North America
Food ingredient bans in Canada
By Rashad Bayram · Published · Last checked
- Bans
- 3
- Restricts
- 1
- Allows
- 8
- Not verified yet
- 4
Against the United States: Canada is stricter on 4 items and looser on 1. The rules here come from Health Canada Lists of Permitted Food Additives and the PMRA label search.
Compare CA and US side by sideBans · 3
- Potassium bromateBanned as a food additive since 1994.
- OlestraNot approved.
- rBST / rBGHNever licensed.
Restricts · 1
- ParaquatNo products registered since 2023, though not formally banned.
Allows · 8
- Azodicarbonamide (ADA)Permitted as a flour treatment up to 45 ppm.
- Titanium dioxideHealth Canada's 2022 review found no concern at current levels.
- PropylparabenPermitted; allowed uses were narrowed in 2021.
- Erythrosine (Red No. 3)Health Canada says it poses no risk at permitted levels and will act only on new evidence.
- RactopamineApproved. Few farms use it because export markets ban it.
- Growth hormones in beefApproved.
- AtrazineRegistration confirmed after a 2017 special review.
- GM crop cultivationWidely grown.
Not verified yet · 4
- TBHQNot verified in this research pass. Check Health Canada Lists of Permitted Food Additives and the PMRA label search.
- Citrus Red No. 2Not verified in this research pass. Check Health Canada Lists of Permitted Food Additives and the PMRA label search.
- Chemical washes on poultryNot verified in this research pass. Check Health Canada Lists of Permitted Food Additives and the PMRA label search.
- ChlorpyrifosNot verified in this research pass. Check Health Canada Lists of Permitted Food Additives and the PMRA label search.
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