FDA-approved food products banned in other countrie

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By George Zapo

Posted Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 05:02pm EDT

Keywords: banned food, BVO, FDA, food, food products, Olestra, Ractopamine, rBGH, recombinant bovine growth hormone

Banned food products of other countries are sometimes approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). American supermarket shelves are filled with food products the FDA claims are safe for consumption. However, other countries find the same foods unworthy and ultimately ban them for the benefit of public health and safety.

Perhaps, the FDA has not got around to inspecting the foods other countries consider unsafe. Or, maybe they are in the process of doing followup reviews on suspected food additives.  Nonetheless, the following are food products to avoid for a variety of reasons.

Banned food of other countries the FDA approves

One of the banned food products in other countries are drinks that contain the chemical brominated vegetable oil (BVO).  Drinks containing BVO are banned in Japan and throughout the European continent. Initially, chemical companies patented BVO as a flame retardant.

Citrus drinks like Squirt, Fanta Orange, Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange, Mountain Dew, Fresca Original Citrus, Powerade Strawberry Lemonade, and Sunkist Pineapple contain the flame retardant BVO to keep the drink’s citrus flavor. There are a number of health concerns about BVO; however, the FDA has research pending on this chemical. Nevertheless, they allowed the use of BVO as a food additive for now.

Be cautious of some fat-free snacks; some are banned food products by countries like Canada and the United Kingdom.  Many fat-free snacks contain a fat substitute known as olestra (olean). Olestra is free of calories and is used in “fat-free” products like french fries and chips.  Products to be aware of are Proctor & Gamble’s Fat-Free Pringles, Fat-Free Sour Cream and Onion Pringles, and Fat-Free Bar-B-Q Pringles. Frito-Lay’s light chip products, like Doritos Light Nacho Cheese, Lay’s Light Original, Ruffles Light Original, Tostitos Light Restaurant Style, and Lay’s Light KC Masterpiece BBQ also contain olestra.

Humans have difficulty in digesting olestra; they develop gastrointestinal disturbances, including looser and more frequent bowel movements, fecal urgency, anal leakage, and diarrhea. Olestra quickly reduces and drains blood levels of important fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins, K, E, A, and D. Baked potato chips are a healthier option.

Play close attention to dairy and milk products;some are banned food in other countries due to a variety of reasons. In order to increase milk production, some farmers inject cows with the syntheticrecombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH). At least 30 countries have banned food products containing rBGH, including Israel, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union. However, the FDA still allows rBGH usage.

The danger to humans includes an increased risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancers, as well as the potential of antibiotic-resistant bacteria development. In order to avoid cattle products containing this synthetic hormone, look for products labeled “No rBGH” or “rBGH-free.”

In the United States, meats are not tested for the drug ractopamine. However, more than 160 countries banned food tainted with this dangerous drug. Countries like China, Russia, Taiwan, and much of Europe find the drug causes chromosomal abnormalities. It also has an adverse affect on the human cardiovascular system. Additionally, it can cause behavioral changes and increases hyperactivity in humans.

In the last 15 years, pigs tainted with ractopamine poisoned 1,700 people. Nonetheless, some meat producers still inject cattle, turkey, and pigs with ractopamine to reduce the animal’s fat content. To evade this drug in your diet avoid feedlot beef and choose grass-fed beef, instead.

Since the FDA approves foods other countries ban vigilance is necessary when purchasing products today. Knowledge is also essential when choosing groceries and merchandise for the home. Learn how to read labels of food products and household items to prevent diseases and support a healthy lifestyle.