There is a big difference in food quality in Europe and the United States. Travelers notice this almost immediately. Food is just different outside the USA. This can be especially true for those with ‘food sensitivities’ or ‘allergies’. Even those eating a gluten-free diet in the US, have no trouble eating gluten containing foods overseas. Food additives are more likely the underlying culprit in our inability to tolerate certain food items.
American food manufacturers include a variety of food additives with potential side effects, European manufacturers must either avoid using certain ingredients or warn consumers of their risks. Here are several of the most used additives in the United States that are banned in Europe (EU).
Titanium Dioxide
Commonly found in salad dressings, flour, bread, candy, boxed macaroni and cheese, canned soup, and prepackaged baked goods.
Often used to give food a white appearance, titanium dioxide was determined to be no longer acceptable to be used in food products by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in May 2021. “A critical element in reaching this conclusion is that we could not exclude genotoxicity concerns after consumption of titanium dioxide particles,” Maged Younes, former chair of EFSA’s Food Additives and Flavourings Panel, explained in an EFSA assessment. Genotoxicity refers to the properties of a chemical that can impair DNA or chromosomes. Titanium dioxide breaks down into nanoparticles, which can cause inflammation, pulmonary damage, fibrosis, and lung tumors in rodents. It is “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. “After oral ingestion, the absorption of titanium dioxide particles is low, however, they can accumulate in the body,” Mr. Younes said in his assessment.
Despite these safety concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated this year that the available safety studies “do not demonstrate safety concerns connected to the use of [titanium dioxide] as a color additive.”
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Commonly found in chips, crackers, cereals, premade baked goods, and granola bars. Used in a variety of processed foods, BHA and BHT prevent oils from oxidation. However, these two chemicals are not akin to the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. “These are preservatives in some food products and have been found to have immune effects and potentially are also carcinogenic,” said Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a professor of pediatrics and environmental health sciences at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Both chemicals are “anticipated to be a human carcinogen” by the National Toxicology Program. In Europe, both BHT and BHA have certain restrictions.
Synthetic Food Coloring
Commonly found in candies, sodas, sports drinks, cake and cupcake frosting, salad dressings, and chips. Incorporated in food products to enhance appearance, petroleum-based food dyes like Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, and Red No. 40 have been shown to induce behavioral challenges and hyperactivity. In one recent review analyzing 27 clinical trials on synthetic food dye, researchers found that the current evidence “supports a relationship between food dye exposure and adverse behavioral outcomes in children, both with and without pre-existing behavioral disorders.”
In 2021, the California Environmental Protection Agency released a report expressing that the current federal guidelines on synthetic food dyes were outdated, failing to acknowledge recent literature showing their negative effect on children’s and adults' health. California recently banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 but has not restricted the use of other synthetic food dyes in the state. Even though the literature supports the dangers of Red Dye No. 40, it is still used and given to our children regularly.
The European Union requires a warning label for foods made with added colors.
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Commonly found in sodas and sports drinks. BVO is vegetable oil with bromine added to it. It is incorporated into a variety of beverages as an emulsifier. In 2012, however, an online petition with over 200,000 signatures led many companies, including Coca-Cola, to stop using BVO. But many companies still utilize this emulsifier, given that the FDA has not prohibited its use. The European Union, on the other hand, has banned BVO as a food additive.
BVO has been associated with neurological disease in adults and reproductive harm in animal studies. “BVO can build up in the body, and research has shown a connection between drinking large amounts of BVO-containing sodas over a long period and problems such as headaches, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, fatigue and loss of muscle coordination and memory,” the Environmental Working Group (EWG) wrote on its website.
The FDA announced a proposal to revoke authorization for the use of BVO as a food additive on Nov. 2, 2023.
Azodicarbonamide (ADA)
Commonly found in bread and baked goods. Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is most commonly used in making various kinds of plastics and as a bleaching agent in flour-based foods. Animal studies revealed that ADA could be an organ and cellular toxin, while other research demonstrates that it can cause respiratory complications in humans. The European Union prohibits its use as a food additive.
Potassium Bromate
Commonly used in flour, bread, and baked goods. Used to enhance the texture of flour-based foods, potassium bromate has been scrutinized by activists for decades. Small amounts of bromate, a substance shown to be carcinogenic in animal studies, are found in potassium bromate. It was labeled “possibly carcinogenic” in 1999 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which ultimately led to its ban in European countries. This ingredient was also banned in California as recently as October, but the law won’t go into effect until 2027.
Animals exposed to potassium bromate had increased incidences of both benign and malignant kidney tumors. Additional research showed that ingesting potassium bromate resulted in significant increases in cancer of mice’s thyroid, kidneys, and other organs. “Despite the significant evidence of potassium bromate’s harmful health effects, the food industry has long argued that it is of no concern in baked products,” the EWG wrote.
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)
Commonly used in conventional dairy products. Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is a hormone that stimulates greater milk production in cows. The EU banned the hormone in 1999. The primary concern of rBGH is its influence on the endocrine system. Some research has found a potential relationship between increased blood levels of growth hormone due to rBGH use and hormone-related cancers like breast and testicular. However, according to the American Cancer Society, the link between rBGH and cancer is inconclusive, warranting further investigation.
Overall, the EU takes a more precautionary approach in banning this substance to prevent impacts on human health while the U.S. takes the approach of waiting until we see harmful effects before regulating. However, this hormone can be avoided if consumers avoid all dairy products.
Compared to the U.S., the EU system generally does a better job of ensuring that more recent data and scientific principles are used to assess safety and that regulators, not industry, are the final decision makers. Our job is to be informed consumers. Become a food ingredient detective. Do your own research if you are using products with items in the ingredient list that you do not recognize. The Environmental Working Group is an excellent resource at
www.ewg.org.
Avoiding processed foods is a step in the right direction. Eat whole plant foods. Choose organic when you can. Be your own cook. That way, you know what you are putting into your body and the bodies of your loved ones.
