Banned in Europe, sold in Canada. What’s in your food? (Marketplace)

They are banned or require warning labels in Europe — so why does Health Canada allow certain additives in our food? A CBC Marketplace investigation finds some food manufacturers are producing two different versions of the same snacks — one with certain artificial additives for Canadians and the other without for European consumers. A health advocate says that needs to change.

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WHAT'S IN OUR FOOD?

producer/director
STEPHANIE KAMPF

reporter
ROSA MARCHITELLI

associate producer
DEXTER MCMILLAN

editor
SIMON PARUBCHAK

camera
NORM ARNOLD
DAVE MACINTOSH
JOHN LESAVAGE
ROB KRBAVAC
DAN PRED
GIUSEPPE MANGIONE
JAMES YOUNG

additional field support
GIA MARIE AMELLA

audio
MIKE MYRDEN
IGAL PETEL

art director
DAVID ABRAHAMS

media management
ASTORIA LUZZI

social media producers
AMARA MCLAUGHLIN
BRITT PURDY

colour correction
KYLE J. SMITH

sound mix
DANY TREMBLAY

project manager
VICTOR KERR

resource coordinators
MARC CORMIER
DRAGAN MARICIC

news rollout producer
JENNY COWLEY

packaging editor
BENNY KOSHY

packaging producer
LINDA SIBONY

promo producer
GREG SADLER

senior producer
TIFFANY FOXCROFT

executive producer
NELISHA VELLANI

FIRST BROADCAST February 16, 2024

[Gluteus.Maximus]

I love that EU is always at the forefront of safety regulations

[mg]

European food is so much more regulated and there citizens are very very much better protected than in Canada and the US. Of 3000 banned ingredients
In Europe only 1300 are banned in Canada.

[davidlynch]

Canadian living in Germany. Happy with the strict rules for food here
Also, organic food (called Bio here) is as affordable as non-organic food.

[kvk]

I would like Canada to use the same standards as Italy or Sweden.

[DRZADV]

To be fair, that's all junk food, the amount of sugar alone is cause for concern. Personally I wouldn't eat any of it.

[hp]

Canada: can't prove the chemicals are harmful. *Keeps it*

EU: can't prove the chemicals are NOT harmful *Removes it*

I think the EU's way if thinking is better for us. Very protective and preventative.

[Debramuise]

I’ve written to my MP and he’s forwarding my concerns to the Minister of Health. Unfortunately I have very little trust in our government making our food safe. Primarily because the food lobbyists have there ears and pay dearly to keep them. 😢

[yas]

Difference between FDA and EU regulators: in the USA you have to prove that something is dangerous, in the EU you have to prove that it is 100% safe. If there’s a doubt they don’t allow it or ban it. That’s valid for pretty much everything not only food and drugs.

[kyungshim]

After watching this, I have come to the conclusion that I should focus more on eating unprocessed foods as much as possible.

[ryandubyah]

My brother and sister in law were in Ireland visiting family recently, they sent back a few pictures from the grocery markets. I LOVE how they do it, any meats tell you exactly what farm the animals lived on and the names of the owners. That is excellent accountability AND a great way to know your food is fresh and local

[nancykathryntieger]

I am a Canadian with celiac living in the EU. It’s wonderful to not have wheat added to absolutely everything. I asked my butcher if the hamburg patties had wheat in them. “Of course not”, he said, “Some people cannot eat wheat, so we do not put it in our food. “. Not rocket science. I also love my local produce, that may not look perfect but has flavour. It’s difficult to visit Canada and feel forced to eat crap. Expensive crap.

[OdinOfficialEmcee]

We shouldn't be waiting for things to be proven harmful before banning them; we should ban it if it is suspected of being harmful and require it be proven safe before lifting the ban

[Borisvanderoost]

The issue is that Canada and the US are essentially the same market.
Unless there's a fundamental change in the FDA, we will continue to have food standards that are years behind the EU.

[peters]

Titanium dioxide is in paint, and vitamins!
Yes, and food.
Canada, for the most part, simply follows the FDA. Which we all know is run by pharmaceuticals, big food and agriculture.
Even if there’s a slight suspicion that an additive is harmful, it should be banned.

[robi]

Same applies to meat...Europe placed a permenant ban on Canadian/American meat for their bad hormones content

[king]

Has anyone "googled" - "What countries is red 40 banned in?" You might be surprised. I am very allergic to Red 40 and can eat none of it. The first thing I thought when I saw "Allura Red" is is it a different name of "Red 40"? This video shows it is. There is no need for Red 40 at all. It should be totally banned.

[karinturkington]

Those items you've put in the cart aren't food.

[nikkic]

I moved out of Canada to SE Asia and I have lost so much weight. Made no major changes to my diet and I still eat pizza, pasta, sweets. Make it make sense

[noid]

CBC should have done a show on the cereals. Kid eat in north america. People have no clue how some of these cereals aren't allowed in europe.

[vdeblois]

Over a decade ago my sister was living in the UK.. she would send us different treats to show us the difference.. we had the same reaction as the kids.. not only did the colors look more natural (a good thing) but they tasted better.