Food ingredients banned overseas — still sold here
Additives, pesticides, hormones, and packaging chemicals banned or restricted in the EU, UK, Canada, or Japan — but still legal in US food. Grouped by category, each with EFSA + FDA citations and safer swaps.
Food additives
64 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
- Guar GumE412Flagged overseas
- Soy LecithinE322Flagged overseas
- Mono- and DiglyceridesE471Flagged overseas
- MaltodextrinFlagged overseas
- Silicon DioxideE551Flagged overseas
- Locust Bean GumE410Flagged overseas
- Xanthan GumE415Flagged overseas
- InulinFlagged overseas
- PolydextroseE1200Flagged overseas
- AlluloseRestricted in the EU
- Monk Fruit ExtractFlagged overseas
- ErythritolE968Flagged overseas
- XylitolE967Flagged overseas
- SorbitolE420Flagged overseas
- Tapioca SyrupFlagged overseas
- Corn Syrup SolidsFlagged overseas
- Invert SugarFlagged overseas
- DextroseFlagged overseas
- Modified Food StarchE1422Flagged overseas
- AspartameE951Flagged overseas
- High-Fructose Corn SyrupFlagged overseas
- Monosodium GlutamateE621Flagged overseas
- Red Dye 40E129Flagged overseas
- SucraloseE955Flagged overseas
- Brominated Vegetable OilE443Flagged overseas
- Partially Hydrogenated OilsFlagged overseas
- Perfluorinated Compounds (PFAS)Flagged overseas
- CarrageenanE407Flagged overseas
- Red Dye 3E127Flagged overseas
- Yellow Dye 5E102Flagged overseas
- Titanium DioxideE171Flagged overseas
- Sodium BenzoateE211Flagged overseas
- Potassium BromateE924Flagged overseas
- Recombinant Bovine Growth HormoneFlagged overseas
- SaccharinE954Flagged overseas
- DimethylpolysiloxaneE900Flagged overseas
- Yellow Dye 6E110Flagged overseas
- Sodium NitriteE250Flagged overseas
- AzodicarbonamideE927aFlagged overseas
- Tertiary ButylhydroquinoneE319Flagged overseas
- Mineral OilE905Flagged overseas
- Butylated HydroxyanisoleE320Flagged overseas
- Blue Dye 1E133Flagged overseas
- Acesulfame PotassiumE950Flagged overseas
- OlestraFlagged overseas
- Caramel Color IVE150dFlagged overseas
- Recombinant Bovine SomatotropinFlagged overseas
- Polysorbate 80E433Flagged overseas
- Butylated HydroxytolueneE321Flagged overseas
- Potassium SorbateE202Flagged overseas
- Butylated HydroxytolueneE321Flagged overseas
- Propylene GlycolE1520Flagged overseas
- Sodium NitrateE251Flagged overseas
- Blue Dye 2E132Flagged overseas
- Brominated Flame RetardantsFlagged overseas
- Butylated HydroxyanisoleE320Flagged overseas
- Sodium SulfiteE221Flagged overseas
- Calcium Disodium EDTAE385Flagged overseas
- NeotameE961Flagged overseas
- Green Dye 3E143Flagged overseas
- Sulfur DioxideE220Flagged overseas
- Propyl GallateE310Flagged overseas
- Sodium Aluminum PhosphateE541Flagged overseas
- AdvantameE969Flagged overseas
Pesticides
51 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
- OxytetracyclineBanned in the EU
- TerbufosBanned in the EU
- TribufosBanned in the EU
- ChlorpyrifosBanned in the EU
- AtrazineBanned in the EU
- GlyphosateRestricted in the EU
- ImidaclopridBanned in the EU
- ClothianidinBanned in the EU
- ThiamethoxamBanned in the EU
- CarbendazimBanned in the EU
- PropazineBanned in the EU
- SimazineBanned in the EU
- PropanilBanned in the EU
- DimethoateBanned in the EU
- MethomylBanned in the EU
- Oxydemeton-methylBanned in the EU
- PropargiteBanned in the EU
- NaledBanned in the EU
- MethidathionBanned in the EU
- FenpropathrinBanned in the EU
- Diquat dibromideBanned in the EU
- EndosulfanBanned in the EU
- AldicarbBanned in the EU
- AcephateBanned in the EU
- BifenthrinBanned in the EU
- CarbarylBanned in the EU
- ChlorothalonilBanned in the EU
- DiuronBanned in the EU
- FolpetRestricted in the EU
- PhosmetBanned in the EU
- MalathionBanned in the EU
- PermethrinBanned in the EU
- TrifluralinBanned in the EU
- LinuronBanned in the EU
- IprodioneBanned in the EU
- ThiaclopridBanned in the EU
- FipronilBanned in the EU
- MethiocarbBanned in the EU
- OxyfluorfenBanned in the EU
- PendimethalinRestricted in the EU
- S-metolachlorBanned in the EU
- PhorateBanned in the EU
- ParaquatBanned in the EU
- StreptomycinBanned in the EU
- NorflurazonBanned in the EU
- EPTCBanned in the EU
- DicrotophosBanned in the EU
- DichlobenilBanned in the EU
- ChloropicrinBanned in the EU
- BensulideBanned in the EU
- 2,4-DBBanned in the EU
Hormones
8 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
GMO crops
8 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
PFAS in packaging
7 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
Processing aids
10 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
- BHTRestricted in the EU
- BHARestricted in the EU
- Propylparaben (food)Banned in the EU
- Brominated vegetable oilBanned in the EU
- Titanium dioxide (E171)Banned in the EU
- Benzoyl peroxide (flour)Banned in the EU
- Potassium bromateBanned in the EU
- AzodicarbonamideBanned in the EU
- Chlorine-washed chickenBanned in the EU
- Peracetic acid poultry washBanned in the EU
color
7 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
flavoring
9 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
- Caramel Color Class IIIE150cFlagged overseas
- Caramel Color Class IE150aFlagged overseas
- Disodium GuanylateE627Flagged overseas
- Disodium InosinateE631Flagged overseas
- Autolyzed Yeast ExtractFlagged overseas
- DiacetylRestricted in the EU
- VanillinFlagged overseas
- Artificial FlavorsFlagged overseas
- Natural FlavorsFlagged overseas
preservative
8 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
thickener stabilizer
5 food ingredients banned or restricted overseas but still allowed in the US.
Scan any barcode and instantly see if a product contains ingredients banned overseas — across food and personal care.
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Food ingredient FAQs
What food ingredients are banned in Europe but allowed in the US?
Examples include potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil (BVO), azodicarbonamide, certain synthetic dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6), and growth hormones like rBGH. Many pesticides (such as chlorpyrifos, atrazine, and paraquat) are also banned in the EU but still used on US crops.
Why does the US allow ingredients banned in other countries?
US food regulation often follows a "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) framework that can grandfather in additives, while the EU applies a more precautionary standard. The result is that many additives, pesticides, and hormones restricted abroad remain legal in US food.
How do I know if my food contains banned ingredients?
Scan the product barcode with BannedPantry. We check the ingredient list against additives, pesticides, hormones, and packaging chemicals flagged by the EU, UK, Canada, Japan, and California, then give an instant Safe, Caution, or Avoid score with citations.