There is a lawsuit claiming one of Mars, Inc. candy bars contained toxins that are unsafe to eat. A California lawsuit recently put Mars, Inc.in the spotlight!
The class action suit filed earlier this month accuses Mars, Inc., the manufacturer of Skittles, of “heightened levels” of titanium dioxide, or TiO2. Skittles aren’t the only popular American food containing ingredients banned or limited in other countries.
Here are a few American snacks you won’t find in other countries:
Mountain Dew & Fresca…You might be surprised to learn the products contain brominated vegetable oil. BVO is banned in Japan and the European Union because it contains bromine, the element found in brominated flame retardants, which can build up in the body and potentially lead to memory loss as well as skin and nerve problems.
Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls…Those delicious little chocolate cake rolls unfortunately contain Yellow 5 and Red 40. Those chemicals could cause adverse effects in children. Norway and Austria have banned the snack cakes outright.
Several Breakfast Cereals…Popular breakfast cereals contain BHT. Used as a flavor enhancer, BHT has long been studied for its potential carcinogenic properties. While the evidence is inconclusive, BHT is banned in Japan and the European Union. Other cereals use Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Red 40, despite being known to cause itching and hives for some.
Stove Top stuffing…Kraft Stove Top stuffing might make Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners easier, but it also contains the same BHT found in American breakfast cereals, as well as BHA, which at high doses, causes cancer in rats, mice and hamsters. Both preservatives are banned in the United Kingdom, Japan and several European countries.
Ritz Crackers & Coffee-mate…Trans fats were officially banned in the U.S. in 2018; however, some trans fats such as partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oils can still be found in popular products such as Ritz Crackers and Coffee-mate creamers. These ingredients are also banned in Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Norway and Denmark.
Drumstick frozen desserts…Drumstick uses carrageenan, derived from seaweed, for texture in its ice cream. Carrageenan can affect the human digestive system which has led to its limited use in the European Union.
