Food used to be a lot less regulated and a whole lot weirder. Over the past decades, some food ingredients that were once considered perfectly fine and normal in recipes, snacks, and drinks turned out to be toxic, dangerous, or just plain disgusting. From cancer-linked artificial dyes to fat substitutes with revolting side effects, all these were banned or restricted for good reason. Here is a list of 14 ingredients that you once could regularly find in your food, but definitely will (and should) not find today.
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Artificial trans fats
Artificial trans fats were found in many processed foods, margarine, fast foods, and snack foods to keep them fresh for long periods. However, they have terrible effects on heart health, and it’s now banned or restricted in many countries, including the U.S. and the European Union.
Aldicarb (a pesticide used on produce)
This chemical is used on fruits and vegetables as an insecticide, and traces could end up on produce. Aldicarb is toxic even in very small doses, so most countries have banned it.
Sassafras oil (safrole)
Used to flavor root beer and some candies, it was found to be linked to liver damage and cancer. The safrole compound in sassafras is now banned in foods.
Rhodamine B
This bright pink dye was once used to add color to candies and even spices. It was later found to be toxic and a potential carcinogen, and now it is banned in most food products in the U.S., India, and many other countries.
Potassium bromate
This ingredient was added to bread and baked goods to improve their quality of rise and texture. Studies linked it to cancer in animals, so it’s banned in the EU, UK, and many other countries, but still legal in some places like the U.S.
Borax (sodium borate)
This was used as a food preservative and in noodles in some countries. But it was banned in all foods after studies proved its toxic effects on the liver and kidneys.
Coumarin (from tonka beans)
Tonka beans have been used in desserts to add a vanilla-like flavor. But coumarin, the compound responsible for the flavor in tonka beans, has been found to be toxic to the liver and is now banned in foods in the U.S., Australia, and other countries.
Red Dye No. 2 (Amaranth)
A food coloring common in the mid-20th century, Red Dye No. 2 (or Amaranth) was found in candies and processed snacks. But it was also found to cause cancer and was eventually banned.
Lead-based additives (like lead acetate)
This was used as a sweetener in ancient Rome (yes, really), and later in food dyes and wine. Lead is, of course, highly toxic and now strictly banned in food.
Olestra (Olean)
This was the fat substitute that let people enjoy “fat-free” chips and snacks. It also caused stomach problems in users and a phenomenon known as “anal leakage.” It was heavily restricted and banned in some countries.
Butter yellow (Yellow 3, dimethylaminoazobenzene)
It was added to butter and margarine to give them their natural color before being found to cause cancer in animal studies. It is now banned worldwide.
Azodicarbonamide (ADA)
Used in bread to make it rise and softer, azodicarbonamide is also a common ingredient in yoga mats and shoe rubber. It has been banned in many countries in Europe and Asia but is still allowed in the U.S.
BVO (Brominated Vegetable Oil)
BVO was used in soft drinks to keep citrus flavors mixed in. Banned in Europe and Japan after being linked to nerve and organ damage, the U.S. recently announced a ban as well.
Melamine
Melamine is illegally added to foods (especially milk products) to fake higher protein content. Its addition has caused major food scandals and death and illness in children in China. It is now banned and closely monitored.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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