6 U.S. Food Ingredients That Are Banned in Europe and Other Parts of the World

In the U.S., both the FDA and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulate foods and drinks sold in stores. Other countries have their own regulatory agencies. While these groups all oversee food safety, they don’t always agree on what counts as safe.

The FDA uses a system called Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), which means many additives are assumed to be safe unless new research shows otherwise. This approach often relies on expert opinion rather than rigorous testing of new additives.

European Union regulators, on the other hand, require companies to prove a food additive is safe before it goes on the market. These differences explain why some foods that are common in U.S. grocery stores are banned in other countries.

But which foods and ingredients are sold in the U.S. while being banned abroad? Keep reading to learn more about banned foods that you might find in your kitchen. 

1. Titanium dioxide

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

Foods banned in other nations for 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 EU, over concerns it could have cancer-causing properties. But it’s not clear whether this risk applies to consuming titanium dioxide in food. It’s also not clear how much you would have to consume for this risk to be significant. 

In 2023, California took matters into its own hands to try to ban titanium dioxide and other food additives such as brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from the food chain (see below). The so-called “Skittles ban” didn’t result in titanium dioxide being banned. And, today, it’s still found in foods in Canada and the U.S.

2. Brominated vegetable oil

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a food additive used in some citrus-flavored drinks to help keep the flavor evenly distributed. Essentially, it helps prevent the citrus oils from floating to the top. It has long been banned in the EU, the U.K., and Japan due to concerns about its potential effects on human health.

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In November 2023, the FDA proposed banning BVO in the U.S., citing new findings that it may no longer be considered safe for human consumption. This move came shortly after California passed its own ban as part of the California Food Safety Act.

Animal studies have linked bromine — a component of BVO — to health conditions such as:

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Memory problems

• Nerve issues

• Skin lesions

• Fertility concerns 

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As awareness has grown, companies like PepsiCo have voluntarily removed BVO from many of their products. While it’s becoming less common in beverages today, it’s still a good idea to check the nutrition label if you’re concerned about this additive.

3. BHA and BHT

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are synthetic preservatives added to processed foods to extend shelf life and prevent fats and oils from spoiling. You’ll find them in many pantry staples, including:

• Breakfast cereals like Kellogg’s Apple Jacks

• Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

• Frozen foods, such as Stouffer’s frozen pizza

• Bugles corn chips

• Cake mixes, including Pillsbury

These additives are banned in the EU but not in the U.S. Animal studies suggest that high doses of BHA and BHT may increase the risk of several different cancers. But trying to prove this link in humans isn’t easy. The data available so far isn’t strong enough to prove they’re harmful to humans at the levels typically found in food.

So, for now, BHA and BHT remain legal for use in processed foods in the US, even as questions about their long-term health effects continue to be debated.

4. rBST

Recombinant somatotropin (rBST) is a hormone used in cows to increase milk supply. Many dairy-based products contain rBST, such as:

• Milk

• Yogurt

• Cheese

• Ice cream

The hormone rBST doesn’t appear to harm humans directly. However, it can cause health issues in dairy cows, including udder infections and reproductive problems.

Currently, rBST is allowed in the U.S. However, some U.S.-based companies — like Ben & Jerry’s — oppose the use of rBST in their products. Europe and Canada have both banned rBST.  

5. Artificial food dyes

Some countries have completely banned artificial food dyes. But most countries — including countries in the EU — haven’t officially banned artificial food dyes. Rather, they require them to be labeled on all packaging. 

Food dyes are used to make food look more appealing and bright. Some natural food dyes are available. But many ultra-processed foods use synthetic food dyes. These include foods like:

• Candy

• Instant pasta

• Pretzels

• Fruit drinks

According to the FDA, the use of artificial food coloring has increased over five times since the 1950s. 

There’s growing concern that food dyes may affect behavior in children. At least one artificial food dye (Blue Dye No. 1) is known to cross into brain tissue. And research shows that food dyes may worsen symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Not only that, but food colorings also contain benzidine, which is linked to cancer development.

In response to these concerns, the FDA recently banned Red Dye No. 3 from use in foods sold in the U.S. This dye has been shown to cause cancer in animal studies. And companies are required to phase it out of food products and medications by 2027.

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

• Whole Foods Market

• Trader Joe’s

• Aldi

Some brands don’t use artificial food coloring either. Examples include:

• Annie’s 

• Unreal Snacks

• GoGo Squeez

• Chomps Meat Sticks

6. Trans fats

Trans fats are a type of fat found in both natural and artificial forms. Small amounts occur naturally in meat and dairy. But the main concern is with artificial trans fats. Food companies once used these fats to make products last longer and taste better. So they became common in:

• Margarine

• Baked goods

• Fried foods

• Packaged snacks

These industrial trans fats are strictly limited in the EU because: 

• They raise the “bad” cholesterol — low-density lipoprotein (LDL) — while lowering the “good” cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

• They increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. 

The EU doesn’t fully ban them, but it caps their use at no more than 2 g per 100 g of fat in food. In practice, that limit has pushed artificial trans fats out of the market, and most foods in Europe no longer contain them.

In the U.S., the FDA has ruled that partially hydrogenated oils — the main source of artificial trans fats — are no longer “generally recognized as safe.” Most have been removed from the food supply, but small amounts can still be present. U.S. labeling rules also allow products with less than 0.5 g per serving to round down to “0 g trans fat,” which means they can still sneak into your diet.

List of foods banned in other countries

European and other international food safety authorities often restrict or ban certain additives and ingredients based on precautionary approaches that aren’t always shared by U.S. regulators. 

Here are examples of foods that have been banned or reformulated (the ingredients changed) in other countries: 

• Skittles: reformulated in Europe because the U.S. version contains the banned ingredients titanium dioxide and artificial dyes (Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6)

• Froot Loops: banned and reformulated in Canada and some European countries for artificial dyes

• Little Debbie Swiss Rolls: banned in Europe for Yellow No. 5 and Red No. 40

• Twinkies: banned in parts of Europe for Yellow No. 5

• Lucky Charms: banned in some European countries for Red No. 40 and other synthetic dyes

• Gatorade: banned in some EU countries for Brominated Vegetable Oil and food dyes

• Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes: reformulated in Europe and Japan because of banned BHT preservative

• Pop-Tarts: banned in the EU and U.K. for Red Dye No. 3

• Wheat Thins: banned in the U.K., EU, and Japan for BHT preservative

• Stove Top stuffing: banned in the U.K., EU, and Japan for BHA and BHT

• Coffee Mate creamer: banned in Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland

• Ritz Crackers: banned in some parts of Europe and other parts of the world for trans fats.

How to identify ingredients on food labels

Checking ingredient labels is one of the easiest ways to cut back on potentially harmful additives. But not all ingredients are easy to recognize. Here's what to look for:

• Artificial dyes like Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1 are usually listed by name.

• Preservatives like BHA and BHT are also listed directly on the ingredients list.

• Titanium dioxide may show up as “artificial color” or “added color.” It’s often used in candy, coffee creamers, and baked goods.

• rBST won’t show up in the ingredients, but milk and dairy packaging must say if it’s not used. Look for phrases like “from cows not treated with rBST.”

If you’re unsure about an ingredient, check the brand’s website. You can also contact a company directly to ask. Most companies will respond.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Farzon A. Nahvi, MD

Farzon Nahvi, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and author of “Code Gray: Death, Life, and Uncertainty in the ER.” He works at Concord Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire, and teaches at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

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