07/10/2023
You might not know this, but US chicken is banned in the EU because it is washed with chlorine. And most US Corn is banned from most of the world too because it is sprayed with atrazine.
Atrazine is banned in most of the world because it is known to cause cancer.
It's almost as if the FDA and US food industry want their citizens fat, sick and dying.
And frankly, that’s what most of us are based on data from CDC regarding obesity, diabetes, and other disease with strong correlation to personal diet and lifestyle.
Here are some other categories of food products that are available for consumption in USA, but generally banned in Europe and rest of world...
🥩Hormone-Treated Beef: The EU bans the import of hormone-treated beef. The EU argues that hormone residues in beef might affect human health, causing things like developmental issues, cancer, and endocrine disruption.
🌽Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): While not completely banned, the EU has much stricter regulations concerning the importation, production, and sale of GMOs compared to the United States. There is strong public opposition to GMOs in many European countries, leading to stringent controls and labelling requirements. Some genetically modified crops, particularly certain types of corn and soy, are grown widely in the U.S. but face significant restrictions in the EU.
🐷Ractopamine in Pork: Ractopamine is a growth stimulant used to make meat leaner. While it is used in the U.S., it is banned in the EU because of concerns about human consumption and animal welfare.
🧪Food Dyes and Artificial Preservatives: Some food dyes and preservatives that are allowed in the U.S., such as certain azo dyes (like Yellow No. 5 and Red No. 40) and the preservative BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), are either banned or heavily regulated in the EU due to concerns about health effects such as hyperactivity in children or potential carcinogenic properties.
🛢️Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO): BVO is used in the US in some citrus-flavored soft drinks as an emulsifier, but it is banned in the EU due to potential health risks. BVO contains bromine, a heavy element associated with organ damage and potential behavioral issues.
Large food companies spend tens of millions of dollars to lobby congress, make large campaign donation, and even fund "research studies" at the FDA and CDC.
In the United States, the best (only?) way to find out about food industry lobbying is to check the Open Secrets website.
It takes some exploration to find what you might be looking for, but it’s worth the trouble for this kind of result.
If you can find it, the site identifies lobbyists, issues, and notes the revolving door between industry lobbyists and government positions.
It’s good to know these things 🤓✅
