11 Banned Foods in America

Leslie Vivvian
Jun 12
2 min read

Although this article refers primarily to the United States, Canada does import a lot of its food from south of the border or perhaps you spend time there vacationing. Only the first few paragraphs have been added to highlight the topic. The rest is in the link and very worthwhile reading, but is is long!

As shocking as it seems, it’s not uncommon in the United States to find types of food and ingredients that are outright banned in other countries including Canada. Certain food production practices that are outlawed elsewhere are also permitted in the US. While other nations enforce stricter regulations to protect public health, the US often takes a more lenient approach, allowing additives and practices that many experts deem questionable. Sadly big agro and pharma rule!

Meanwhile, healthcare spending (much of it on treating symptoms of chronic disease) is vastly higher in the US than in any other country on Earth. Yet, the US has significantly lower life expectancy than other similarly developed nations. Increasing levels of food allergies and behavioral disorders are also cause for concern. These conditions and diseases are often highly preventable by addressing diet and lifestyle. Could the difference in food safety standards be a factor in these troubling trends?

To understand why the US allows ingredients banned elsewhere, we’ll explore what makes these substances controversial, how they’ve been regulated abroad, and what this reveals about US food policies. By examining the ingredients banned abroad but still permitted in the US, we can better understand what might fuel America’s growing health crises — and what you can do to protect yourself and the people you care about.