13 Banned Food Ingredients Still Allowed In The U.S.A. : Ingredients: Coloring agents (blue 1, blue 2, yellow 5, and yellow 6) Found In: Cakes, candy, macaroni and cheese, medicines, sport drinks, soda, pet food, and cheese Health Hazards: “Today most artificial colors are made from coal tar, which is also used to seal-coat products to preserve and protect the shine of industrial floors,” Carlton says. “It also appears in head lice shampoos to kill off the small bugs.” Ingredient: Olestra (a.k.a. Olean) Found In: Fat-free potato chips Health Hazards: “This fat substitute appears to cause a dramatic depletion of fatsoluble vitamins and carotenoids, robbing us of the vital micro-nutrients... plus embarrassing bathroom side effects (including oily anal leakage!)” Many countries, including the U.K. and Canada, have banned it. Ingredient: Brominated vegetable oil (a.k.a. BVO) Found In: Sports drinks and citrus-flavored sodas Health Hazards: BVO’s main ingredient, bromine, is a poisonous chemical that is considered both corrosive and toxic. It’s been linked to major organ system damage, birth defects, growth problems, schizophrenia, and hearing loss, which explains why it’s been banned in more than 100 countries. Ingredient: Potassium bromate (a.k.a. brominated flour) Found In: Rolls, wraps, flatbread, bread crumbs, and bagel chips Health Hazards: Made with the same toxic chemical found in BVO (bromine), this additive has been associated with kidney and nervous system disorders as well as gastrointestinal discomfort. “While the FDA has not banned the use of bromated flour, they do urge bakers to voluntarily leave it out,” Calton says.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 00:28:28 +0000