Why Does American Food Have More Chemicals Than European Food?

Before I had a kid, my biggest food concern was carbs and fats—basically, whether I was going to wreck my waistline. I never thought twice about ingredients. But pregnancy has a way of changing your habits and food choices overnight. Suddenly, I was avoiding sushi, deli meats, and soft cheeses, and for the first time, I started reading labels.

American food has a terrible reputation for a lot of reasons, but the worst may be that the U.S. allows ingredients that other countries have banned for being unsafe. So just how different are our food regulations? What do these artificial chemicals mean for our health? And why can American companies get away with pumping our food full of garbage while pretending it’s totally fine?

In this article:

America: Home of the Free and the Land of Questionable Food Standards

Even Baby Formula Ingredients Are Sketchy

Why Does the U.S. Allow Harmful Food Additives?

Changing Food Safety Regulations (Somewhat)

What Can Parents Do About American Food Additives?

America: Home of the Free and the Land of Questionable Food Standards

The biggest wake-up call came when I started comparing U.S. food labels to those in other countries. I’d pick up a box of something in an American grocery store and find a paragraph of unpronounceable chemicals. The same product in Europe or the U.K. has half the ingredients.

And it wasn’t just fewer additives—some of the stuff we eat daily is literally illegal in other places. Here are just a few examples:

• Banned Dyes: Europe has ditched artificial food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 because they’ve been linked to hyperactivity in children. Meanwhile, in America, they’re practically in everythingmarketed to kids—from cereal to snacks to medicine.

• Hormones in Dairy: The U.S. is all about rBST (a synthetic growth hormone) to pump more milk out of cows, even though it’s banned in the EU, Canada, and Japan due to concerns over potential cancer risks.

• Bread Preservatives: Ever wonder why American bread lasts forever? Thank preservatives like potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide—both banned in Europe for being linked to cancer and respiratory issues.

• Meat and Antibiotics: The U.S. allows meat producers to pump animals full of antibiotics to keep them “healthy” in factory-farm conditions. Europe? Not so much, since overuse of antibiotics is a public health disaster waiting to happen.

There are way more chemicals in our food than there were 30 years ago. In the early ’90s, the U.S. had around 800 approved food additives. Today? Over 10,000. And no, that’s not because we discovered 9,200 safer ways to feed people—it’s because food companies have spent decades prioritizing cheap, long-lasting, artificially flavored ‘food’ over actual nutrition.

Cutting out junk is only half the battle—figuring out how to fit better meals and movement into an already overloaded schedule is the real challenge.

Even Baby Formula Ingredients Are Sketchy

You would think that if there were one category of food that would be held to the highest standard, it would be baby formula. But nope; finding baby formula without unnecessary additives is like trying to find a unicorn.

Walk down the formula aisle, and you’ll find a whole lot of corn syrup, vegetable oils, soy, and synthetic additives—even in brands that market themselves as “gentle” or “organic.” And while Europe has strict regulations on what can go into infant formula (like banning corn syrup and requiring higher quality fats), the U.S. lets big companies get away with using whatever is cheapest.

• The FDA is lenient about what constitutes "safe" ingredients. Corn syrup solids, which act as a cheap carbohydrate source, are in many mainstream U.S. formulas, even though excessive sugar consumption in infancy can contribute to metabolic issues later in life.

• European regulations prioritize formulas that more closely mimic breast milk, using organic ingredients and prohibiting a bunch of additives that the U.S. considers totally fine.

It’s no surprise that European formula regulations are stricter, considering that much of Europe prioritizes child well-being in ways the U.S. doesn’t. From food to family life, the contrast between American hustle culture and European ease is stark.

Then there’s the supply issue. Remember the formula shortage? Parents were scrambling, some even resorting to making their own formula because the FDA failed to ensure multiple safe and reliable suppliers. But instead of fixing the system, we’ve just crossed our fingers and hoped it won’t happen again.

And before anyone comes for me, yes—I totally fed my kid formula with corn syrup, because that’s what WIC covered. Finding a high-quality formula without all the junk often means paying a premium—and for parents like us, that simply isn’t an option.

Why Does the U.S. Allow Harmful Food Additives?

Oh, that’s easy—money.

The FDA and USDA could hold companies to higher standards, but instead, we have a system that prioritizes corporate interests over public health. Keeping food shelf-stable for longer means bigger profits. Producing cheap food with fillers and additives instead of quality ingredients? Also, bigger profits.

If Kraft, Nestlé, and General Mills can pump their products full of dirt-cheap ingredients and still sell them for the same price (or more), why wouldn’t they? The only thing stopping them would be regulation, and we all know how much the U.S. loves getting in the way of big business.

Changing Food Safety Regulations (Somewhat)

The good news is, people are starting to push back. There’s growing awareness around food additives and what they mean for our health. Some states, like California, have even started banning certain chemicals in processed foods—like brominated vegetable oil, which is still found in some U.S. sodas but banned in over 100 countries.

And now, with movements like MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) gaining traction, there’s a real push to get rid of the worst offenders in our food supply, pushing back against lax standards by:

• Banning harmful additives.

• Requiring clearer labeling.

• Holding food companies accountable.

The question is, will it be enough?

What Can Parents Do About American Food Additives?

While food companies aren’t changing overnight and no one has the time (or money) to eat perfectly. But here’s what you can do to cut down on the worst offenders:

• Check labels – It’s exhausting, but it’s the best way to dodge unnecessary additives. If you can’t pronounce it, Google it.

• Prioritize whole foods when you can – I get it, grocery prices are absurd, and organic isn’t always an option. But simple swaps—like choosing fresh or frozen over ultra-processed—can make a difference.

• Buy European formulas if possible – I know this sounds crazy but many parents import baby formula from Europe because of its stricter standards. Ordering from abroad is weirdly close to the amount you’re paying for the best American stuff.

• Support food regulation changes – The more pressure consumers put on lawmakers and companies, the more likely we’ll see real change. Because parents have enough to worry about without having to decode every label just to avoid feeding their kids toxic garbage.

Feeding your family is an impossible balancing act between avoiding chemicals, affording groceries, and convincing your kids to eat anything other than beige foods. But unless you’re ready to pack your bags and move to France, the best you can do is be hyper-aware of what’s in your food and make allowance when needed. For us, that means fresh produce for one meal and tater tots for another.

With grocery prices soaring, but there are budget-friendly ways to make smarter choices without breaking the bank. Here’s how to keep your family fed on a budget.