60 American Products Contain Ingredients Banned in Europe

Out of 743 American grocery products we analyzed, 60 contain at least one ingredient that is banned, restricted, or requires warning labels in the European Union, Canada, Japan, or other developed countries.

Data visualization for this study
60
Products With Banned Ingredients
8.1%
Of All US Products
33
Also Failed Safety Check
41.2
Average Score (0-100)

Key Findings

Examples: US Products With Banned Ingredients

ProductBrandScoreFlagged Ingredients
Trail Mix Snack PacksKirkland,Kirkland Signature,M&M's0/100Tartrazine (Yellow 5) Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6) Allura Red (Red 40)
ORIGINAL GRAPE, GREEN APPLE, LEMON, STRAWBERRY, ORANGE BITE SIZE CANDIES, ORIGINALMars Chocolate North America LLC1/100Tartrazine (Yellow 5) Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6) Allura Red (Red 40)
Trail MixKirkland1/100Tartrazine (Yellow 5) Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6) Allura Red (Red 40)
Equate Clear Liquid Hand Soap4/100Brilliant Blue (Blue 1) Citric Acid Glycerol
equate antacid4/100Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6) Allura Red (Red 40) e355
equate body wash8/100e171 BHT Citric Acid
Skittles LittlesSkittles9/100Tartrazine (Yellow 5) Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6) Allura Red (Red 40)
100% WHOLE WHEAT ROUND TOP BREAD, 100% WHOLE WHEATWal-Mart Stores, Inc.10/100e235 Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Lecithin
Candy Cane Chapstick12/100e171 Beeswax Carnauba Wax
Skittles Pop'dSkittles12/100Tartrazine (Yellow 5) Allura Red (Red 40) e1400
Favorites, Atomic Fireballs Rockin' Hot CandyCircle K, Holiday Candy Corp Inc.15/100Allura Red (Red 40) Acacia Gum (Gum Arabic) Carnauba Wax
Equate16/100Tartrazine (Yellow 5)
Trail MixKirkland18/100Tartrazine (Yellow 5) Sunset Yellow (Yellow 6) Allura Red (Red 40)
ASSORTED CARAMELS SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE CANDY, ASSORTED CARAMELSRussell Stover Candies Inc.20/100
PEANUT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUTMars Chocolate North America LLC20/100

Why the Gap?

The US and EU take fundamentally different approaches to food additive regulation. The EU applies the precautionary principle — if there's reasonable scientific concern about an additive, it's restricted until proven safe. The US applies a permissive approach — additives are allowed unless conclusively proven harmful. This creates a growing list of ingredients that are freely used in American food but restricted elsewhere.

What You Can Do

CheckIt AI flags every ingredient that's banned or restricted in other countries. Point your phone at any product's ingredient list and you'll instantly see which ingredients are concerning — and why.

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Methodology

This study analyzed 743 grocery products available in US stores. Each product's full ingredient list was scored 0-100 by CheckIt AI's ingredient analysis engine, which flags additives, seed oils, allergens, and ingredients banned or restricted in other countries. Scores are based on ingredient safety data from FDA, EFSA, and peer-reviewed research. Products were sourced from OpenFoodFacts, USDA FoodData Central, and the CheckIt scanning database. Data current as of March 2026.

Read our full scoring methodology →

📋 Cite This Data

APA: CheckIt AI. (2026-03-05). 60 American Products Contain Banned Ingredients — CheckIt AI. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/study/banned-in-america

Link: https://getcheck.it/study/banned-in-america

Embed: <a href="https://getcheck.it/study/banned-in-america">60 American Products Contain Banned Ingredients — CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>

Scanner Apps

Gluten Scanner AppDairy Scanner AppSeed Oil Scanner AppPeanut Allergy Scanner AppADHD Food Scanner AppIBS Food Scanner AppPregnancy Food Scanner AppCarnivore Diet Scanner AppKeto Scanner AppPaleo Scanner AppVegan Scanner AppCeliac Scanner AppMigraine Food Scanner AppKidney Diet Scanner AppCrohn's Food Scanner AppThyroid Scanner AppPCOS Food Scanner AppGout Food Scanner AppEczema Food Scanner AppToddler Food Scanner AppHeart Health Scanner AppAthlete Nutrition Scanner AppAcne Food Scanner AppFODMAP Scanner AppAIP Scanner AppMold Toxin Scanner AppHistamine Scanner AppOxalate Scanner AppNightshade Scanner AppSoy Scanner AppCorn Scanner AppEgg Allergy Scanner AppTree Nut Scanner AppShellfish Allergy Scanner AppSulfite Scanner AppSalicylate Scanner AppLectin Scanner AppSugar-Free Scanner AppLow Sodium Scanner AppMediterranean Diet Scanner AppWhole30 Scanner AppDiabetic Food Scanner AppColitis Food Scanner AppIC Food Scanner AppLupus Food Scanner AppHashimoto's Scanner AppEndometriosis Food Scanner AppAutoimmune Food Scanner AppBaby Formula Scanner AppPet Food Scanner AppSenior Nutrition Scanner AppOzempic Food Scanner AppWegovy Food Scanner AppMounjaro Food Scanner AppUltra-Processed Food ScannerHalal Food Scanner AppKosher Food Scanner AppAnti-Inflammatory Scanner AppCandida Diet Scanner AppSIBO Food Scanner AppLeaky Gut Scanner AppCholesterol Food Scanner AppBlood Pressure Scanner AppWeight Loss Food Scanner AppPesticide Food Scanner AppHeavy Metal Scanner AppPFAS Food Scanner AppBreastfeeding Food Scanner AppAutism Food Scanner AppFertility Food Scanner AppGAPS Diet Scanner AppElimination Diet Scanner AppLow Carb Scanner AppNanny Food Scanner AppGrocery Store Scanner AppFood Allergy Scanner AppDye-Free Food Scanner AppMuscle Building Scanner AppMarathon Runner Scanner AppKids Food Scanner AppFood Sensitivity Scanner AppClean Label Scanner AppFSA/HSA Food Scanner AppWhole Food Scanner AppDog Food Scanner AppCat Food Scanner App

Ingredient Safety

Red 40Yellow 5Yellow 6AspartameBHABHTSodium NitriteCarrageenanSucraloseTitanium DioxidePotassium BromateHigh Fructose Corn SyrupMSGSodium BenzoateTBHQPolysorbate 80Red 3Caramel ColorSoy LecithinNatural FlavorsAcesulfame-KMaltodextrinXanthan GumGuar GumCitric AcidErythritolBlue 1Propyl GallateMono & DiglyceridesPectinAcacia GumAgarAnnattoAutolyzed YeastAzodicarbonamideBVOCalcium PropionateCarnauba WaxCelluloseDATEMDisodium InosinateGellan GumKonjacLocust Bean GumMethylcelluloseSodium AlginateSodium Aluminum PhosphateTragacanth Gum

Food Safety Answers

Is Red 40 Banned in Europe?What Foods Have Seed Oils?Is Carrageenan Safe?Worst Food AdditivesIs BHA Safe?Does Gatorade Have Food Dye?Titanium Dioxide in FoodIs Aspartame Safe?Is Sodium Nitrite Dangerous?Is MSG Bad for You?What Is HFCS?Is Sucralose Safe?Food Dye Banned in Europe?Is Potassium Bromate Banned?What Is Natural Flavors?Is Soy Lecithin Bad?Is Maltodextrin Bad?Is Xanthan Gum Safe?Is Red 3 Banned?Is TBHQ Bad?Foods Banned in Other CountriesIs Citric Acid Bad?What Is Polysorbate 80?Is Caramel Color Safe?Is Palm Oil Bad?What Is Cellulose in Food?Is Acesulfame-K Safe?Is Erythritol Safe?Is Guar Gum Safe?Is Food in America Safe?Cheerios & PesticidesBest Food Scanner AppHow to Read Food LabelsIs Yellow 5 Safe?Are Preservatives Bad?Artificial Sweetener SafetyIs Canola Oil Bad?Hidden Names for SugarFoods That Cause InflammationIs Annatto Safe?Is Azodicarbonamide Safe?Is Calcium Propionate Safe?Is Carnauba Wax Safe?Is Gelatin Halal?Is Locust Bean Gum Safe?Mono & Diglycerides SafetyIs Pectin Safe?Propylene Glycol in FoodWhat Is Agar Agar?What Is BVO?What Is DATEM?What Is Sodium Alginate?What Is Sodium Benzoate?

Cleanest Rankings

Cleanest Protein BarsCleanest CerealCleanest YogurtCleanest ChipsCleanest SnacksCleanest BreadCleanest SaucesCleanest JuiceCleanest CookiesCleanest CandyCleanest Ice CreamCleanest PastaCleanest Baby FoodCleanest Energy DrinksCleanest Protein PowderCleanest Frozen MealsCleanest CondimentsCleanest SodaCleanest Pet Food

Free-From Finder

Protein Bars Without Seed OilsCereal Without Artificial ColorsSnacks Without PreservativesYogurt Without Artificial SweetenersChips Without Seed OilsCookies Without Artificial ColorsCandy Without Artificial ColorsSoda Without Artificial SweetenersFrozen Meals Without MSGBaby Food Without SugarEnergy Drinks Without SweetenersProtein Bars Without SweetenersSnacks Without Seed OilsCereal Without SugarBread Without PreservativesIce Cream Without CarrageenanPasta Without Gluten

Store Scan Results

Costco Protein Bars RankedWalmart Cereal RankedTarget Snacks RankedWhole Foods Yogurt RankedKroger Bread RankedAldi Snacks RankedCostco Snacks RankedWalmart Chips RankedTarget Cookies RankedTrader Joe's Snacks RankedWhole Foods Bread RankedWalmart Juice RankedTarget Cereal RankedWalmart Bread RankedKroger Snacks RankedAldi Cereal RankedWhole Foods Snacks RankedKroger Cereal RankedAldi Bread RankedTrader Joe's Cereal RankedCostco Bread Ranked

Ingredient Comparisons

Red 40 vs Yellow 5Red 40 vs Yellow 6Aspartame vs SucraloseAspartame vs HFCSBHA vs BHTRed 40 vs AspartameCarrageenan vs Soy LecithinSucralose vs HFCSTBHQ vs BHATBHQ vs BHTRed 40 vs Titanium DioxideRed 40 vs Caramel ColorMSG vs Natural FlavorsSodium Benzoate vs Potassium BromateYellow 5 vs Red 3Polysorbate 80 vs CarrageenanXanthan Gum vs Guar GumRed 40 vs Red 3Erythritol vs SucraloseMaltodextrin vs HFCSAll Ingredient Comparisons

Store Reports

Walmart Report CardTarget Report CardCostco Report CardKroger Report CardWhole Foods Report CardTrader Joe's Report CardAldi Report CardSam's Club Report Card

Original Research

All Research StudiesGrocery Product Safety StudySeed Oil CensusSafest Grocery StoresSchool Lunch Safety ReportMost Common AdditivesBanned Ingredients in US Products

App Comparisons

CheckIt vs YukaCheckIt vs EWGCheckIt vs FooducateCheckIt vs MyFitnessPalCheckIt vs Think DirtyCheckIt vs FigCheckIt vs SooseeCheckIt vs NoomYuka vs EWGYuka vs Fooducate

Guides & Tools

Download CheckIt AIUser ReviewsFood RecallsBanned in EuropeFood Safety ReportIngredient GlossaryStore RankingsIngredient EncyclopediaHealthier Swap FinderOur MethodologyIngredient ComparisonsTopic GuidesAll Food Safety AnswersOpen DataWhat's Really In Your Food
📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "60 American Products Contain Ingredients Banned in Europe | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/study/banned-in-america
MLA"60 American Products Contain Ingredients Banned in Europe | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/study/banned-in-america.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/study/banned-in-america">60 American Products Contain Ingredients Banned in Europe | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026studybannedinamerica, title = {60 American Products Contain Ingredients Banned in Europe | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/study/banned-in-america}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }