Food Additives Banned in Europe But Used in America

Larry A. Law

There is a stark difference between food quality in Europe compared to the United States. This is immediately recognizable to those who travel overseas. People who are diagnosed with digestive issues and told by their doctor to follow a strict gluten-free diet, often find that they can eat pasta, bread, and pizza in Italy without hurting their health. Many European countries use ancient grains to make their bread. This avoids the problem associated with modern flour and its altered gluten. Besides the quality of the flour, a variety of food additives with significant side-effects are prohibited in (most parts of) Europe. 7 of these are spotlighted below.

Titanium Dioxide

Are you serious—the metal titanium?! Yes! After considering several studies, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that nanoparticle-size titanium dioxide can accumulate in the body, break DNA strands and cause chromosomal damage. In May 2021, European food safety regulators labeled titanium dioxide as "no longer safe for human consumption," due to its potential toxicity. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sees no safety concerns and allows manufacturers to use it to enhance the whiteness of food. You can find it in salad dressings, flour, bread, candy, boxed macaroni and cheese, canned soup, and ready-to-eat baked goods.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

In the US, these ingredients are used in many processed foods as preservatives and flavor enhancers. They prevent oils from oxidizing. While the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considers BHA a possible human carcinogen, the US claims there isn't enough data yet to classify it as such. The EU has also listed BHA as a category 1 priority substance and potential endocrine disruptor, as it can interfere with hormone function. You can be exposed to BHA through contaminated food, air, water, or skin contact with consumer products. You can find it in chips, crackers, cereals, granola bars, and prepackaged baked goods.

Synthetic Food Coloring

Coloring agents are used to enhance food appearance. Petroleum-based food dyes (Yellow #5, #6, and Red #40) have been shown to induce behavioral challenges and hyperactivity in children. In 2021, the California Environmental Protection Agency released a report stating that federal guidelines on synthetic food dyes were outdated and failed to acknowledge recent literature showing the negative effect these additives have on children's and adult health. The European Union requires a warning label for all foods containing added color. In 2023, California banned Red Dye #3. Finally, on January 15, 2025, the FDA followed suit. However, many other synthetic food dyes are still permitted. You can find them in candies, sodas, sports drinks, cake and cupcake frosting, salad dressings, and chips.

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

This is exactly what it says—vegetable oil with bromine added. It is used as an emulsifier in a variety of beverages (sodas and sports drinks), and is associated with neurological disease in adults and reproductive harm in animal studies. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reported long-term consumption issues associated with headaches, skin irritation, fatigue, and loss of muscle coordination. The European Union has banned BVO as an additive. The FDA is considering revoking its authorization.

Azodicarbonamide (ADA)

This is commonly used in plastics and as a bleaching agent in flour-based foods (bread and baked goods). Animal studies show ADA as an organ and cellular toxin that can cause respiratory complications in humans. The European Union prohibits its use.

Potassium Bromate

This is used to enhance the texture of flour-based foods (bread and baked goods). The IARC labeled it as "possibly carcinogenic" in 1999 and it was banned in Europe. California banned it, but the law does not go into effect until 2027. Animals exposed to potassium bromate had increased incidence of benign and malignant kidney tumors. Other studies have indicated significant increases in cancer of the thyroid, kidney, and other organs of mice.

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)

rBGH is a genetically-engineered hormone in cows used to stimulate greater milk production. The EU banned the hormone in 1999. Research shows a potential relationship between increased blood levels of growth hormone and breast and testicular cancer. The American Cancer Society claims the link is inconclusive. The EU takes a more precautionary approach, banning this substance to prevent impact on human health, while the US takes the approach of waiting until harmful effects manifest before regulating. This hormone can be avoided in the US by purchasing dairy products with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic seal. 

Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)

The difference between the US and Europe is the FDA GRAS program. Food additives that were grandfathered into GRAS were never tested for toxicity. Manufacturers are free to use GRAS approved additives without notifying the FDA. In Europe, there is no GRAS loophole. Every food additive must be assessed by the EFSA and authorized by the European Commission before it is used. Many additives have not been addressed by the FDA for decades despite new scientific evidence suggesting harm. So, compared to the US, the EU system does a much better job ensuring the current safety of food produced in Europe or imported for sale there. Regulators, not the food industry, are the final decision-makers and that makes all the difference in food safety.

​We eagerly anticipate that the new Trump administration under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, will make significant changes to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). 

Flash Alert: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr just announce today (March 18, 2025) that he has directed the FDA to eliminate the GRAS option for food manufacturers. He has also directed the agency to review all previously approved additives grandfathered by that program. America is now on the right track to eliminate the ability of food manufacturers to solely determine whether chemicals added in the processing of our food are toxic. The FDA will now begin to address a major component responsible for chronic disease in our country!