10 Banned Foods Americans Should Stop Eating

Did you know there are foods on your dinner table every night that would never be allowed there if you lived in certain countries? It’s true, and today we’re going to look at 10 of them thanks to the researchers at Mercola.Com.

Topping the list is Farm raised salmon. With all kinds of GMO additives and antibiotics, the farm-raised salmon stock ponds have been outlawed in Australia, New Zealand and Russia. Instead, researchers recommend only eating wild-caught salmon.

Next, is genetically engineered papaya. The tropical fruit was hit by a big contamination scandal in recent years, prompting the entire European Union to outlaw stores from selling them.

Then, there’s a potentially dangerous muscle enhancer found in livestock. Pigs, cows and chickens in the US are often pumped with Paylean and Optaflexx in order to reduce fat. The drugs are linked to several known reproductive issues. The muscle enhancers are outlawed in Europe, China and even Taiwan.

For some reason, many beverage companies have been injecting drinks with a flame retardant for nearly 40 years. Brominated Vegetable Oil has tested positive for reproductive issues, acne, fatigue and heart problems in animals. The FDA allows it in the US, but Denmark, Germany, Japan, Greece, Switzerland and several other countries prohibit the ingredient in their drinks.

Artificial food coloring is another problem ingredient. Norway and Austria put a strict ban on more than 3 thousand of the additives. You’ve probably seen them plastered on the back of ingredient boxes at the grocery store. Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 2. More color codes than you’d hear at a high school football game.

We mentioned chicken already, but be on the lookout for birds fed with Roxarsone. It’s an arsenic-laced feed drug. Three years ago, Pfizer volunteered to stop selling it, but many companies are still using it. The European Union won’t allow it in their food.

You might remember this recent news story. Subway went so far as to put an ingredient in their bread that’s also found in Yoga Mats. These enriched ingredients are supposed to give the bread more elasticity. The problem is, researchers say any bread, grain or flour enriched with potassium bromate can lead to damage to the nervous system, kidneys and thyroid. Canada, China and the EU block it from their shelves.

On a fat free diet? Stay away from Olestra. It’s supposed to be a fat substitute, but Time Magazine called it one of the 50 worst inventions ever. Canada and the UK outlaw the ingredient. The FDA approved it in 1996.

Remember these two acronyms: BHA and BHT. Both are preservatives often found in beer, cereal, butter and gum. Both are outlawed in Japan and the EU. Both could trigger allergic reactions.

Last, but certainly not least, be aware of any dairy product containing R-BGH. Sometimes also labeled BST, the hormone is used to grow cow’s glands. Monsanto developed the chemical from genetically engineered E-Coli. They sell it as Posilac. Researchers link the chemical directly to rectal, prostate and breast cancer. I’m no scientist, but the ones in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel and all over Europe convinced their government’s to make it an illegal substance.

Have a great weekend, and make sure to eat, AND drink responsibly.