There’s no denying that America produces some delicious treats, but many of them are pretty controversial. In fact, some of our favorite foods are not allowed in other countries, and for good reasons, too, just like the following 18 examples.
American Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan cheese is covered under the EU’s protected designation of origin (PDO) regulations, and the only type that can be sold within the continent is the original Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy. No one’s even allowed to make parmesan imitations using Parmigiano Reggiano as an ingredient!
American Corn
Mexico now bans genetically modified corn used for dough or tortillas, while 44 other countries ban US corn because of the herbicide atrazine. According to Reuters, the US’s neighbors down south are concerned that GM corn contaminates the nation’s native corn varieties. Yikes!
American Skittles
The EU also banned titanium dioxide in 2022 due to concerns that the food additive is a cancer-causing agent. Coincidentally, it’s an ingredient used to make American Skittles, but thankfully, EU distributors simply replaced titanium dioxide with other safer ingredients so Europeans can still taste the rainbow.
Coffee-Mate
Did you know that Coffee-Mate contains a ton of trans fats!? Many Americans don’t realize this, but it’s the reason that countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark have bans on this handy coffee creamer alternative.
Twinkies
Twinkies are outright banned in Austria, Finland, and Norway, and strict control measures have been enforced throughout the entire EU. They face these restrictions due to their high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and, most especially, Yellow 5 dye content.
American Pork
Up to 150 countries have bans on pork imported from the US, and it all boils down to one growth-enhancing drug—ractopamine. Ractopamine is used to help with food conversions in US pig farms, but as the Washington Post explains, it’s also associated with “downer cow syndrome” and cardiovascular problems, including heart disease.
Swiss Rolls
Like Twinkies, Swiss Rolls contain Yellow 5 dye—which, for clarity, is an artificial food dye feared to damage white blood cells and even DNA. The dye is also linked to difficulties sleeping, which is enough of a reason for Norway and Austria to ban it.
American Milk
Many American farms use recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to improve milk production. Sadly, rBGH is known to cause adverse reactions in cows, and there are fears that it’s linked to an increased risk of cancer development. This is why American milk is banned in Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the EU.
Maraschino Cherries
Austria, France, Finland, Norway, and the UK have banned Maraschino cherries because of their Red 40 dyes. This is another artificial dye like Yellow 5 that is controversial for its links to allergies, migraines, and mental disorders in children. Cleveland Clinic reveals that these cherries also contain the cancer-causing agent benzene.
Farmed Salmon
For ethical reasons, countries like Denmark and Argentina have banned the sale of American-farmed salmon to protect the species and save the ocean from pollution. For Austria and New Zealand, however, the bans are related to health concerns over the methyl mercury used in salmon feed. That’s kinda scary!
American Chicken
Since 1997, the EU has banned the practice of cleaning chickens with chlorine, which is popular in US farms to cleanse food-borne diseases. This isn’t about the chlorine itself, though; using chlorination is just seen as a sign of unhygienic animal farming conditions that EU countries don’t want to be exposed to.
Gatorade
Gatorade has been banned in the EU since 2008 and in Japan since 2010, all because of its brominated vegetable oil (BVO) content. Known to cause headaches and pose a risk to the nervous system, even the California Food Safety Act now bans the sale of BVO-infused foods, with enforcement starting in 2027.
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew has the same story to tell as Gatorade—it contains BVO and is, hence, banned in the entire EU and Japan. However, this American favorite also contains calcium disodium EDTA, a compound allowed in foods but banned in British drinks due to its links with adverse reproductive and developmental problems.
American Ground Beef
Even Canada doesn’t want to have anything to do with pre-packaged ground beef from the US. Our ground beef contains ‘pink slime,’ a by-product from ammonia-based meat manufacturing used as a filler and feared to be plagued with bacteria like E. Coli… holy cow!
Kraft Stove Top Stuffing
Stove Top stuffing contains beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), a popular additive in cosmetic products known to cause redness, burning, and scarring on the skin. It also contains the liver—and lung-damaging agent butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which is why it’s been banned in Japan, the UK, and many other European countries.
Chewing Gum
Although you can chew it, the importation and sale of all forms of bubble gum, including American produce, have been banned in Singapore since 1992. The Singapore Government explains that the poor disposal of chewing gum creates cleaning problems and defiles public spaces. We think that’s fair enough!
Froot Loops
Froot Loops contain the artificial dyes Yellow 5 and Red 40, so it’s unsurprising to hear they’re banned in many countries. Even the blue fruit loops, claimed to be free of artificial dyes, face bans in Australia and England. They’ve tried to produce healthier alternatives, but it’s just not the same.
Ritz Crackers
Finally, you’ll be surprised to learn that Ritz Crackers are not allowed in Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway. Restrictions have been rolling in since 2003, and this is all because of the trans fats contained in their hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil ingredients. Limiting consumption seems fair, but an outright ban seems excessive to us!
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