in February 2024, the FDA announced a major milestone — the voluntary phase-out of PFAS-based grease-proofing materials in food packaging. This move addresses a significant source of dietary exposure. While progress is being made, PFAS are still allowed in limited applications like cookware and food processing equipment.

The good news is that, as of 2024, at least 12 states, including California, New York, Connecticut, and Washington, have implemented statewide PFAS bans.

Banned Foods Americans Should Stop Eating

What You Can Do

The question you might be asking right now is, what can I do to protect myself? While you can’t immediately control what food companies are choosing to put in their products, you don’t have to eat them. And there are steps you can take to make healthier, safer food choices wherever you live.

Here are some tips on how to make sure the food you eat is as safe as possible:

  1. Read all food labels carefully. Familiarize yourself with the aforementioned banned ingredients and their alternative names, and look for them on packaged food labels. For advice on how to read food labels, check out this comprehensive guide.
  2. Eat minimally processed or, even better, whole, organic foods as much as possible. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains won’t have the long list of ingredients that packaged and processed foods often do.
  3. Cook at home as much as you can. This way, you have more control over the food you’re eating. You’ll know what ingredients are being used and can decide to eat the foods that best align with your values. For cooking tips and tricks, check out our How to Cook series of videos.
  4. Support more local, regenerative, and organic farmers.
  5. Sign petitions. This is a great way to get involved in public policy, and you don’t even have to leave home. One of my favorite places to find and sign petitions is the Center for Food Safety website.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait for the US FDA or USDA to change policy to make informed choices about what you eat and feed to your family. Every bite you take is a chance to take a stand for a safer and healthier life.

Tell us in the comments:

  • How concerned are you about dangerous, banned chemicals in the food supply?
  • Do you think the US should adopt a more rigorous review process of chemicals in food?
  • Are there any foods or ingredients you won’t eat because you’re concerned about their safety?

Featured Image: iStock.com/happy_lark

Read Next:

  • The food industry should be ashamed. As they are now being exposed nationwide through the MAHA movement, they better be careful. I can see more lawsuits coming their way! This is so outrageous! I hope they all answer to someone! How can you knowingly put chemicals into the food supply? How do these meetings go? We are not turning enough profit and the FDA says it’s ok, so let’s keep going and even ramp it up. I bet you none of them and their families eat this stuff cause they know better. I hope they all enjoyed their champagne toast at the annual meeting! We are slowly chipping away now at the surface but have a long way to go!
    On the bright side, there is now a host of opportunities to make things better by starting other clean companies! It will happen, and is happening, and the “thirst” for it will eventually eclipse and overtake the Big Ag companies in the years and decades to come!

  • I am extremely concerned and it makes me sick that this is happening here in the US and nothing is done about it.

  • We’re so sorry to hear about your terrifying experience — thank you for speaking up and helping raise awareness.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you for being such a mindful and courageous advocate for your health.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you for sharing so openly — you’re absolutely not alone in feeling overwhelmed by today’s food landscape. At FRN, we believe informed choices and collective advocacy can spark the change we all need to see in the food industry.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • We hear you — it’s heartbreaking to see policies that prioritize profits over people, and your voice helps fuel the movement for a healthier, more just food system.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thanks so much for sharing this, and yes — tools like the Yuka app can be incredibly helpful for empowering consumers with transparent, accessible information about ingredients.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Jane, we love hearing how you’re taking charge of your health with organic choices and homegrown greens! Thank you for your support.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Kelley, what an incredible legacy your father passed down—thank you for sharing such a deeply personal and passionate story.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you so much for your kind words, Paul! We’re thrilled you’re exploring tools like Yuka—label transparency is empowering, and it’s exciting to see more people using independent apps to make informed choices.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you, Irene. You’re so right—there’s a real cost to the shortcuts taken in our food system, and it’s heartening to hear about the growing awareness in Germany. We hope that this global shift toward healthier, more conscious choices continues to gain momentum everywhere.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you, Margaret, for your encouragement—we’re committed to continuing this work and helping people take informed action toward a healthier food system.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Beautifully said, John—seasonal eating truly brings nature’s rhythm into our diets, and it’s heartening to hear how a healthy lifestyle can feel both nourishing and inspiring year-round.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Ken, that sounds like such a vibrant and wholesome way to eat—fresh, local produce is truly powerful. Even when dining out, your awareness of added salt, sugar, and oil shows real mindfulness about your health.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you, Cheryl, for your enthusiasm! We wholeheartedly agree—early, age-appropriate food education is so important, and it’s encouraging to hear your passion for spreading awareness across borders.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you for sharing—your concern is deeply valid. The rise in preventable diseases is heartbreaking, and we believe everyone, everywhere deserves access to food that nourishes and protects health—not harms it.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • You’re not alone—many people are outraged by the disconnect between what’s allowed in U.S. foods and what’s banned elsewhere.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you for your thoughtful words. We share your concern—protecting food standards should never be compromised for profit, and transparency in trade policy is essential to safeguarding public health.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Many people share your frustration. At FRN, we believe our regulatory systems should put public health first—and we’re committed to raising awareness so people can make truly informed choices.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • That’s such a powerful reflection—many Indigenous food systems prior to colonization were built around harmony with nature and nutrient-dense whole foods.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you for your kind words and for leading by example with such intentional choices. We share your concern about food deserts—everyone deserves access to nourishing, whole foods, and raising awareness is a vital step toward equity and change.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • At FRN, we believe raising our voices and making informed choices are powerful tools for change.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you for sharing your journey—your awareness and intentionality are powerful. We agree: reading labels and understanding what’s allowed in our food systems is key to making choices that truly support health.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • Thank you for your kind words—it’s wonderful to hear you’re thriving at 75! We’re so glad our work supports your journey to vibrant health.

    ~Myila, FRN Team

  • At FRN, we advocate for aligning U.S. food standards with those of countries that prioritize public health—and we believe transparency and accountability from industry leaders should be part of the conversation too.

    -Myila, FRN Team

  • I am very concerned about the ingredients used in the food in US and think that at the very minimum we need to be at the same level as in Europe instead of them relaxing their rules.
    I also think we need to follow the CEOs and board members to see if they themselves use their products.

  • Thank Yous for speaking about these dangers that noone else helps us become educated to: am doing all you recommend and, thankfully, thriving @75.

  • Thank you so much for sharing your journey — it’s inspiring to hear how you’re listening to your body and making mindful shifts.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thomas, We are so excited that you found this information helpful.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Tom it’s our pleasure to have you as a part of our community. Thanks for the comment.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thank you for bringing up such an important — and increasingly common — concern.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thank you so much, Claire — we’re honored the article resonated with you.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thank you for staying curious and asking the questions that push this conversation forward!

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • We absolutely love everything about this — your journey, your curiosity, and your commitment to better choices. Thanks for the inspiration and the smile!

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thank you so much for your thoughtful message and inspiring food choices! The next generation deserves better. Every conscious bite helps pave the way.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Norma,
    That’s amazing to hear — every step away from processed foods is a win for your health. We’re so glad the article helped bring more clarity to what’s really in our food.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thank you for bringing attention to this critical piece of the puzzle.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thank you so much for sharing this — your concern is incredibly valid and echoes what many parents have discovered through firsthand experience. Be well.

    -Myila, FRN team

  • We love your passion — and we couldn’t agree more! Getting this kind of critical information into the hands of policymakers, candidates, and leaders is exactly how change happens.

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Thank you so much for sharing your story. We’re deeply sorry to hear about your health challenges and the difficult—and—unfortunate experience you had with hospital food. No one healing from a serious illness should have to worry about whether their meals are nourishing or safe.

    Thank you for your courage, Please keep taking gentle care of yourself.

    Myila, FRN team

  • Hi Aude & Elton,

    Thank you — what a beautiful and thoughtful note. We’re honored to be part of your and your husband’s journey toward conscious, informed living. It’s inspiring to hear how you’ve long been committed to mindful choices and are still open to learning more — that’s the heart of this movement.

    -Myila, FRN team

  • Hi Patty,

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience — it sounds like you’re on a powerful journey of healing and discovery. We’re honored that our article on the 12 banned ingredients resonated with you and is helping to illuminate your path.

    There are many foods that can support your body’s natural detox pathways. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts are rich in compounds like sulforaphane that aid detoxification. Garlic and onions provide sulfur, which supports liver function. Cilantro and chlorella are often used to help bind and eliminate heavy metals. Fiber-rich foods help sweep toxins from the digestive tract, and antioxidant-rich berries, green tea, and turmeric offer powerful cellular protection.

    We always encourage working with a qualified health practitioner to tailor any detox protocol to your body’s unique needs — especially with something as specific as mold-related illness. But you are absolutely on the right track by tuning into cleaner, healing foods and becoming more informed about what to avoid.

    We’re so glad you’re part of this community — and we’re cheering you on every step of the way!

    ~Myila, FRN team

  • Hi Goldie,

    Thank you for sharing your powerful perspective. At FRN, we’re committed to helping create a world where ethical practices and conscious leadership become the norm — not the exception. Thank you for being a voice in this movement.

    -Myila, FRN team

  • Hi Christine,

    Thank you so much for sharing your heartfelt response. We hear you — loud and clear.

    It is scary to realize how many harmful ingredients are allowed into our food system. The frustration and disbelief you expressed are feelings we know many in our community share. And you’re absolutely right — everyone deserves real choice when it comes to the food they put on their plates.

    We believe that informed, empowered consumers like you are essential to transforming the food system. The good news is that you’re not alone.

    -Myila, FRN team

  • Oh my gosh! While I knew most (not all) of this information at some point in my life… to have it all compiled and recognize just how awful our food contamination is… well, it scares me! No wonder! It’s the FOOD that is causing people to be CRAZY!! If I’m wrong, then fine. My suggestion.. have clearly defined stores that can, and will carry this (in my opinion) contaminated & unhealthy food. I’m certain it will be less expensive. But, I want to shop at stores where I know none of this stuff is in my food. I know I’ll pay more… for a while… until the healthy food catches on and more people buy the clean food. This is the United States and we are not a third world county. I’ve always heard other countries have better food than us. Now I believe it. I just want a choice! I want to shop where I know none of that junk is within the 4 walls of my grocery store.

  • Trump wants to sell US food to the UK and bypass all our(UK) hard-won rules about food. All the US government seems to care about is more money for their rich people. Watch out, it will get worse under Trumpism. Try and grow your own!

  • I would like the USA to be cared for with the same philosophy as used in the other countries where known anti-health ingredients are banned. I would like companies to research and find healthy ways to make more money and eliminate the unhealthy ways.

  • Patty, I thought you may like to know, perhaps you already do, that taking activated charcoal helps detox the body. I have been using it. You have blackened stool.I assume its drawing out the toxins.

  • Hey John, Have you heard the “news” the FDA acronym has changed to mean Fraud n Death Administers . LOL FDA funded by Big Pharma !

  • This is great information to share (the 12 banned foods)! I am detoxing from mold and a whole new world has opened before my eyes – the toxic substances, how to avoid them and the foods that help detox toxins from your body.

  • I asked a local store why round up was still on shelves. The answer: Round up has changed the ingredients in the product. Sorry, not buying it!!!
    Shame on the US for not banning this product which has been proven to cause cancer in humans.

  • Thank you, Ocean and everybody at FRN, for all the information you send us! My husband and I (73 and 71) are Canadian and already fairly ‘up on’ and careful about what we buy and eat, but we read this article with interest.. and learned a few new things. We’re grateful to know some of these substances are banned in Canada. We’re just finishing listening to the fabulous 1962 book by Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, and today was a chapter (14) on how cancers can develop thanks to pesticides, directly or indirectly through their effect on the liver. This was based on the research at that time, of course, and we would expect scientists and *people* to know so much better *by now*.. and yet, sadly, apparently that is not so. That the use of pesticides and other carcinogens still in our world today is driven mainly by money and greed, we cannot help but assume. We should protest.. with our voices but also with our $$.. by simply refusing to buy these products. “Let’s do this!” 🙂

  • The only way we can teach a lesson is to boycott
    It is a shame how our companies do this to us
    Also we should put pressure on our Govt

  • We have to change the food that served at hospitals, etc. in California and all over the Usa..
    we don’t have choices when there.
    It’s unhealthy disgusting food that is pre package , with sugar, salt, soy, high fructose corn syrup, agave etc.
    Fake chemical food!
    I was served pancakes with high fructose corn syrup etc. of course made from junk food.
    I was in the hospital for a month!!!
    Had Pneumonia, Covid , and 2 more infections.
    Lost more then 10 pounds , come home weighing 110 pounds. I wouldn’t eat allot of the hospital food , and told from nurses have your family stop at fast foods (yuck ) the food will taste better!!!’
    Salad and fruit bowls even tasted with chemicals , All food was low grade, and chemicals..help.

  • I have more of a plant-based lifestyle. I don’t do meat, dairy or eggs. I found out that McDonald’s fries are not vegan so I realized they have nothing for me to eat. In the UK which I recently went to I realized the same thing about the fries that was shown in this article, the fries are vegan. McDonald’s was founded in the US yet we do not have vegan items on the menu. I realized it is what is allowed between the two countries and the people in those countries. This year I became more intentional about what I put into my body realizing that what may be labelled and promoted one way as natural could actually be harmful if you don’t read the labels. It’s sad but so many people are not even concerned but they have diseases and sicknesses and are on a lot of medications

  • You are absolutely correct. So many of the diseases and conditions that persist in the world today were essentially unheard of prior to the globalization of food processing.

  • Thanks for sharing this article. I am always reading food labels and do most of my cooking from home to control what goes into my body, I realize eating more whole foods is ideal. I feel bad for individuals who live in food deserts making it a challenge to give themselves the best with nutrition and know some of these situations are deliberate.Thank you Food Revolution for always sharing helpful and insightful knowledge when it comes to our food!

  • its called corruption Althou there is some light at the end of the tunnel as some people are fighting back Will there be success Perhaps

  • Was it like this in the Americas 800 years ago (1400 )before Europeans discovered and began to colonise and mess every thing up????

  • It certainly sounds like the FDA is working for the chemical companies and has no concern about the health and welfare of the people.

  • I am deeply concerned that the UK government, in pressing for a quick trade deal with the US government, is on the brink of allowing for a debasement of our food standards – FOR CASH!
    Thank you for your article and for your work.

  • They should ban all these chemicals and more and take on the same rules as they have in Europe to protect Americans, but our FDA is run by a bunch of former pharmaceutical people they don’t give a darn and all they are interested in this money which is Unbelievable

  • Red 40 is almost unbelievable! If you want proof to see how this one example can affect our children, give it to children who are already known to have ADHD, and other known “medical” issues (I do not want to label children, but if they show questionable characteristics, just try this example to see results). So many parents are truly SHOCKED to see what this does to children’s actions and bring about certain unwanted characteristics!

  • Am quite disturbed and worried .For us in our country Uganda, there are no such regulations and all these chemicals are used un hindered. No wonder the cancer problem is expanding every other day. The cancer wing is full of young children and young adults . This was un heard of several years back in the days of my fathers.

  • Amazing, educational information!!! I can’t understand why EVERY man, woman & child (I mean should be taught in the schools….age appropriate, of course) are not upset about these facts? I live in Canada, which means we do a lot of the same things that the Americans do (not ALL, but a lot of) so we need to get on the education train as well! Thank you for these eye opening facts!

  • I buy my veggies from the little old lady on the corner of the street market in Taiwan. That is all I eat. I occasionally eat at a Vegan or Vegetarian restaurant, but even then, lots of salt, sugar and oil.

  • A healthy drawing; especially so to confirm based upon ones dieting, that healthy diet is luring and season available Year-round.

  • Just a disgusting reflection of our unbounded capitalistic society and the rapaciousness of Big Food.
    Please do more of this type of education and providing resources to let us know what actions we can take, thank you!

  • It is unbelievable what has happened to food in order to make more money. Obviously it caused a lot of costs for medical care. It seems that there isn’t as much of this to be banned stuff here in Germany where a consciousness for healthier eating, less plastic etc. is growing. Hopefully this will be the case everywhere in the world.
    Thank you for sharing
    Best wishes,
    Irene

  • I’ve used the Yuka app for several years. Their sourcing is excellent.

  • It’s hard to imagine why Roundup is still a product on shelves… in our drinking water systems now. Thank you for this list to keep in mind.

  • Thank you Ocean for allowing your readers to offer comments. I really want to be careful about what foods I consume so read labels on all items I buy.
    One of your commentators on this site mentioned the YUKA. An app to screen contents of foods. I have never heard of it. I just tested it and was shocked about what it revealed.
    I believe Ocean that it’s an asset for all of us especially as it’s not backed by the food industry! Let us know what you think please.
    Kind regards.

  • I am grossly concerned about all the items talked about in this article. This should never have been allowed. These items should be banned immediately! I don’t eat out much. You can bet that will become seldom now.

  • I also want to say that I love the feature that allows you to call out the brand as well as send them an email. This app is a Godsend!!

  • Thank you for mentioning this app. I am in my kitchen right now scanning everything and my goodness. Even some of my Vegan stuff I need to find alternatives for and I so appreciate that feature of this app.

  • Thank you for the article very important to know about. I mainly avoid all these substances but sometimes have gluten free bread. Is this also a problem?

  • Thank you for this very important article. I pray that you are in communication with RFK.

  • Living in Marin is a luxury. I was there for 25 + years. As soon as the originals were pushed aside and big biz moved in, everything changed. The Mill Valley Market and the lumber yard and small stores…even the Depot and Downtown…sigh. I’m glad I was there in earlier years and influenced with natural foods. And the nature alone is nutrition for the soul. My advice. Be in nature to offset other things that pollute our food. Plant a garden!

  • The US will not get any improved food with JFK,Jr. He doesn’t care about people’s health anymore than tRump does. I probably know know a lot more about health and medical stuff than he and that jerk Dr. OZ (god only knows where the Dr came from. I doubt it was from medical school. He probably doesn’t even know about the Hippocratic Oath)

  • I have lived in Thailand for quite a few years. They use insecticides generally but with careful shopping I have learned where to buy less treated veggies and meats. We have terrible junk food here, some imported from the US.

  • I almost died on a cruise that uses msg. This is the worst as it can be in anything and there is no way to tell. PLS fight to get it banned. It can cause stroke, heart attack, migraines and DEATH

  • Those two individuals are tackling nothing about our foods. There is no together in their vocabulary.

  • Trump and RFK, Jr are tackling this problem with our foods. Ocean, I wish you could meet with RFK, Jr and share your wisdom with him. Together you could make meaningful changes and educate Americans about the dangers in the foods we eat on the Standard American Diet. You have a big platform now, but it could be even bigger.

  • I was born in 1960 in Marin County (SF Area), CA. When I was 9 our dad flipped the switch and our family of 6 were raised “organic”. He took me to Safeway for my birthday for my last shopping spree of junk food.

    I’ve always thought the label Organic or Natural, to be so false. They should’ve named everything that WASNT in its original natural form as ADULTERATED! Here I am more than 45 years later and we, the population all trying to get back to that, and more.

    Of note, Marin County was the FIRST county in the USA to BAN GMO, a short TWENTY YEARS AFTER FRANCE SAID NO FINALLY?!

    Twenty years of cultivating cheap sugary junk food made to “feed the masses”. They created the food pyramid which became the chart for health and our school kids lunch programs benefitted from that chart and all the govt food subsidies (excess adulterated cheese, excess adulterated grains, soy, milk 🤮

    Thank you dad, because my children did not eat any of that crap. Hindsight.

    I visited France when I was 20, and I drove past Monsanto (owned by Dow Chemical, makers of ROUNDUP), in the beautiful heart of the French countryside. That was in 1980. It was at that moment that I began to study the effects of the lobbies, and Dow Chemical, and their patents on Hybrid seed (aka GMO) how roundup was used on these plants that were pesticide intolerant so the crops could grow grow grow and ignore the mass application of pesticide

    And the lawsuits DOW brought on to local ordinary farmers when crops popped up on their land, which they later tested as being from the hybrid seed that blew in the wind, and they were sued for using the patented hybrid seed. And family farms were forced to succumb and sell.

    It’s an American tragedy.

    I went to school to create beautiful Whole Foods, plant based. I am on board 1000%

  • Hello,
    You might want to double check the information for Olestra.
    I believe Olestra is no longer used in the US.
    Thank you…LJB

  • I only purchase organic foods and grow my own salad items with an indoor hydroponic system. The majority of the food stuffs offered in the grocery stores is just slow poison. Thank you for all the wonderful information that you provide!

  • Not sure if it is appropriate to mention an app in this discussion, but I feel it is spot on for this topic. There is an app I use, called Yuka. It’s a carrot. You scan the bar code on food or cosmetic items and it gives you a rating. 0-100. poor, bad, good, excellent. It gives negatives or positives description, a list of ingredients and quality of the item. Protein, fiber, sugar, salt etc.. It mentions if there are additives, with rating, low, moderate or high risk and goes into great detail of what each of the additives are.
    Most of the time, especially if a bad or poor food, it will give recommendations on alternative items.
    one of the best features, is their information is unbiased. No brand pays Yuka to appear on this platform.

  • It sounds tome like the United States government doesn’t care at all a out it’s citizens health. They only care about the money billionaires make. Just look at the white House today. I wish I didn’t live here, I would leave this country I love if I could afford to. I never thought I would feel this way. We are a sad excuse for being supposedly a great country. I’m ashamed today to be an American.

  • I am very concerned about the use of dangerous additives in our foods that have been banned in other countries but are still allowed in the US. It is imperative that the US take a more rigorous review of ingredients in our food supply and act to ban those with substantial health risks to the consumer. I avoid processed food for the most part, cooking at home as much as possible, and buying organic. I also avoid wheat products, choosing breads and pastas made from nut flours or lentils.

  • Your question regarding how organic is organic food is fair. I have been an organic food buyer for years. I thought….at least there will be ‘less’ pesticides/chemicals/etc. in them or on them. I’m not so sure anymore this is true. I know there has been an ‘organic coating’ approved within the last few years that just does not seem organic to me. They put this stuff on apples/etc. to preserve them in transport. The peel of the fruit/veg is often where most of the nutrition is and I now, sadly, peel my organic apples before I eat them. Washing them does not remove the coating.

  • Shopping in a commercial grocery store has left me feeling desperate and overwhelmed. I pick up boxes and products, read the ingredients, put the product back down quickly because it’s got most of what you wrote about and then some more. I think grocery stores should also have some liability to what they are selling. When food became an INDUSTRY…….just like anything else……it then started failing humans.

  • If food companies were held legally responsible for the harm and death they cause, they’d change their tune pretty fast.

  • Always concerned in my family for generations we shop and eat only organic and are vegan and cook on stainless steel. These actions eliminate much of the conerns. Since the US is a business run country business has a dark history of putting anything in our food systems that will make a buck.

  • I dont eat beef, pork nor sausages, hot dogs etc for the reasons you states. I have just started eating chicken but it upsets me. I am a vegetarian at heart but hubby refuses so for simplicity, I care. I plan o getting local farmers food- we live near Amish. I will eat far less packaged food and will switch to whole wheat unbleached flour or almond or coconut flour. Good article . Thank you. Now if we could just get a government that cared about us….

  • Thanks for the education. Education is a responsibility we all share as compassionate beings.

  • What has been left out is the power lobbyists have over elected officials at the national level.,

  • I like to offer my compliments to Ocean for his great work toward a better quality of life and better health. I have a question, if I may. You suggest the use of organic products and I wander how organic are the organic foods.

  • This is an excellent article, deepest gratitude! Grateful to have such clear concise information to share with family. It’s hard for some to believe we are being legally poisoned by seemingly innocuous foods.

  • I would like to know more about natural flavors. I feel the term hides what is actually being used and surprised that I have even seen natural flavors used in butter. When I called the company they said they couldn’t tell me what was actually used.

  • I am happy to report that I noticed and have bought only unbleached flour, and stopped cooking with shortening a half century ago, only avocado or olive oil for me. I buy organic as much as I can. I am evolving constantly, always looking for least ingredients on labels (Santa Cruz organic peanut butter ingredients: peanuts! Period. I love it! 😄) and appreciate the online education from Food Revolution Network, Goodness Lovers, and Nutritarian Dr Joel Fuhrman. Since I adore M&Ms peanuts I will be writing to the company to leave them brown and ixnay on the food coloring, try harder not to eat them at all. I am exceedingly concerned with processed foods and seeing friends and relatives 10 to 20 years younger than me dying from preventable cancers. It’s a big ship 🛳️ to turn around but we all have to try, even with baby steps, or die trying. I took the 30 varieties of vegetables per week challenge and found it easily done in 5 days. Always looking for fiber to feed my microbiome. Gettin better all the time… except at being concise. Sorry

  • Dear Mr Ocean Robbins,
    Thanks for this thorough review of suggested banned additives for foods. It would be positive for the US to adopt restrictions similar to Europe, Australia, Russia etc.
    Organic vegetables, fruits, grains, some fatty fish ( Skipjack only tuna ), carob bits, goat milk, Bobs Red Mill grains comprise the bulk of my diet;with some cheating organic chocolate.
    Food concerns are for the next generations. We can try our best.

  • As I go in the store, I have limited many of the processed foods. This article was enlightening about the state of our food system and what to elimate from our diet. THANKS

  • Well said Connor, thank you for sharing. Keep up the great work. ~Sky, Food Revolution Network Impact Team.

  • Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this Mary. ~Sky, Food Revolution Network Impact Team.

  • I understand that we have the FDA in the U.S. but it’s unfortunate that they ignore the fact that these toxic chemicals are given out in daily food, especially fast food. I will never eat at fast food corporates ever again even if it’s for free. I really hope that we can address these problems better with food security.

  • I was aware that the US was allowing dangerous chemicals in our food that have been banned in many other countries, but not to this extent! It’s outrageous and irresponsible, that the FDA or congress can allow this to happen to us and especially to infants and children. What has happened to our country and our government? Our government used to care about the people.
    It’s sad.

  • Wow Sarah, what an interesting change. Thank you for sharing. ~Sky, Food Revolution Network Impact Team.

  • As I have gotten cleaner health, I have started noticing the reactions to additives. I react negatively to sodium EDTA in canned beans and the sulfate in some dried fruits.

  • Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Beverly. We’re so glad you enjoyed the article. We’ve got to keep working towards better food in America! ~Sky, Food Revolution Network Impact Team.

  • A must-read comprehensive article. We can’t study the production of American food enough. It’s down-right toxic!

  • Thank you Theta for your comment! There is so much good information in these articles, we hope you enjoy! ~ Melissa, Food Revolution Network Impact Team

  • Thank you Phylis for your comment and support! ~ Melissa, Food Revolution Network Impact Team

  • Thank you Corazon for your comment! ~ Melissa, Food Revolution Network Impact Team

  • Thank you for the information about the food that banned in other countries.

  • Thank you for this eye opening article… helping us towards Healthy Citizens more than Wealthy Corporate Citizens!

  • We must do better and keep striving to do better for our children. Thank you for reading and for being part of this important movement. Be well! ~Will, Food Revolution Network Impact Team

  • Red 40 is a Jekyl and Hyde moment. I have spoken to thousands of parents of ADHD children and had 2 of my own. When ingesting red 40, these kids become aggresive, angry and down right impossible!

  • We hear you, Stephanie. Some research suggests that in small amounts and particularly when it’s relatively unprocessed, it may not significantly impact the microbiome or overall health. However, concerns arise primarily when stevia is consumed frequently, especially in forms combined with erythritol—a common and less expensive filler. We typically recommend that if you find that stevia and erythritol are listed as primary ingredients in products you frequently use, you might want to explore more natural sweeteners like dates or maple syrup.
    ~Will, Food Revolution Network Impact Team

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