There are many common practices that can make foods unsafe. Additives, chemicals, and genetically modified organisms are some of the most common. Some countries outside of the United States have banned these foods, while they still remain in the U.S.
Let’s take a look at 7 foods banned in other countries that you may want to avoid.
1. Farm-raised salmon:
These fish live in farms where they are fed whole grain diets. This type of diet is very unnatural for salmon. They are also fed antibiotics and other drugs, which can cause negative health effects in humans. Farm raised salmon only contains half the amount of healthy fats like omega-3s as wild-caught salmon.
2. GMO papaya:
Most papaya found in stores is genetically modified. Hawaii reported in 2009 that almost 20,000 papaya seeds were found to contain GMO’s.
3. Drinks with flame retardant:
Some citrus drinks and sports drinks contain brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which have been shown to cause memory loss and reproductive health risks.
4. Highly processed foods:
Processed foods are addictive. “More than 3,000 food additives — preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients — are added to US foods, including infant foods and foods targeted to young children, said Dr. Joseph Mercola, a leading physician and health expert. Norway and Austria have banned food dyes, and the European Union requires notices for products containing these dyes.
5. Bread containing potassium bromate:
Most bread in restaurants contain bromide. It is a common additive in the United States. Bread companies add bromide to breads because they claim it makes the bread more elastic.
Clinical studies including one published in Environmental Health Perspectives have linked potassium bromate to kidney damage, thyroid problems, cancer, and more.
6. Chicken containing arsenic:
Drugs containing arsenic are sometimes added to animal food because they help the animals grow quicker and help the meat look fresher. The FDA has labeled these drugs as safe because they contain organic arsenic. However, scientific reports show that organic arsenic can transform into inorganic arsenic.
7. Dairy products containing rBGH:
Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is given to cows to increase milk production. However, it is banned in 30 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Israel, EU and Canada because it increases the risk of colorectal, prostate, and breast cancers.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
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REFERENCES:
1. “10 Common US Foods That Are Banned in Other Countries.” Mercola.com. Mercola.com, 10 July 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
2. “An Overview of US Papaya Production, Trade, and Consumption.” University of Florida IFAS Extension. University of Florida IFAS Extension, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
3. “Which Foods May Be Addictive? The Roles of Processing, Fat Content, and Glycemic Load.” Plos One. Plos One, 18 Feb. 2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
4. “Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of Potassium Bromate–a New Renal Carcinogen.” Environmental Health Perspectives. U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 1990. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
5. “Questions and Answers Regarding 3-Nitro (Roxarsone).” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
