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Barcode 012000000461
AVOIDMountain Dew Original is rated AVOID by BannedPantry: its label lists 5 ingredients that are banned or restricted outside the US — Brominated Vegetable Oil (EU, Japan, India); Yellow 5 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); High Fructose Corn Syrup (EU (tax/restricted)); Sodium Benzoate (EU, UK); Acacia Gum. All of them are still legal to sell in the US.
Banned or restricted in: EU, Japan, India, US
Not authorised in the EU and banned in Japan and India; the US FDA revoked its authorisation in July 2024 (effective August 2024) after studies linked it to bromine accumulation and thyroid effects.
Banned or restricted in: EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)
Southampton Six colour (tartrazine, E102): EU-AUTHORISED but foods must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'.
Banned or restricted in: EU (tax/restricted)
EU imposes production quotas and taxes on isoglucose; linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver.
Same category, none of the flagged ingredients.
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Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, concentrated orange juice, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium hexametaphosphate (to protect flavor), caffeine, sodium benzoate (preserves freshness), gum arabic, brominated vegetable oil, Yellow 5.
No — every ingredient in Mountain Dew Original is currently legal to sell in the US. However, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sodium Benzoate, Acacia Gum are banned or restricted in other regions: Brominated Vegetable Oil (EU, Japan, India); Yellow 5 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); High Fructose Corn Syrup (EU (tax/restricted)); Sodium Benzoate (EU, UK); Acacia Gum.
Brominated Vegetable Oil: Not authorised in the EU and banned in Japan and India; the US FDA revoked its authorisation in July 2024 (effective August 2024) after studies linked it to bromine accumulation and thyroid effects. Yellow 5: Southampton Six colour (tartrazine, E102): EU-AUTHORISED but foods must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. High Fructose Corn Syrup: EU imposes production quotas and taxes on isoglucose; linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver. Sodium Benzoate: EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 permits sodium benzoate (E211) only in specified food categories at maximum levels and not in foods for infants/young children; benzene can form when benzoates and ascorbic acid co-occur. Plus 1 more — see the full list above.
BannedPantry checks each labeled ingredient against food and cosmetic safety standards from the EU, UK, Canada, Japan, and California, with a citation for every flag. AVOID means at least one labeled ingredient is banned or restricted by a major overseas regulator, or is high-severity under our methodology. Ratings are never influenced by brands.
Comparable products without the flagged ingredients include OLIPOP Cherry Vanilla Prebiotic Soda 12-pack (OLIPOP), Poppi Strawberry Lemon Prebiotic Soda 12-pack (Poppi), Zevia Ginger Root Beer 24-pack (Zevia). You can also scan any product's barcode free at https://bannedpantry.com to check it before you buy.
See exactly which ingredients in Mountain Dew Original are banned overseas, with sources.
Scan now →BannedPantry — Our scores are never influenced by brands.
Banned or restricted in: EU, UK
EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 permits sodium benzoate (E211) only in specified food categories at maximum levels and not in foods for infants/young children; benzene can form when benzoates and ascorbic acid co-occur.
Generally recognized as safe; excessive consumption may cause digestive distress.