13 Banned Foods Still Allowed In The U.S.

By Cristina Goyanes

January 28, 2013

originally appeared on HoneyColony.com

fruit loops

photo credit: Lauren Welter

You think the FDA has your back? Sure, they recently proposed two new regulations to up food safety measures, specifically how food processors and farmers can work better to keep their fresh products free of dangerous bacteria (remember that killer cantaloupe outbreak from 2011?). But while it may seem like the government is out to protect us from bad–even fatal–food-borne illnesses, which cause some 3,000 deaths a year, they don't completely have our best interest–or health–in mind.

“For numerous suspicious and disturbing reasons, the U.S. has allowed foods that are banned in many other developed countries into our food supply,” says nutritionist Mira Calton who, together with her husband Jayson Calton, Ph.D., wrote the new book Rich Food, Poor Food due out in February.

During a six-year expedition that took them to 100 countries on seven continents, the Caltons studied more than 150 ingredients and put together a comprehensive list of the top 13 problematic products that are forbidden by governments, outside the United States, due to their detrimental effects on human health.

“If you see any of the following ingredients listed on the nutrition label, don't buy the product,” Calton warns. “Leaving these banned bad boys on the shelves will speak volumes to grocery stores and food manufactures about what informed consumers simply won't tolerate.”

Ingredients: Coloring agents (blue 1, blue 2, yellow 5, and yellow 6)

Ingredient: Olestra (a.k.a. Olean)

Ingredient: Brominated vegetable oil (a.k.a. BVO)

Ingredient: Potassium bromate (a.k.a. brominated flour)

Ingredient: Azodicarbonamide

Ingredients: BHA and BHT

Ingredients: Synthetic hormones (rBGH and rBST)

Ingredient: Arsenic

This article was written by Cristina Goyanes and published in Shape on January 15, 2013.