Loading…
The US and international formulas are not the same— here's exactly what changed and why.
Kellogg's USA
| Ingredient | 🇺🇸 US Version | 🌍 International | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bht | ✅ Not present | ✅ Not present | Banned Overseas |
The same company makes both versions — but they use different formulas depending on where the product is sold. In the EU, UK, and Canada, regulations require either banning certain additives outright or mandating warning labels (e.g., "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" for certain synthetic dyes).
Rather than print warning labels, most manufacturers reformulate the product for international markets — using natural colorants like paprika extract, beetroot concentrate, or spirulina instead of petroleum-derived synthetic dyes.
The US FDA has a different standard: it deems additives "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) based on older safety data, while EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) applies stricter precautionary principles and requires manufacturers to prove safety rather than assume it.
The Texas Attorney General's 2025 investigation confirmed that BHT remains in US Rice Krispies while the UK version is sold without it. BHT is prohibited from use in EU cereals due to concerns about endocrine-disrupting properties and animal cancer studies. Kellogg's reformulated years ago for the European market yet continues the BHT formulation for American consumers.
Find clean brands without these ingredients — organized by category.