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Cross-reference

Compare food bans between two places

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EU stricter
14
US stricter
0
Same rule
3
Can't compare yet
1

Where European Union and United States differ

IngredientEuropean UnionUnited States
Potassium bromateFood additivesBannedNot an authorised food additive.AllowedPermitted under 21 CFR 172.730. California bans it from 1 Jan 2027.
Azodicarbonamide (ADA)Food additivesBannedNot authorised. Also banned in food-contact plastics since 2005.AllowedUp to 45 ppm in flour (21 CFR 172.806).
Titanium dioxideFood additivesBannedBanned since 7 Aug 2022 (Regulation 2022/63).AllowedPermitted. A petition to revoke it has been pending at FDA since 2023.
PropylparabenFood additivesBannedRemoved in 2006 by Directive 2006/52/EC.AllowedTreated as GRAS. California bans it from 1 Jan 2027.
Citrus Red No. 2Food additivesBannedNot authorised.RestrictedAllowed only on orange peel. FDA proposed revoking it in July 2026.
OlestraFood additivesBannedNever approved.AllowedStill approved for savoury snacks, but no products are currently sold.
RactopamineFarm drugs & processingBannedBanned in production and imports.AllowedApproved for pigs, cattle and turkeys.
rBST / rBGHFarm drugs & processingBannedBanned since 1990.AllowedApproved since 1993.
Growth hormones in beefFarm drugs & processingBannedDirective 96/22/EC, made permanent for oestradiol by 2003/74/EC.AllowedApproved.
Chemical washes on poultryFarm drugs & processingBannedImports of treated poultry blocked since 1997.AllowedAllowed. Most plants now use peracetic acid; under 5% still use chlorine.
ParaquatPesticides & GMOBannedBanned 2007 after a court annulled its approval.AllowedRestricted-use pesticide; licensed applicators only.
AtrazinePesticides & GMOBannedNot approved since 2004.AllowedRegistered.
ChlorpyrifosPesticides & GMOBannedApproval not renewed in 2020. Not re-checked in this pass.RestrictedFood tolerances reinstated by a court in 2024; EPA proposed keeping only 11 crops.
GM crop cultivationPesticides & GMORestrictedVery few crops approved for cultivation; member states can opt out.AllowedWidely grown.
Orange BFood additivesNot verifiedNot verified yet.BannedFinal revocation effective 8 Sep 2026.

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