Frito-Lay ingredients: what's banned overseas?

About Frito-Lay

Frito-Lay, a PepsiCo subsidiary, produces Doritos, Cheetos, Lay's, and other top-selling US snacks. These products often contain multiple synthetic dyes, TBHQ, and MSG that are either absent or used in lower quantities in European versions. UK Cheetos (Wotsits) and UK Doritos use paprika extract and annatto instead of synthetic dyes. The US versions are a prime example of the US-EU ingredient gap.

Common concerns with Frito-Lay products

{"ingredient_slug":"yellow-dye-5","ingredient_name":"Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)","found_in_product":"Doritos Nacho Cheese (US)","concern":"UK/EU hyperactivity warning. UK Doritos uses paprika extract instead. FDA phase-out announced."}; {"ingredient_slug":"yellow-dye-6","ingredient_name":"Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow)","found_in_product":"Cheetos (US)","concern":"EU/UK requires warning label. Not in UK Wotsits (UK Cheetos equivalent)."}; {"ingredient_slug":"red-dye-40","ingredient_name":"Red 40","found_in_product":"Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Doritos (US)","concern":"EU/UK warning label; phase-out in progress."}; {"ingredient_slug":"tbhq","ingredient_name":"TBHQ","found_in_product":"Lay's Potato Chips, Cheetos (US)","concern":"Antioxidant preservative restricted by EU. Not in EU Lay's formulations."}; {"ingredient_slug":"monosodium-glutamate-msg","ingredient_name":"MSG","found_in_product":"Doritos, Cheetos Puffs (US)","concern":"While FDA deems MSG GRAS, some consumers report sensitivity. No MSG in most EU Frito-Lay equivalents."}