We all would like to trust that the ingredients in our food are good for us, or at least not bad for us. But it turns out that definition varies depending on where you live. Some foods we eat regularly in America are considered so dangerous in other countries that they are banned.
An alarming number of American pantry staples are actually banned outside the country. Here are some of the most popular and why other countries have removed the American versions from the shelves.
Canned Meats
Companies like Hormel use nitrites and nitrates. Both preservatives have links to causing cancer, so they’re banned in multiple countries, but extremely common to find in America.
Stove Top Stuffing
Many pantry foods in America contain BHAs and BHTs, which are banned in countries like Japan and the UK. Stove Top stuffing, however, notably contains both preservatives.
Skittles
This colorful candy’s American version is kept from stores thanks to their problematic food dyes like Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. Certain food dyes have been linked to health issues, including hyperactivity in children. While Skittles are certainly available outside the U.S., they use different formulas for different countries to comply with food dye restrictions.
Ritz Crackers
The classic American cracker wouldn’t pass the test in many other countries, like Denmark and Switzerland. The snack is made with hydrogenated oils and trans fats that multiple countries have scoured from stores years ago.
Kraft Mac and Cheese
Another American staple for decades is Kraft mac and cheese. However, since it contains many of the same food dyes found in Skittles, European countries won’t allow stores to sell it.
Mountain Dew
Not every country can do the Dew; this soda is banned in other places like Japan because of brominated vegetable oil. BVO has been linked to potentially causing skin problems and memory loss.
Farm-Raised Salmon
Canned salmon seems like a healthy pantry option, but farm-raised salmon raises some eyebrows in other countries. Australia, New Zealand, and other places ban farm-raised salmon because it’s typically fed synthetic astaxanthin. This compound could potentially be toxic.
Little Debbie Swiss Roll
How harmful could this staple snack cake really be? Unfortunately, it’s another food that contains problematic food dyes, particularly the notorious Red 40 and Blue 1. This puts it on the list of banned foods in many European countries.
Instant Mashed Potatoes
Much like stovetop stuffing, bagged cereals, and other pantry goods where the packaging comes in contact with the food, BHTs, and BHAs are a problem.
Bread
Not all bread, of course, but much of the bread found in the US contains potassium bromate. Potassium bromate can improve the bread’s texture, but multiple countries like Brazil and Canada note that it could potentially be a human carcinogen, so they’ve stripped it from their shelves.
Milk
Again, it’s not all milk products, but plenty in the US contain recombinant bovine growth hormone. It’s been banned in other countries for years for its potential links to causing issues with both animals and humans.
Cheetos
Another iconic American snack that’s banned in other countries is the Cheeto. These cheesy, addicting snacks also contain multiple problematic dyes and additives that other parts of the world don’t allow.
Pop-Tarts
The final entry on the list combines food dyes and trans fats to create a delicious but particularly unhealthy pantry breakfast treat: the Pop Tart. Because of these additives, Pop-Tarts are either banned or restricted in multiple countries.
Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
Refrigeration prevents spoilage and may extend the shelf life of common foods and other perishable items. While we may innocently store some foods in the refrigerator, you may be surprised that you shouldn’t store all of them, as this may affect their nutritional value, taste, and texture.
Although refrigeration can help preserve certain foods, some items shouldn’t be refrigerated to maintain flavor and freshness. Avoiding these foods can ensure your food stays nutritious, fresh, and flavorful.
Here are 15 food items experts warn people never to refrigerate for optimal flavor and freshness.
Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
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