Is This Ingredient Banned?

Paste a full ingredient list from any food product to instantly check which additives are banned or restricted in the EU, Canada, Japan, and other countries.

How It Works

1. Paste — Copy any ingredient list from a food label
2. Analyze — Our tool cross-references 100+ controversial ingredients against international databases
3. Results — See "X of Y ingredients are flagged" with details on bans, health risks, and safer alternatives

What We Check

• Banned Ingredients — Additives banned in the EU, Canada, Japan, Australia, and more
• Health Risk Levels — Red (Avoid), Yellow (Caution), Green (Generally Safe)
• Artificial Dyes — Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and more
• Preservatives — BHA, BHT, TBHQ, sodium nitrite, potassium bromate
• Artificial Sweeteners — Aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium
• Seed Oils — Canola, soybean, corn, safflower oil

Shareable Results

After checking, get a shareable result card showing how many ingredients are flagged — perfect for sharing on social media or with friends and family.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if an ingredient is banned?

Many food additives legal in the US are banned or restricted in the EU, Canada, Japan, and other countries. Our database tracks 100+ controversial ingredients and shows which countries have banned them.

Why are some ingredients banned in Europe but not the US?

The EU follows the 'precautionary principle' — if there's reasonable evidence of harm, ingredients are restricted. The US FDA requires more definitive proof before banning.

What does Checkit AI do differently?

Checkit AI scans any food product's barcode or ingredient list and instantly flags all concerning ingredients with health risk levels, ban status, and safer alternatives.