Is BannedPantry free?

Yes — 5 free barcode scans per day with an account, plus 2 photo (OCR) scans per day. Pro starts at $3.25/mo (billed yearly at $39) or $4.99/mo billed monthly, unlocking unlimited scans, family profiles, PDF Pantry Audits, and re-flag alerts. Cancel anytime.

What ingredients does BannedPantry flag?

We flag 140+ food and beauty ingredients that are banned, restricted, or carry a warning label in the EU, UK, Canada, or Japan but are still sold in the US — including Red 40, Yellow 5, BVO, BHA, BHT, titanium dioxide, propylparaben, and more.

Where does the data come from?

Our database is built from EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), the FDA, Health Canada, and Japan’s MHLW, cross-referenced with Open Food Facts. Every flagged ingredient links to its official regulatory source.

Does BannedPantry work on beauty products too?

Yes. Scan any food or personal-care barcode — we cover 100+ food additives plus 50+ EU-restricted beauty and skincare ingredients.

Is BannedPantry medical advice?

No. BannedPantry is for educational use only. Our scores are never influenced by brands. Consult a doctor for medical decisions.

140+ food & beauty ingredients flagged · updated regularly

Know what's in your family's food and beauty. In 3 seconds.

Scan 140+ ingredients banned or restricted in the EU, UK, Canada, or Japan — across food AND beauty products — but still legal in the US.

140+ food additives, dyes, preservatives, PFAS
130+ EU-banned beauty + personal care ingredients
Instant Safe / Caution / Avoid scores with EFSA + FDA citations

Scan a product free Sign up

Every flag cites primary regulatory sources:

EFSAFDAEU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009California Prop 65Health Canada

Red 40 Red 3 Yellow 5 Yellow 6 Green 3 BHA BHT Brominated Vegetable Oil Potassium Bromate Titanium Dioxide Propylparaben Azodicarbonamide Olestra rBGH Ractopamine Carrageenan Sodium Benzoate TBHQ Sodium Nitrite Triclosan Oxybenzone Red 40 Red 3 Yellow 5 Yellow 6 Green 3 BHA BHT Brominated Vegetable Oil Potassium Bromate Titanium Dioxide Propylparaben Azodicarbonamide Olestra rBGH Ractopamine Carrageenan Sodium Benzoate TBHQ Sodium Nitrite Triclosan Oxybenzone

Built by a Louisiana mom. Trusted by families nationwide.

Every flag is cited

Each result links to the primary source — EFSA, FDA, Health Canada, or Prop 65. Read the document yourself.

Brands can’t buy a score

Scores are computed from regulatory status alone. No brand sponsorships, no pay-to-rate — ever.

3M+ products covered

We check barcodes against 3M+ products via Open Food Facts. Not found? Snap the ingredient label instead.

EFSA + FDA cited

on every ingredient flag

No brand sponsorships

scores never paid for

Free barcode scanner

no signup to scan

Sources on every flag

tap any flag to see the data

Why you can trust the score

We show our work. On every flag.

Most food-scoring apps grade ingredients on opinion. We grade them on what regulators outside the US have already decided. You see the citation. You see the source. You decide what comes home.

Regulatory-first

Every flagged ingredient cites an EFSA opinion, FDA notice, EU regulation, or California Prop 65 listing. No vibes, no "natural is better" hand-waving.

No brand money

We accept zero payment from food or beauty brands. Scores are never influenced by who pays — because no one pays. Ever.

Show your work

Every ingredient page links the source documents. If you disagree with a flag, you can read the same paper a regulator did and decide for yourself.

Independent and ad-free

BannedPantry is independently built and not funded by food or beauty brands. No advertiser pressure to soften a flag or rewrite a score.

Read our full scoring methodology →

The sources behind every flag

Our scores come from regulators, not opinions.

Every ingredient flag links the primary document a regulator published — EFSA opinions, FDA notices, EU regulations, Prop 65 listings, and peer-reviewed studies. Click any flag in a scan to read the source for yourself.

How a flag is built

Regulatory check

Is it banned, restricted, or warned about in the EU, Canada, Japan, or California?

U.S. status

What is the FDA position — GRAS, color-additive listed, phase-out, or still permitted?

Evidence link

We attach the primary document. No vibes, no paraphrasing the regulator.

Score

Safe, Caution, or Avoid based on the strongest regulatory signal across jurisdictions.

European Union

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Re-evaluations and ADI limits for food additives, colors, and preservatives.

United States

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Color additive status, GRAS determinations, and the petroleum-based dye phase-out tracker.

European Union

EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009

Prohibited and restricted ingredient lists for cosmetics sold in the EU.

California, USA

California Proposition 65

Chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm — state warning list.

Canada

Health Canada

Permitted food additives lists and risk assessments for ingredients.

European Union

EU Food Additives Regulation 1333/2008

The community list of food additives approved for use in the EU.

United States

Consumer Reports

Independent lab testing on popular U.S. snacks and packaged foods.

International

IARC (WHO)

Monographs classifying carcinogenicity of chemicals and food substances.

Our scores are never influenced by brands. Read the full methodology →

Try it now

What's in your pantry?

Enter any barcode or run a live demo on a popular US product.

No barcode? Try a sample

See exactly what BannedPantry shows when it finds banned ingredients.

Real results

We checked your favorites.

Here's what we found in three of the most popular US snacks.

Doritos Nacho Cheese

Frito-Lay

❌ Avoid

Restricted in: EU, UK

Flagged Ingredients (2)

Red 40high

Linked to hyperactivity in children; carries a mandatory EU warning label.

Restricted: EU, UK

View citation →

Yellow 6low

May cause hyperactivity; requires warning label in EU.

Restricted: EU (warning label)

View citation →

Mountain Dew

PepsiCo

❌ Avoid

Restricted in: EU, Japan, India, Canada

Flagged Ingredients (2)

Brominated Vegetable Oilhigh

Banned in EU and Japan; linked to thyroid issues and neurological harm.

Restricted: EU, Japan, India, Canada

View citation →

Yellow 5low

May cause hyperactivity in sensitive children; requires warning label in EU.

Restricted: EU (warning label)

View citation →

Goldfish Crackers

Pepperidge Farm

✅ Safe

How it works

Three steps. Total clarity.

Scan the barcode

Use your camera or type the barcode number. Works on any food or beauty product in seconds.

We cross-check it

Your scan runs against 140+ flagged food and beauty ingredients from the EU, Canada, Japan, and California — instantly.

Get a clear score

Safe, Caution, or Avoid. Full citations and swap suggestions for cleaner alternatives.

Ingredient guides

Is a specific ingredient safe?

Deep-dive guides with EFSA + FDA citations and the full country-by-country status.

Is Red 40 banned? →Is Red 3 banned? →Is Yellow 5 banned? →Is Yellow 6 banned? →Is Blue 1 banned? →Is Titanium Dioxide banned? →Is Brominated Vegetable Oil banned? →Is Potassium Bromate banned? →Is BHA banned? →Is Aspartame banned? →Is Carrageenan banned? →Is High-Fructose Corn Syrup banned? →

See all ingredient guides →

Know what you're eating.

5 free scans — no signup needed. Create a free account for 5 barcode scans + 2 photo scans every day. Go Pro for unlimited everything, family profiles, re-flag alerts, and PDF pantry audits.

Seen us on TikTok? See the full list of ingredients banned in Europe →

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Know what's in your family's food and beauty. In 3 seconds.

Scan 140+ ingredients banned or restricted in the EU, UK, Canada, or Japan — across food AND beauty products — but still legal in the US.

140+ food additives, dyes, preservatives, PFAS

130+ EU-banned beauty + personal care ingredients

Instant Safe / Caution / Avoid scores with EFSA + FDA citations

Every flag cites primary regulatory sources:

EFSAFDAEU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009California Prop 65Health Canada