You Can Buy These Items in Iowa Today That Are Banned In Europe

When you want something in the United States, you can probably get it.  You're allowed to do a lot, with a few exceptions.  We do have to follow rules and laws, so as long as we don't violate the roughly 300,000 federal statutes.  According to the Library of Congress, Congress has passed roughly 200-600 statues, every two years since 1789. That is federal law. What about the states?

How Many State Laws Are Passed Yearly?

The Iowa legislature passed 88 bills from 2019-2021, and you can throw that on the pile of laws already on the books.  There is no rough count of how many laws are available to be violated in Iowa, but let's agree that there are many.

As long as you're not violating the 300,000 federal statutes, the 88 bills in Iowa from 2019 to 2021, and the bills from all the previous years, you're kinda clear to do what you want.

What's the Rub with Our Stuff?

Sometimes, what's legal here in the U.S. doesn't fly overseas.  They take a closer look at what companies want their constituents to put on or in their bodies.  Sometimes those people may not know what's in a product, or they seek out what ingredients are in that said product.

Several governments in Europe have banned many products that are available for purchase right now in Iowa.

Do the Dew or Don't

If you want to do the Dew, you'll most likely have to do that outside most of Europe.  Newsweek says many parts of Europe banned the soft drink because of a controversy surrounding one of the chemicals called brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which is used as an ingredient in Mountain Dew and other citrus-flavored sodas.

Even more fun to come with BVO! Did you know that BVO is a flame retardant chemical specifically designed to prevent fires in certain materials (like plastics and electronics), and it was used in Mountain Dew to help keep the flavoring oils suspended in the liquid? That spells delicious.

Studies have shown that exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) can lead to a variety of health issues, including disruption of thyroid function, learning difficulties, developmental delays, and possible effects on the nervous system. While BVO is not exactly the same as the industrial flame retardants used in building materials or electronics, it shares some chemical properties with those substances.

Here’s the update on BVO: For a while, Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) was used in Mountain Dew and a few other sodas here in the U.S. But, after a lot of concern about how safe it really was, most beverage companies, including PepsiCo (the folks behind Mountain Dew), decided to ditch it.

In fact, Mountain Dew removed BVO from its formula around 2020—all thanks to public pressure and some extra regulatory eyes on the ingredient. So, if you’re still sipping on that classic citrus soda, rest easy—it’s now free of BVO!

Pig in a Poke

Here's one that might hurt a little.  Another item banned in Europe is American pork.  It's one of Iowa's biggest industries. Wikipedia references the Pork War.  The 1880s was the time, and the draft was most likely in full swing with a Pork War brewing. I think it was Edwin Starr who said it best, "Pork War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, say it again!"

It was then that European countries banned American pork imports due to low crop yields, competition from American farmers, and reports of trichinosis.

Turns out there are other reasons, too. Most recently, the American pork industry has used ractopamine to increase growth rates in pigs, but it has been linked to adverse health issues in pigs and humans.  Wikipedia claims China and Russia banned ractopamine in pork, and Russia also banned it in beef.

The FDA has continued to allow that drug to be administered, as it approved the use in 2020 at the Iowa State Fair, as indicated by this press release by The Iowa FFA Association.

This is Loopy

If you're a fan of Froot Loops (or Fruity Pebbles, they're yabba dabba delicious), you might need to look beyond Europe to satisfy that colorful cereal craving. Turns out, the artificial dye used in these cereals is actually linked to nerve-cell development issues—yeah, it can mess with how your brain develops.  Now we know what my problem is, the Flintstones!!

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That's why countries like Norway, Finland, Austria, France, and the U.K. have given these cereals the boot. So, if you're in one of those places and trying to grab a box of Froot Loops or Fruity Pebbles, you're out of luck. Looks like you'll have to get creative with your breakfast choices!

Wikipedia says in 2015, Fruit Loops were removed entirely from the UK market due to low demand.  Sad day for Toucan Sam.  Hope he's doing alright.

The Reasoning Behind it All

The one thing my wife does enjoy quite a bit is her Mountain Dew. She mentioned the other day it was banned in Europe.  That led me down this path.   What else could be banned?

I transitioned from full-octane Pepsi to Diet Pepsi, but it also has troubles.  Diet Pepsi is choc full of aspartame.  That has been linked to all kinds of issues.  Here is what the National Institute of Health had to say about aspartame. Is any food safe from chemicals called ingredients?

If they hide it or give it a nifty name, how do we know? Have you seen how many ways they say sugar in some drinks? Turns out, more ways than I was aware ->Dextrose, Fructose, Galactose, Glucose, Lactose, Maltose, Sucrose, and about 50 others here. (All The Names for Sugar)

There are many more products on our store shelves that are banned in Europe.  Next time you're out and about to buy something, do a little research, it might help you make a more informed decision.  Or don't, and keep on truckin'.  Have a great day!