Healthier McDonald's Options in Europe, Not Available in the U.S.
Food activist Vani Hari recently highlighted at a Senate roundtable discussion that healthier McDonald's options are available in Europe but not in the U.S. For example, McDonald's fries in the U.S. contain 11 ingredients, while the UK version has only three, with salt being optional. This disparity was highlighted during the Sen. Ron Johnson roundtable, American Health and Nutrition: A Second Opinion, where it was revealed that many U.S. foods are laden with unsafe chemicals banned in other Western countries.
The Issue of Food Additives in America
A significant issue is the law that doesn't require the industry to submit safety data. This allows companies to self-regulate and designate ingredients as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) without notifying the FDA or the public. This legal loophole allows unsafe ingredients in the U.S. food supply. Europe, on the other hand, takes a precautionary approach, looking at evidence of harm and protecting their public.
For instance, the European Food Safety Authority bans substances like growth hormones and certain artificial colorings based on potential harm. In contrast, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates food additives through a petition process, relying on the GRAS principle, which allows some ingredients to enter the market without thorough testing. Notably, potentially harmful chemicals, like azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in bread and linked to cancer in animal studies, remain legal in the U.S. because of the GRAS principle.
Increase in Artificial Food Dye Consumption
Another concern is the significant rise in artificial food dye consumption, particularly among American children. Consumption of artificial food dyes has increased by 500 percent in the last 50 years, and 43 percent of products marketed to children contain these dyes. These dyes have been linked to various health issues, including hyperactivity and allergic reactions, raising serious concerns for parents.
Food companies like Kellogg's have been highlighted for differences in their products across countries. For example, the Canadian version of Fruit Loops is colored naturally with juice from watermelons and carrots, while the U.S. version contains artificial dyes and preservatives.
Calls for Stricter Regulations
There are calls for stricter regulations and greater transparency with ingredient lists to protect consumers, especially children. Several policy recommendations have been proposed, including requiring companies to notify the FDA of how they determined that a substance is GRAS and sharing their safety data before adding substances to foods. Increased funding from Congress is needed to allow the FDA to enhance its reach.
A stricter review process for both GRAS ingredients and food additives is also recommended to ensure that substances such as caffeine, sugar, and salt are safe—not just in small amounts—but also at the higher levels found in many processed foods.
The FDA's New Human Foods Program
In response to growing food safety concerns, the FDA is set to launch a new Human Foods Program to reorganize its operations and other improvements, including a proposed post-market review of food additives and GRAS substances to increase transparency and improve safety evaluations.
The program will assess factors such as the potential toxicity of a substance, changes in exposure levels, and their presence in foods consumed by vulnerable populations like infants. It will also consider new scientific data and public or organizational interest in these chemicals.
The Bottom Line
While it's clear that there are disparities in food safety standards between the U.S. and other countries, it's encouraging to see that there are steps being taken to address these issues. However, it's also important for consumers to be aware and involved in demanding healthier choices. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think the U.S. should adopt stricter food safety regulations similar to those in Europe? Share this article with your friends and let's continue the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is every day at 6pm.
Healthier McDonald's Options in Europe, Not Available in the U.S.
Food activist Vani Hari recently highlighted at a Senate roundtable discussion that healthier McDonald's options are available in Europe but not in the U.S. For example, McDonald's fries in the U.S. contain 11 ingredients, while the UK version has only three, with salt being optional. This disparity was highlighted during the Sen. Ron Johnson roundtable, American Health and Nutrition: A Second Opinion, where it was revealed that many U.S. foods are laden with unsafe chemicals banned in other Western countries.
The Issue of Food Additives in America
A significant issue is the law that doesn't require the industry to submit safety data. This allows companies to self-regulate and designate ingredients as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) without notifying the FDA or the public. This legal loophole allows unsafe ingredients in the U.S. food supply. Europe, on the other hand, takes a precautionary approach, looking at evidence of harm and protecting their public.
For instance, the European Food Safety Authority bans substances like growth hormones and certain artificial colorings based on potential harm. In contrast, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates food additives through a petition process, relying on the GRAS principle, which allows some ingredients to enter the market without thorough testing. Notably, potentially harmful chemicals, like azodicarbonamide, a chemical used in bread and linked to cancer in animal studies, remain legal in the U.S. because of the GRAS principle.
Increase in Artificial Food Dye Consumption
Another concern is the significant rise in artificial food dye consumption, particularly among American children. Consumption of artificial food dyes has increased by 500 percent in the last 50 years, and 43 percent of products marketed to children contain these dyes. These dyes have been linked to various health issues, including hyperactivity and allergic reactions, raising serious concerns for parents.
Food companies like Kellogg's have been highlighted for differences in their products across countries. For example, the Canadian version of Fruit Loops is colored naturally with juice from watermelons and carrots, while the U.S. version contains artificial dyes and preservatives.
Calls for Stricter Regulations
There are calls for stricter regulations and greater transparency with ingredient lists to protect consumers, especially children. Several policy recommendations have been proposed, including requiring companies to notify the FDA of how they determined that a substance is GRAS and sharing their safety data before adding substances to foods. Increased funding from Congress is needed to allow the FDA to enhance its reach.
A stricter review process for both GRAS ingredients and food additives is also recommended to ensure that substances such as caffeine, sugar, and salt are safe—not just in small amounts—but also at the higher levels found in many processed foods.
The FDA's New Human Foods Program
In response to growing food safety concerns, the FDA is set to launch a new Human Foods Program to reorganize its operations and other improvements, including a proposed post-market review of food additives and GRAS substances to increase transparency and improve safety evaluations.
The program will assess factors such as the potential toxicity of a substance, changes in exposure levels, and their presence in foods consumed by vulnerable populations like infants. It will also consider new scientific data and public or organizational interest in these chemicals.
The Bottom Line
While it's clear that there are disparities in food safety standards between the U.S. and other countries, it's encouraging to see that there are steps being taken to address these issues. However, it's also important for consumers to be aware and involved in demanding healthier choices. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think the U.S. should adopt stricter food safety regulations similar to those in Europe? Share this article with your friends and let's continue the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is every day at 6pm.
