In light of California recently banning certain food additives, which is a big win for the American consumers who value health and transparency in what goes into our food. I thought I would take the opportunity to research and highlight 3 dangerous additives that are still allowed in our food. The win in California isn’t even the tip of the iceberg, and this is a topic that is not going away and will continue to negatively affect our health in ways we need to be more aware of. In my article from last year titled Digestion: USA vs. Europe, I touched on some reasons why digestion is possibly better in Europe and worse in the USA, it has turned out to be my most popular article here which leads me to think that I’m not the only one thinking about this. So today, I want to talk about additives in our food. My goal is to educate my friends, family, and readers.

While the United States and Europe share similar food safety standards, there are certain additives allowed in food in the US by the USDA, FDA, and CDC that are prohibited by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) due to their health risks. While in the USA, food products are allowed to include ingredients until proven harmful, Europe takes the approach that things are not allowed to be included in food products until they are proven NOT to be harmful… there is a key difference there.

I hope this list encourages you to think about what foods you bring into your house for your families, and what you decide to eat on the road when you are desperate for a quick fix.

Azodicarbonamide (ADA)

Legal to use in all 50 states as of October 2023.

Azodicarbonamide (ADA) (Pronounced like: a·zow·dai·kaar·baa·nuh·mide) is a chemical commonly used in the US food industry as a dough conditioner and bleaching agent. It is found in various bread and baked goods, including bread rolls, buns, and certain fast-food bread products. However, the European Union has prohibited the use of ADA in food due to concerns about its potential adverse effects on health.

Side Effects: When consumed, ADA can break down into semicarbazide, a compound classified as a potential carcinogen. Studies conducted on animals have shown that semicarbazide can cause tumors. The EHSO claims that ADA can induce asthma, other respiratory symptoms, and skin sensitization. Although the direct impact of ADA on human health is still uncertain, the EU has adopted a precautionary approach by banning its use in food.

Digestion Impact: Excessive consumption of ADA may contribute to increased gluten sensitivity. CBS reported on a study from the journal “Nature” that found ADA (and other emulsifiers found in processed food) can alter the gut bacteria (or microbiome) which causes intestinal inflammation and makes a person more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease and significant weight gain.

Common foods that usually have ADA as an ingredient that you should avoid:

1. Sara Lee bread products, Wonder Bread, Nature’s Own, Sunbeam bread, Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls and Bread
2. Processed “baked goods” that come in plastic packages (not all of them but it’s a general rule of thumb)
3. Fast-Food Bread Products like Subway sandwich bread, McDonald’s burger buns, Wendy’s buns, Burger King buns, Arby’s buns.

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

As of October 2023, this additive has been banned in the state of California, but is still legal to use in foods in the other 49 states.

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is an additive used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in certain citrus-flavored soft drinks and sports drinks in the United States. It helps prevent the separation of flavoring oils and water. However, BVO has been prohibited in Europe due to concerns about its potential negative health effects.

Side Effects: BVO contains bromine, which can accumulate in the body over time and potentially lead to bromism, a condition characterized by neurological symptoms such as tremors, memory loss, and impairment of motor skills. Animal studies have also shown links between BVO consumption and reproductive and developmental issues. As a precautionary measure, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) does not permit the use of BVO in food and beverages. The FDA shares right on their website the following quote about the negative effects of BVO. The CDC says that longterm side effects of Bromine can include kidney or brain damage from low blood pressure.

BVO is associated with increased tissue levels of bromine and that at high levels of exposure the thyroid is a target organ of potential negative health effects

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Digestion Impact: The CDC says on their website that the consumption of Bromine can lead to nausea and vomiting. BVO can potentially disrupt the delicate balance of gut bacteria, which play a crucial role in digestion and overall gut health. Imbalances in gut bacteria can lead to digestive discomfort, irregular bowel movements, and other gastrointestinal issues.

Common foods that usually contain BVO as an ingredient that you should avoid:

1. Citrus-Flavored Soft Drinks like Mountain Drew, Fanta Orange, Sun Drop, Squirt, Sunkist.
2. Fruit-flavored Beverages (Fruit Punch)
3. Sports and Energy Drinks (Powerade, Gatorade)

Synthetic Food Colorings: Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and Red 40:

Legal to use in all 50 states as of October 2023.

Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and Red 40 are synthetic food colorings widely used in a variety of food products, including candy, desserts, beverages, and processed snacks in the United States. However, both colorings are banned in Europe due to concerns regarding their potential health risks. According to News Medical Life Sciences, this is the second most widely used food coloring in the United States.

Side Effects: Tartrazine has been associated with allergic reactions, particularly in individuals sensitive to aspirin. It can cause symptoms such as hives, itching, and breathing difficulties. Red 40, on the other hand, has been linked to hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children, although the evidence remains somewhat controversial. European regulations prioritize consumer safety and, therefore, have implemented a ban on these synthetic food colorings. On a personal note, when I was a kid, my mom always had me avoid red food coloring because I would almost always vomit it up. To this day I don’t do well with fruit punch and red cough medicine (isn’t that wild they put this stuff in some cough medicines?) You can read more about the negative side effects caused by Tartrazine here.

Digestion Impact: According to the National Library of Medicine, Tartrazine negatively impacts digestion. Tartrazine, in particular, has been associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea in individuals with sensitivity or intolerance to the compound.

Most common foods that contain Yellow 5 and Red 40 food colorings you should avoid:

1. Candies: Skittles, M&Ms, Starbursts, Sour Patch Kids, Jolly Ranchers.
2. Desserts and baked foods (frosting, food coloring, anything pretty with bright colors). Betty Crocker cake mixes and frostings, Pillsbury toaster strudels, Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts.
3. Beverages: Sodas, fruit flavored drinks, juice boxes, etc. Coca-Cola, Fanta, Mountain Dew, Fruit Punch.
4. Processed Snacks: Chips, cakes, flavored popcorn, Doritos, Cheetos, Flavored Lay’s potato chips, Pringles (flavored), Goldfish crackers.
5. Breakfast Cereals: Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cap’n Crunch, Fruity Pebbles.

Three takeaways from this information:

1. A lot of these foods are part of the American breakfast. I have struggled for years to find a healthy breakfast and finally feel good about my morning routine that I adopted during the Covid pandemic. Every day (week days) I have an apple (sliced) that I dip in (Trader Joe’s) peanut butter or almond butter. Both of these butters include only two ingredients: the nut, and salt.
2. The US Food Market puts corporations and money first while Europe puts the consumer first. Think about how you can use your voice (and your vote) to demand change so that the consumer can feel good about what they are buying to consume.
3. The differences in regulations between the United States and Europe regarding certain additives in food highlight the varying approaches to food safety. While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers these chemicals safe within specified limits, European authorities adopt a precautionary approach by banning their use. It is important for everyone to stay informed about the potential risks associated with food additives so they can make informed decisions.

If you would like some further reading, here are some resources that you may find interesting:

• Food Additives Banned in Europe may be making Americans Sick
• Check out the ingredients in these SIX common foods in the USA compared to Europe
• My favorite book on the topic of what’s in our food is called Ultra Processed People by Dr. Chris Van Tulleken – probably the most compelling read on how things affect our health. This is specifically an interesting read on the topic of obesity and how the rapidly rising rate of obesity in the USA is mainly the fault of the additives in our food that we don’t know about, understand, and just blindly eat.
• Real Food Fake Food by Larry Olmstead is another top favorite book about what is making our food “fake” and a lot of the food fraud in the United States.
• Again I will list my article from 2022: Digestion: USA vs. Europe, it’s fascinating.
• Read my article here calling on local and national leaders to Ban Harmful Food Ingredients and do the same with your local and national leaders.

I hope you have found this information helpful, and I encourage you to demand that your local law makers take action against these (and other) hazardous additives infecting our food and harming our health, in so many ways that the consumer is blind to. Please reach out to me if you have more questions on this topic, I could talk for hours about it!