User:Strawberry.matcha/sandbox

Banned Foods in the United Kingdom
This article is about banned foods in the United Kingdom that are produced and manufactured in the United States

Although each country has different regulations for ingredients in food products, many foods approved by the United States FDA are banned in the United Kingdom. Why do they continue the production of those foods? The industry only cares about the profit they make from consumers. It can be changing the colors to entice customers to purchase the product or it can be manipulating the food's properties to mass produce or preserve the shelf life. Other elements to make produce “clean” with chemicals are allowed by the FDA. With no nutritional purpose of the additives and cleansing processes, it makes sense the United Kingdom would ban certain foods containing certain chemicals that harm the body and can cause long term effects, especially in children. This article will discuss well known brands across the United States that are banned in the United Kingdom and the effects of over consuming these can do to the body.

“Taste the Rainbow”

The most loved and consumed cereals, drinks, and candies from many peoples childhood in the United States are banned in the United Kingdom. The phrase “Taste the Rainbow” probably sounds appealing to most of the consumers, especially if one was trying to get more greens in. Some of the products like Froot Loops, Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes, Lucky Charms, Gatorade, and Skittles are colorful, but are banned in the United Kingdom.

The first category for banned foods is the usage of dyes to manipulate the color appearance of food. Popular dyes are Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Red 40. These are present in Skittles, Froot Loops, Lucky Charms, and Gatorade. When first laying eyes on the colorful box and cereal bits of Froot Loops, one might question where the colors and flavors come from to give the cereal its appearance and taste. The bright beautiful colors come from food dyes that are considered harmful, such as yellow 5 and red 40. Although the colors are FDA approved, “Red 40 has an ADI of 7 mg/kg bw/day (FDAf). That ADI translates into 210 mg for a 30-kg child. Companies produce the equivalent of about 25 mg of the dye per person per day, with many children probably averaging several times as much ”. Studies have shown there’s an effect on the metabolism having retention of radioactivity in the guts, genotoxicity of DNA damage in vivo, and an increase in hypersensitivity of patients tested. Yellow 5 may contain chemicals leading to cancer and create different levels of intense to severe hypersensitivity, especially in children. High amounts of Yellow 5 can be found in Lucky Charms and Gatorade.

Chemicals Additives

Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies are not legal to sell in the United Kingdom due to it containing the flavor enhancer and food preservative BHT, which was studied for potential carcinogenic properties. Long term consumption of products full of BHT has led to liver, thyroid, and kidney problems in studies of mice and rats. The lungs were affected in the mice and there’s limited evidence for BHT causing a growth in estrogen which could cause issues in reproduction. In conclusion, BHT can create tumors which can cause pain or discomfort in the body and continue to grow. The FDA in the United States should warn consumers of the different additives

In addition, imagine eating chicken rinsed in chlorine solution. That is how chicken is cleansed before being sold on the market to consumers in the United States. The reason why chicken is rinsed in chlorine is because most of them are raised in tight spaces where they can develop diseases. Although this method is used as a way to remove bacteria from the chicken, there is no study to show consuming chlorine-washed chicken poses a risk to health. If allowing imported chickens from the United States into the United Kingdom occurred, it might condone lower farm animal welfare standards in the United Kingdom. This problem could be solved in the United States by practicing better animal farming like in the United Kingdom and consumers won’t have to worry about the effects of consuming chlorinated chicken.

Drinks

There are many drinks produced in the United States that are banned in the United Kingdom such as milk and Fresca. It’s no surprise how most cows in the United States are fed the growth hormone rBGH to increase milk production. It’s all about creating a profit for the manufacturers which means lower quality milk. Even with poor farming conditions, the FDA allowed this chemical to be used in bulk producing milk. Using rBGH has shown an increase for breast cancer and other cancers in studies done on people consuming high amounts of rBGH in milk. This is because their insulin levels of IFG-1, Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, grow over time. Fresca is another drink banned because of its chemical properties of brominated vegetable oil, also known as BVO, which is a “flame retardant bromine to prevent the separation of ingredients’ '. Consuming too much BVO can cause headaches, memory loss, and impaired balance or coordination in consumers. Additionally, consumers can develop skin issues. These side effects only occur usually if it’s consumed in large amounts per a day, but overtime, it can build up and cause harmful effects on the body.

Oils, Fats, & Preservatives

In the United Kingdom, trans fats are banned domestically unlike the United States. Many foods that are canned, processed baked goods, coffee creamers, and snacks are banned because of trans fats. For example, the popular cracker brand, Ritz Crackers, is banned in the United Kingdom since it contains the trans fat hydrogenated cottonseed oil which can increase peoples low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. High amounts of LDL can lead to death and is the number one reason for deaths in the United States. Hydrogenated soybean oil is known to cause heart disease which can be found in Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Pillsbury products also contain BHA and BHT to prolong the shelf life. These chemicals are closely related to “synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives in lipsticks and moisturizers, among other cosmetics”. To avoid most processed foods, it’s best to consume whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and fish. Consumers should avoid foods that have additional sugars, trans fat, or more sodium which will benefit their health in the long run.

Conclusion

There are many food options in the United States that can seem “healthy,” but as doctors advice say, “Less is More”. Everything is about the mindset and changing the way Americans think is important. The United States should change their food production habits for the safety of consumers and take in consideration the difference in their FDA regulations to the United Kingdoms, especially if they want to make more revenue globally. It’s important for everyone to know the hidden ingredients in their food and the long term effects of consuming too much. The first thing is to educate the population on what is being snuck into our food and possible side effects if over consumed, such as multiple food dyes, “cleansing” the produce, and altering the foods with additive preservatives or chemicals. Perhaps more Americans will consider cooking at home where they are able to choose which non toxic ingredients to incorporate into their food or perhaps the FDA will incorporate similar practices to the United Kingdom. If the United States considers changing their regulations, that means the food companies will change their ingredients and recipes, which could make the overall health of Americans increase and sustain a better life expectancy.