Additives Banned in the EU
70 additives
Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted in EU
Yellow azo dye. Delisted, not permitted in EU
Yellow azo dye. Withdrawn from EU approved list in 2007
Orange dye. Delisted in EU
Red dye. Not permitted in EU. Approved in US only for orange peel coloring
Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted
Red dye. Delisted in EU
Red dye. Withdrawn from EU in 2007 over safety concerns
Blue dye. Delisted in EU
White color. Banned in EU since Aug 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns. Still legal in US
Red-brown dye from lichen. Formerly used, delisted
Paraben preservative. Delisted in EU
Banned in EU for food use since 2006. Still used in US cosmetics
Banned in EU. Paraben concerns
Citrus fruit fungicide. Removed from EU approved list in 2005
Citrus peel fungicide. Removed from EU food additives list
Sodium salt of OPP. Removed from EU list
Fungicide for citrus/banana skins. Now classified as pesticide, not food additive
Antibacterial. Delisted as food additive in EU
Delisted in EU as food additive
Delisted in EU as food additive
Highly toxic. Banned worldwide as food additive. Known carcinogen (IARC Group 1)
Synthetic antioxidant. Removed from EU approved list in 2018
Synthetic antioxidant. Removed from EU approved list in 2018
Antioxidant banned as food additive. Was used in animal feed, suspended by EU in 2017
Synthetic emulsifier. Delisted in EU
Synthetic emulsifier. Delisted in EU
Banned in EU. Was used in citrus drinks. Also banned in US since 2024
Antibiotic growth promoter. Banned in EU food since 2006. Was used in animal feed
Antibiotic group. Banned as food additive/growth promoter in EU
Antibiotic. Banned as food/feed additive in EU. Formerly used in poultry
Antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU since 2006
Macrolide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU. Still used therapeutically
Streptogramin antibiotic. Banned in EU in 1999 as growth promoter
Macrolide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU
Antibiotic growth promoter. Banned in EU in 1999
Glycopeptide antibiotic. Banned in EU in 1997 due to vancomycin resistance concerns
Antibiotic growth promoter. Banned in EU in 2006
Ionophore coccidiostat. Banned as growth promoter. Still used in poultry against coccidiosis
Ionophore. Banned as growth promoter in EU. Used in US cattle
Banned in EU since 1999. Still approved in US for swine. Carcinogen concerns
Growth promoter. Banned in EU in 1999 due to mutagenicity
Glycopeptide antibiotic. Banned in EU
Orthosomycin antibiotic. Last antibiotic growth promoter banned in EU in 2006
Polymyxin antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter. Last-resort antibiotic for humans, resistance is major concern
Polypeptide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU
Antibiotic growth promoter. Banned in EU. Never widely adopted
Thiopeptide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU
Aminoglycoside antibiotic. Banned as feed additive in EU
Macrolide antibiotic. Banned as feed additive in EU
Phosphoglycolipid antibiotic. Last one banned under EU Reg 1831/2003
Macrolide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU
From sperm whale. Banned due to whale hunting moratorium
Banned in EU, UK, Canada, Brazil, China. Legal in US. IARC Group 2B carcinogen
Banned in EU and Australia. Legal in US. Known as 'yoga mat chemical'. Used as dough conditioner in US bread
CFC propellant. Banned globally under Montreal Protocol. Ozone depleting
CFC propellant. Banned under Montreal Protocol
Dough conditioner and flour bleaching agent. Banned in EU/UK/Australia/Singapore. Legal in US up to 45 ppm. Called 'yoga mat chemical' in media
Flour bleaching/dough conditioner. Banned in EU, UK, Australia, Singapore. Legal in US (45ppm max). 'Yoga mat chemical' scandal (Subway, 2014). Decomposes to semicarbazide. EU banned since 2005
Banned in EU, Japan, India. Banned in US in 2024 after decades of use. Was used in citrus-flavored sodas
Industrial chemical sometimes fraudulently added to increase apparent protein content. 2008 China milk scandal caused 300,000 illnesses and 6 deaths. Causes kidney stones and kidney failure. Maximum limits set globally
EU limited industrial trans fats to 2% in 2021. FDA banned PHOs in US in 2018 (enforced 2020). WHO called for global elimination. Strong link to heart disease
Banned in EU, UK, Canada, China, India, Brazil. Still legal in US. Used as flour improver. Classified as possible carcinogen (IARC Group 2B)
Strengthens bread dough. Banned in EU/UK/Canada/China/Brazil/India. Legal in US (California requires Prop 65 warning). IARC Group 2B carcinogen
Strengthens bread dough. Banned in EU, UK, Canada, China, Brazil, India. Legal in US (California Prop 65 warning). IARC Group 2B. Should convert to bromide during baking but residues found
Banned in EU, China, Russia, 160+ countries. Legal in US. Used in pork, beef, turkey production
Banned in EU, Canada, Japan, Australia. Widely used in US dairy. Not a food additive per se but present in dairy products
Industrial dyes banned in food globally but found as adulterants in chili, palm oil, curry. Sudan I is IARC Group 3 (not classifiable). EU emergency measures after 2003 contamination incident. Regular testing of spice imports
White pigment E171. EU banned Aug 2022 based on EFSA finding that genotoxicity cannot be ruled out, especially for nanoparticles. Still GRAS in US, legal in most countries. In candy, gum, icing, supplements. Biggest US-EU regulatory divergence for food additives
White pigment. Banned in EU since 2022 over genotoxicity concerns. Still GRAS in US and approved in many countries. Major US-EU regulatory divergence