North America

Food ingredient bans in the United States

By Rashad Bayram · Published 29 Oct 2026 · Last checked 24 Oct 2026

Bans: 0
Restricts: 3
Allows: 13
Not verified yet: 0

Against the European Union: the United States is stricter on 0 items and looser on 14. The rules here come from 21 CFR Parts 172–184 and 73–74, and EPA tolerances (40 CFR 180).

Compare US and EU side by side

Bans · 0

None in this dataset.

Restricts · 3

Erythrosine (Red No. 3)Authorisation revoked Jan 2025. Must be out of food by 15 Jan 2027 and ingested drugs by 18 Jan 2028.
Citrus Red No. 2Allowed only on orange peel. FDA proposed revoking it in July 2026.
ChlorpyrifosFood tolerances reinstated by a court in 2024; EPA proposed keeping only 11 crops.

Allows · 13

Potassium bromatePermitted under 21 CFR 172.730. California bans it from 1 Jan 2027.
Azodicarbonamide (ADA)Up to 45 ppm in flour (21 CFR 172.806).
Titanium dioxidePermitted. A petition to revoke it has been pending at FDA since 2023.
PropylparabenTreated as GRAS. California bans it from 1 Jan 2027.
TBHQPermitted at up to 0.02% of the oil or fat.
OlestraStill approved for savoury snacks, but no products are currently sold.
RactopamineApproved for pigs, cattle and turkeys.
rBST / rBGHApproved since 1993.
Growth hormones in beefApproved.
Chemical washes on poultryAllowed. Most plants now use peracetic acid; under 5% still use chlorine.
ParaquatRestricted-use pesticide; licensed applicators only.
AtrazineRegistered.
GM crop cultivationWidely grown.

Not verified yet · 0