Know your food
Which food ingredients are banned abroad but allowed here?
By Rashad Bayram · Published · Last updated
I cook most of what my three boys eat, so I read labels. I built this page to keep track of what other countries keep out of food, what's still allowed here, and the source behind every line.
- Open gaps
- 13
- Items tracked
- 18
- Cases tracked
- 19
- Sources
- 79
Who bans what
Ingredients down the side, 8places across. Tap any mark for the rule behind it. Filter to see only what's still allowed where you live.
- Banned
- Restricted
- Allowed
- Not verified
| Ingredient | EU European Union | UK United Kingdom | CN China | RU Russia | JP Japan | US United States | CA Canada | MX Mexico | Bans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium bromateE924 | 4 | ||||||||
| Ractopaminedrug | 4 | ||||||||
| rBST / rBGHdrug | 4 | ||||||||
| Paraquatherbicide | 3 | ||||||||
| Olestra | 3 | ||||||||
| PropylparabenE216 | 3 | ||||||||
| GM crop cultivationpolicy | 2 | ||||||||
| Chlorpyrifosinsecticide | 2 | ||||||||
| Citrus Red No. 2E121 | 2 | ||||||||
| Atrazineherbicide | 2 | ||||||||
| Azodicarbonamide (ADA)E927a | 2 | ||||||||
| Chemical washes on poultryprocess | 2 | ||||||||
| Growth hormones in beefdrug | 2 | ||||||||
| TBHQE319 | 1 | ||||||||
| Titanium dioxideE171 | 1 | ||||||||
| Erythrosine (Red No. 3)E127 | 0 | ||||||||
| Brominated vegetable oilGap closed | 4 | ||||||||
| Orange BGap closed | 1 |
Shaded columns are Canada, the US and Mexico. Most systems only allow what's on an approved list, so “banned” usually means “not on the list”. A question mark means I couldn't confirm it from a reliable source yet.
Beyond the matrix
Restaurant chains
Lab tests and lawsuits for McDonald’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell and more, kept apart so you can see what was measured and what was alleged.
Lawsuits
Class actions and enforcement over glyphosate, PFAS, solvents, heavy metals and outbreaks, with the court and the latest status.
New proteins
Insect ingredients, lab-grown meat and animal-free dairy: what is actually sold, and the names it goes by on a label.
Fact checks
Viral claims and popular “banned in Europe” lists, checked against the actual rules and tests.
What changes next
- 8 Sept 2026 · USOrange B revoked in US food[18] source, opens in a new tabIn force
- 31 Dec 2026 · USFDA target for industry to drop six petroleum dyes (voluntary)[17] source, opens in a new tab51 days
- 1 Jan 2027 · USCalifornia bans potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red 3 and BVO[7] source, opens in a new tab52 days
- 1 Jan 2027 · USTexas warning labels start on 44 ingredients[34] source, opens in a new tab52 days
- 15 Jan 2027 · USRed No. 3 must be out of all US food[4] source, opens in a new tab66 days
- 18 Jan 2028 · USRed No. 3 must be out of ingested drugs[5] source, opens in a new tab434 days
- 15 Dec 2033 · EUEU glyphosate approval expires unless renewed[33] source, opens in a new tab2592 days
Latest filings
- 2 Oct 2026StarbucksLabelling (sugar) · Consumer class actionOpen
- Aug 2026Bimbo Bakeries (Arnold, Brownberry, Oroweat)Glyphosate · Consumer class actionOpen
- 17 Jul 2026Taco Bell and Taylor FarmsPathogen (Cyclospora) · Personal injury and class actionsOpen
- Jul 2026Driscoll'sPFAS (pesticides) · Consumer class actionOpen
- Jul 2026Costco and Amazon (Orgain protein powders)Heavy metals · Consumer class actionsOpen
General information, not legal or medical advice. “Banned elsewhere” doesn't automatically mean unsafe: some bans rest on animal welfare, trade or caution. Read the fact checks before sharing a list.
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