Man Shares Foods That Are Banned Around The World But Legal In The U.S.
Viewers were disappointed to learn after watching a viral TikTok that some of their favorite foods and snacks are actually banned in other countries due to various harmful compounds.
The TikTok was posted by Cartiear J. Madlock, or @veganblackguy, on Friday where it received 1.1 million views and 1,200 comments, many from users saying they were sad about some of their favorite foods, but others were upset that they did not know this information.
A poll published in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) journal showed that only 37 percent of those surveyed had trust in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with 24 percent having little to no trust at all.
"Did you know that these foods were surprisingly banned in other countries?" the caption of the TikTok read.
The first food on the list was Skittles, which contains various food dyes including Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, and Red No. 40.
"Those have been known to have adverse effects on young children," Madlock explained. "Austria and Norway banned them completely."
Artificial food dyes are used to brightly color various candies and foods, however, these dyes are made out of petroleum.
In an article written by Shilpa Ravella for Slate, Ravella explained that animal studies have shown adverse effects of high doses of food dye including cancer, birth defects, and organ damage.
Some experts also claim that food dyes, including Red No. 40 and Yellow No. 5, can cause behavioral problems in children, such as ADHD or hyperactivity.
"Number two: cereals like Rice Krispies, Honey Bunches of Oats and Frosted Flakes. D**n Tony," Madlock said. "They contain BHT which is a flavor enhancer that has carcinogenic properties. It's banned in Japan and the European Union."
Butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT, is a lab-made chemical preservative used in many processed foods including several brands of chewing gum, frozen foods, cereal, and potato chips.
While some experts believe BHT can affect the endocrine system when ingested in high amounts, the additive is approved by the FDA.
"Number three, meat with ractopamine, a drug that farmers use to increase muscle growth in livestock," Madlock said. "160 nations banned the use of this drug in meat."
The last food Madlock discussed was Mountain Dew—the soda infamous for its acid green coloring and high sugar content.
"If you're doing the Dew, you're also doing brominated vegetable oil which contains bromine, and that's used in flame retardant," Madlock said.
He explained that brominated vegetable oil can lead to memory loss and skin and nerve issues. However, Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo announced in 2014 that they would no longer use BVO in their products, according to the NPR.
In the 1970s, the FDA gave brominated vegetable oil "interim" status which allows soda manufacturers to still use BVO in limited quantities. Studies have shown that BVO competes with the Iodine receptors in the brain, which can potentially lead to cancer or autoimmune disease.
More than 1,300 users commented on Madlock's video, many saying they feel that they were upset that some of their favorite foods were harmful, but others said Madlock's information was dated since Mountain Dew no longer contains BVO.
"It's crazy how putting chemicals in food is legal," one user commented.
"All about the money be wise people read that ingredients label," another wrote.
"Not Frosted Flakes please," another user commented.
"Oh, noo!!! Not my Skittles and Dew!!!!!" another wrote.
Newsweek reached out to Cartiear J. Madlock for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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