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Food Additives Banned in Europe May Be Making Americans Sick

Food Additives Banned in Europe May Be Making Americans Sick

The food we regularly buy in grocery stores in the U.S. may not be as safe as once thought. Although most people believe the food in stores is harmless, a professor from England’s University of Sussex is raising concerns about what Americans eat. Various chemicals and substances that are popular ingredients in U.S. foods are actually banned throughout Europe. Continue reading to find out what some experts are saying about the dangers lurking in the U.S. food supply. 

Several U.S. Food Additives Are Prohibited in Europe

Bread is a staple food in American and European diets. However, there is a major difference in the bread Europeans consume compared to the bread Americans eat. European bread lacks a specific ingredient: Potassium bromate. Food makers in the United States regularly use this chemical compound to strengthen dough. In fact, this additive is present in more than 100 products. But, Europe, China, and India have banned Potassium bromate due to concerns that it may be a carcinogen. 

Professor Erik Millstone, an expert on food additives at England’s University of Sussex, told CBS News that potassium bromate may be toxic to human consumers and could even cause tumors. 

Potassium bromate is not the only culprit. Other potentially harmful substances outlawed in Europe but found in the U.S. include: 

  • Titanium dioxide (also known as E171)
  • Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) (E443)
  • Potassium bromate (E924)
  • Azodicarbonamide (E927a) 
  • Propylparaben (E217)

Why Hasn’t The FDA Banned These Ingredients?

Most Americans are likely unaware they are being exposed to substances in their food that Europe considers dangerous. Professor Millstone believes European regulators are more cautious about food safety than their U.S. counterparts.

The FDA stated all food additives require pre-market evaluation before they are added to foods. These regulations require evidence that each substance is safe at its intended level. Also, the agency added that scientists review new information to reassess the safety of each substance. 

However, this hasn’t stopped some Americans from relocating to other parts of the world where food regulations are stricter.