If you’ve ever been to the U.K., you might notice that the fast food restaurants over there are a little bit different, and slightly healthier than they are here. In the past, I wrote about how it’s a common practice for food companies (everyone from Betty Crocker to Pringles to Quaker Oats) to reformulate their products with safer ingredients overseas, while they continue to sell us inferior products with unhealthy ingredients here in the States. If you walk into any McDonald’s in the U.K. you’ll find organic milk available for children in their Happy Meals, and no chocolate milk. Just think about that for a minute…
McDonald’s serves organic milk to children in the U.K.? But not here in the U.S.?
McDonald’s also serves organic milk with their porridge (oatmeal), coffee and tea! You’ll also find healthier items, like pineapple and carrot sticks that you won’t find at any McDonald’s in the U.S. – also without preservatives. Their fries aren’t cooked in oil that contains TBHQ (a derivative of butane) or the anti-foaming agent dimethylpolysiloxane (an ingredient in silly putty) like they are here. Isn’t it funny that the oil in the U.K. seems to work just fine without these ingredients?
Pull through the Taco Bell drive-thru and you won’t be able to order Cinnabon desserts and big Mt. Dew Baja Blast Frozen drinks because these super sugary “treats” simply aren’t available. If you dine at Pizza Hut, you’ll get to take advantage of a free unlimited salad bar full of fresh vegetables (like they used to have in the United States but discontinued). I’m not saying everything is healthy in these restaurants, because it’s certainly not – but, it’s definitely different than what we’ve got going on here in the U.S. Not only are their ingredients different, but they are serving up completely different ingredients and menu choices. One startling thing I noticed is that many of the menu items in the U.K. contain far less sugar than the versions that they serve us in the U.S.
Five Fast-Food Restaurants Serving Up More Sugar In the U.S.:
1. McDonald’s Chocolate Shake (without whip cream or cherry on top)
If you order a large chocolate shake in the U.K., you’ll get it in the classic smaller cup (16.9 oz.) that I remember as a kid. This is about the same size as a medium size shake now in the U.S., as cup sizes have grown dramatically over the years. McDonald’s has changed their shakes for the worse in the U.S. and now serve new larger versions (22 oz.) with whipped cream that contain an astounding 120 grams of sugar. In the U.K. that large shake still has a whole lot of sugar (67 grams), but it’s so much less sugar than what we get here at home. Taking into account the bigger cups sizes in the U.S., ounce for ounce, the U.S. McDonald’s shake without whip has 33% more sugar than the U.K. version.
2. Pizza Hut Pepperoni Lovers/Pepperoni Feast Thin Crust Pizza (14” large/8 slices)
Not only would you get to take advantage of that free unlimited salad bar in the U.K., but when you order this pizza it only contains 16 grams of sugar, versus a whopping 40 grams in the U.S. version. That’s 151% more sugar!
3. Subway Turkey Ham Sandwich (6″ with 9-grain wheat bread, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and onions)
Subway used to be one of my go-to “healthy” sandwiches before I stopped eating processed fast food. Their Turkey Ham Sandwich isn’t exactly high in sugar, but here in the U.S. you’ll get over 56% more sugar (8 grams of sugar for 217 gram subway sandwich) than if you were to order the exact same sandwich in the U.K (5.4 grams of sugar for 228 gram sandwich).
4. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte (20 oz. venti, semi-skim/2% milk with whip)
Following my Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte investigation, I couldn’t help but wonder if Starbucks was serving up the same ingredients in other countries. I obtained the complete list of ingredients for the Pumpkin Spice latte in the U.K., and my hunches were correct. Not only did they reformulate their recipe with safer ingredients, but it also contains a lot less sugar. The venti Pumpkin Spice (2% milk with whip) in the U.S. has a whopping 58% percent more sugar than the U.K. version. A “tall” latte in the U.S. (small size) has almost the same amount of sugar as the Venti (large size).
Starbucks also doesn’t use use caramel coloring in the U.K., which proves this is a totally unnecessary ingredient. Instead, they color it with beta carotene (from carrots) and don’t use preservatives. Starbucks is telling news agencies here in the U.S. that they’ve got a “team in place” working on phasing out caramel coloring in the U.S. But, they’ve already done it in the U.K., so why can’t they just serve the same, safer, product here?
*Caramel Color Level IV contains 4-MEI, which is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. The National Toxicology Program also has determined caramel coloring level IV compound 4-MEI to be a carcinogen.
5. Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnut
A plain Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut in the U.S. has 52% more sugar than the U.K. version. Not only is the U.S. doughnut slightly smaller (49 gram size), but it’s got more sugar, ringing in at 10 grams, versus 7 grams in the U.K. doughnut (52 gram size). If you eat more than one doughnut, those extra sugar grams can add up quick.
My mind was reeling when I found this data.
Why are they doing this? In the U.K., restaurants are required to let you know if their food contains any genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, with a warning on the menu. If they simply remove all GMO ingredients, they can avoid this obligation.
One of the most prevalent GMO crops in the world are sugar beets. Most sugar in the U.S. actually comes from GMO beets, and no longer from sugar cane (which is generally more expensive to produce). According to Ken Roseboro of the Non-GMO Sourcebook, non-GMO ingredients tend to cost food manufacturers 25% to 50% more. So, here in the US it’s easy for food producers to just switch to GMO sugar beets to save money and keep pumping our food up with more of it than they do overseas without taking a hit financially. On packaged food containing GMO sugar, the ingredient list can still say “sugar” and they are not required to tell us if it’s GMO here in the U.S.. For restaurants it’s even easier, because they don’t need to even tell us the ingredients if they don’t want to.
There are very few GMO warnings labels on menus in the U.K. because restaurants know that customers overwhelmingly don’t want to eat GMOs. It’s simply more advantageous for them to serve GMO-free food in countries with GMO labeling laws. This could cost them more money as non-GMO sugar is more expensive to produce, so one viable option is for them to simply use less sugar which actually benefits consumer health in the long run in multiple ways. Meanwhile many of the same food companies continue to fill our “food” here with cheaper GMO sugar, and do everything they can to make sure that those labeling laws don’t pass here in the US.
We are getting the short end of the stick.
When I look at the menu items at these U.K. restaurants: organic milk, free unlimited salad, coffee without caramel color, non-GMO food and less sugary options – I feel like we are getting the short end of the stick. Sure, I realize that not all of the food in the U.K. is better, and some things are even worse than what we’ve got here, but when you look at the complete picture, they are definitely getting a better deal. Just last week the great-granddaughter of the co-founder of General Mills spoke up and made the news asking shareholders: “Why not here?”. She asked this simple question citing evidence that General Mills makes GMO-free versions of its food in Europe and Asia, and labels GMOs in 63 countries – But not in the United States, even though it’s entirely possible for them to do so.
Knowledge is power.
I am sharing this information with you to spread the word to let companies know we won’t stand for inferior and less healthy products. When these companies tell us that it’s not possible, or it’s too expensive, we know that they really can because it’s already being done. This is such an easy request – we simply want the same healthier options that they are serving in other countries. They may not initially want to do this, but if consumer demand is strong enough, they will. The truth is, as more food manufacturers seek out natural and non-GMO ingredients, they will become more readily available, as they are in the U.K. and Europe. So, please share this post with everyone you know and raise awareness of this very important issue. Let’s raise the bar here in America and persuade these companies to bring these safer food products here for us and our loved ones, not just for citizens in other countries.
With Much Love,
Vani
Here is a funny thought. If you don’t like it, or what goes into it, DON’T EAT IT! Sick and tired of hearing people whine and complain about fast food, and how bad it is for you. First off, maybe the reason people like it, and eat it is because of the way it tastes and how it is made. Second of all, i can completely understand and even appreciate what you and others like you try to do by searching for more healthy food and ways to cook them so they are not ruined by ingredients used to cook with, but why, WHY are you trying to bring the rest of use with you. In general, a lot of healthy foods with healthy methods of cooking are tasteless or just don’t taste very good. Why should i (or any business cooking food for a profit) be forced to cook or eat to your liking. Do us all a favor and you eat your food, and conitue to bring new foods and methods of cooking, and way of life to people who want it but quit trying to force your taste and your wants on the rest of us.
well Josh, maybe the reason why so many people care about what others put into their mouths is because we are working towards a healthier world. Do you think that you and everyone else that continually eat food that is unhealthy for you doesn’t effect us all? Think about the medical costs to fight cancer, obesity, heart disease, stroke, food allergies, skin disorders shall I go one? It’s not just about eating whatever the hell you want to it’s about helping to elevate the high cost medical care for everyone as well….this is just to mention one of the perks of eating healthy
The article does not say that fast foods in Europe are necessarily healthy, they just have different ingredients. The Starbucks Pumpkin coffee, for instance, in Europe it refers to “propellants”. And as for medical costs, the only thing propelling higher medical costs are insurance companies.
Insurance company’s have nothing to do with what people choose to eat. Its about choices each individual makes. When they choose to eat poorly then the medical costs increase, pharmaceutical costs increase, costs for rehab increase. If the person has insurance to pay for any of these services then yes the premiums increase for that as well as does the cost to have them. It’s a cycle that can be stopped but most aren’t willing to take charge of their health are they as it might mean exercising and healthy eating and changing your lifestyle.
Education is key to getting healthy and Vani gives lots of information about what to eat and where to get information she doesn’t just bash the company’s that are selling bad health.
After reading so many negative comments on this thread about people like “us” minding our business and let you eat what you want to my question to you is “Why are you on a site like this if you don’t see the whole picture and how eating healthy is just that making you healthier?”
Sorry my last comment was to Ann and to all negative comments.
Michele,
Your statement: “Why are you on a site like this if you don’t see the whole picture and how eating healthy is just that making you healthier?”
Could not agree with you more Michele!
And here’s a funny thought: If you don’t like articles discussing healthier food options – why read them and comment on them? Why must you bring those of us who care down with you?
Exactly what I was gonna say!!!
Exactly! I do not understand why people get so upset about the information being provided, just move on. I appreciate the articles because I do not agree with the food industry not being REQUIRED to advise when GMOs are being used and allowed to use all of these toxic ingredients we see on lables. I always say, if you have since enough not to put regular gas in your car if it requires premium gas, why not treat your body the same way and eat the healthiest (premium) foods possible? Treat your body like a Bentley 🙂 It costs more in the long run if you don’t.
So true!
typo I meant *sense enough (in case a spelling/grammar nazi strikes..lol)
@Renee: I’m not really digging your comparison. Cars rarely last more than 20 years, and along the way they have problems. It costs more to maintain a Bentley than say, a Ford. Not every person is born with a luxurious body either.
The sad fact is that healthy foods do cost more long term because of the frequency of having to buy them (personally, I buy fresh vegetables and fruits 2-3 times a week) whereas some Americans “can’t” afford to buy or go that often. If people focused more on buying what’s good for their bodies instead of prioritizing different purchases, we probably would have a healthier society. Not to mention a lot of lifestyle habits are based on convenience in the U.S. Rarely in Europe do you see someone walking around with a cup of Starbucks in their hand; they sit down to eat and drink. People walk and cycle around because of the proximity of places to go, and cars are simply too expensive to maintain there.
@Chloe Hi, I was simply stating that health is important and should be a priority. Please believe a Bentley is not in the budget for me either…lol It was the most expensive car I could think of in that moment. I was stating that our bodies are not meant to absorb man made toxins and like (you fill in the blank), it deserves the best fuel. I’m sorry you did not like my analogy but it always gets my nephews to eat there fruit and veggies (they love to talk about cars and engines). 🙂 Be Blessed
You completely missed the point of this article.
No i completely understand the point of this article. The point of this article was to inform people of what goes into the food served by the fastfood insustry in America versus the U.K. And to show the possibilities of what American fastfood can have/serve. Unfortunately instead of being a strictly informative article, the article was turned into a fastfood bashing blog and why this person hates our fastfood industry.
Sounds like a comment from someody from the fastfood lobby….
Pretty sure no one is whining in this article so you can stop hearing those voices…The WHY point is that people are eating this frankenfood now and will continue to do so. If these changes were made then they would be healthier over the long run. And we’re not just talking about general ingredients like swapping coconut oil for butter, we’re talking about taking out the cancer-causing ones and any that are linked to other serious conditions. That’s WHY. Plus, the changes aren’t going to make the fast food unpalatable. They do still want to make money, after all. This is about growing a healthier population, and we are all the better for it. I also find it hilarious that you’re first saying – stop complaining you don’t have to eat it! And then also simultaneously saying- Why should I be forced to cook or eat this healthier food!!! Maybe it’s the voices talking again…
Wow josh! Vani, and many others are trying to help people understand that we should know what we are eating and drinking. Seems you may be a voice for the big food companies??? Have a great day, and please try to be more kind…..
I agree that she is trying to help people, and it is comendable. Which is why my second point was to say that i understand AND can appreciate what she does. No where did i ask for her to stop doing it, nor did i say anything to the contrary of her being helpful. My point is that this article was not just an informative one. Instead its near sole purpose was to simply bash the fastfood industry of America. All I am truly saying is, you like what you like, and i like what i like. Why must she be so derrogatory.
Well Josh, I for one and my family AND numerous friends are glad that Vani does what she does. What I would like to know is this…If you don’t like what she is doing why the hell are you on her page. If you want to eat pesticides,GMO”S, TBHQ, and mumerous other cracinogens go for it, but keep the hell off her page because we want to hear what she has to say and appreciate everything she does to keep us informed!…AND her recipes are awesome and the food taste delicious! Take a look around at all the kids dying from cancer because of Monsanto or visit St.Jude childrens research hospital or any childrens hospital for that matter…more and more children are dying from cancer and the ingredients and carcinogens that they are eating from our food supply is to blame…so go poison yourself if you want but keep the hell off foodbabe.com and stop commenting…nobody wants to hear what you have to say!
You give people to much credit, on average, to control their food choices. The choices of fast food ingredients in the UK are limited just like animal food choices in aZoo. Hey maybe “don’t feed the animals” is the way to go.
Josh, The ingredients in the food here in the USA isn’t even food! It effects all of us whether or not we eat there. We have sick citizens who eat this and we all foot the bill. If they can do it for other countries, they sure as hell can do it for us- the country that made them successful. I don’t eat out but I can not stand the double standard. I have to ask, why are you even on this page? Do you work for a chemical company? Bizarre!
Wow, one very sad response. Maybe in the United States the health care system can handle the poor choices that most people are apparently making, but here in Canada many are concerned that we won’t be able to afford this in the future. Oh yeah, how about taking personal responsibility for what you consume? That works well. No wonder we have those oppressive laws about seat belts, child restraining seats, bike helmets, distracted driving, etc.
This blog is wonderful and I am certainly spreading the word. Of course, it is up to my contacts to decide for themselves what to do with the information.
Now, everyone needs to watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsDKP9rXLkg#t=123
It is all about choices and self-discipline.
Greg Shea (Lake Cowichan, BC)
No Josh, you really don’t understand the point of the article. I live in the UK and we also used to have much higher levels of salt, sugar, saturated fat and additives in our fast food and prepared ingredients in supermarkets. The fact is that, by gradually reducing them, the general health of the population is improved without any appreciable difference in the taste of the food. I suffered a cardiac arrest out of the blue 2 years ago and have had to cut down on saturated fats and salt. Now, if I go back to foods which I used to love, they taste revolting. It is possible to retain flavour without pumping products full of sugar and salt. The reason why McDonalds and others in the US include so much salt, sugar and fats in their products is that it is proven to be addictive – they want you to eat more as it benefits their business. The only reason they don’t do it anymore in the UK is that UK and EU legislation stops them doing it. The free market is a great thing, but left unchecked, profit will always prevail over the health of customers.
PS. Compulsory product labelling has been incredibly effective in empowering consumers and enabling them to make informed decision. It also pressurises manufacturers to reconsider what it puts in its foods and replace ‘harmful’ ingredients with more healthy alternatives.
Actually dude, if you laid off the fast foods and processed foods with sugars and high fructose corn syrup, you’d find that after some time, these “tasteless” foods would actually taste really good. High fructose corn syrup ruins your pallet. If you try for a month, you’ll notice the difference in sweetness of fast foods (too sweet). Most people actually report fast/process foods tasting much worse after being off them for a little time. The reason people prefer fast food is because their pallets have been ruined and it’s been reported that fast foods can be addicting. They actually don’t know what they’d prefer if given the opportunity.
I hear where your coming from Josh. Only in America would someone eat fast food and then blame the hamburger for making them fat. Im glad people are checking to the products used with these companies to make sure they are trying to use decent ingedients but I dont need to know fast food is bad for me. If someone didnt know fast food is bad for them by now what are the chances they can read this article? It is the same way with smoking (I have never smoked) everyone knows it is awful for you and they continue to do it. Fast food should have to warn us of GMO use, additives, ect but it should still be a persons choice to eat it. Look at it this way, why does the company sell products like this? Because people buy them is the answer.
I think everyone knows that fast food isn’t good for you, but for the average person, eating it on occasion is almost unavoidable in our current culture. What is the point of the article is that UK and EU have put stipulations on what can and can’t be included in food items sold there and require labeling of GMO/GE products that our current government does not. As a result, British customers get better quality food, and we get GMO-laden frankenfood, and for the most part, customers don’t demand better. GMO labeling is a serious issue; as of now, there is no US law regarding labeling and yet all the major EU and G8 countries require GE foods to be labelled. You need to let the FDA know that you want fast food companies to label their GMOs, because currently in the US they don’t have to do so.
Kristen, I totally see you point and I would like to see GMO labels in place as well. I think eating fast food is very avoidable these days more than ever! We as a society are more educated about fast food/healthy living. Also, technology is really helping out. I can get a cooler that plugs in to my truck keep items fresh all day long. I actually keep pears and apples along with protein shakes in my truck so I do have a decent snack. American culture is to push against any kind of change or perceived threat to free will. Even if you label the food they won’t stop purchasing it. The only thing you can do is vote with you dollar at a local level to effect change. Vote with your money, it’s the only thing companies respont too.
Why do you think most of the population is sick and fat? Unfortunately the children are paying the price too! It’s because people are not educated – and don’t seem to care to be educated. Nobody is holding a gun to your head. At least the information is being put out there as a tool to inform and EDUCATE! I suppose the saying, “Ignorance is Bliss” is appropriate in your case!
Well Josh it is basic human instinct to watch out for your fellow man and I personally dont like to purchase food from corporations that are in the habit of poisoning there customers and especially when there only motive is greed, damn them all Josh, and damn you too brother, I hope you wake up one day soon my friend.
Hey Josh,
Totally fine if you don’t like how healthy food tastes but that is just an indication of how junked up and toxic your body is. If you were to NOT eat any high fructose corn syrup, unnatural sugar, excessive and unnatural fat, along with inorganic materials made and put in silly putty, yoga mats, foam rollers, butane… you would actually find that “tasteless” food the most delicious dish ever.
What is not totally fine is how you just showcased how unhealthy your mind is… which shows the exact purpose of the differences between fast food in the USA and UK.
Cheers.
Josh, when people come on here and bash Vani and what she is trying to accomplish to wake Americans up, because we are such “sheeple,” it makes me wonder what food industry they are tied to and what their ulterior motives are. As my grandmother would say, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I suggest you take my grandma’s advice and stay off sites where all YOU want to do is bash the author who is trying to do something to HELP us all.
Josh,
Here’s an even funnier thought: If you’re a fast food enthusiast who gobbles down whatever chemicals du jour that with malice aforethought are dumped in US food supplies, why are you so offended by those of us who go to great lengths to eat as healthfully as possible in an uphill struggle to maintain a semblance of health in this toxic world?
The energy you have invested in this sophomoric “argument” is not going to persuade anyone here to your perspective. At best it might demoralize some of us to throw up our hands and ask what is the use of any more resistance to these corporate sociopaths with their sinister eugenics/depopulation agendas, if our efforts are so unappreciated and futile.
You are either extremely shortsighted or a paid for shill who has sold out in order to get hold of some inflated FRN$.
Please think about this, reset your moral compass and break ranks with the corporate sociopaths who actively, intentionally do great harm to our populace. Perhaps there is a decent person lurking inside you, yearning to join a community that puts health above a GMO sugar high or the romance of being a paid corporate operative?
Josh, if you don’t care what you eat, and don’t want to see any of these posts, un-follow! Most of us are very appreciative of FoodBabes hard work. I for one am amazed at how the USA can justify this. We deserve to know what we are eating and how best to stay healthy!
@ Josh, your comment was truly retarded. Here is a serious thought instead because nothing you said was funny if not just RETARDED. If you don’t like what goes on and around FoodBabe’s blog, don’t read it and certainly don’t waste your time commenting to the folks here who are in support! Whining and complaining is exactly what you are doing. First off, maybe the reason people like YOU eat it is because it is easy convenient, and tastes good. Secondly if you “completely understand and even appreciate what she and others like her try to do” then WHY are you trying to bring the rest of us down with YOU? Do us all a favor and you eat your General Mills, your McDonald’s, your Taco Bell and the rest of us will continue to bring awareness to those who want it but you quit making useless comments here that do not do anything much but show how uneducated you are and oblivious to life around you. You might also want to spell check and proof read your comments in attack if you want people to take you the slightest in serious. Until then enjoy your french fries! And dont worry I am sure if one day we do get to put brands and foods and people like you JOSH to the back of the bus, there will still be a place for you to still purchase your great tasting foods somewhere in the GARBAGE which is where people like you and Monsanto belong.
Why do I care? Because these companies are marketing to my children! I can only control what they eat in my home but as they grow older, they will become more susceptible to marketing and peer pressure. It’s downright wrong that companies are serving us unhealthy foods and marketing to our children when they are fully capable of serving us something better.
Josh-if you don’t like what is in this article, DON’T READ IT!!!
Josh, who is forcing who now? If you don’t like healthy food DON’T EAT IT. No one is forcing you to EAT anything. Since they are required to be more HONEST in the UK, the customers would still EAT WHAT THEY WANT after seeing the truth about the ingredients, and the food companies obviously realize they’d lose money overall.
Why do they get away with this?….because Americans are lazy and stupid! Sorry, the truth hurts! The average American knows more about their cell phone then they know about their own bodies and what it takes to stay healthy. We transfer our dollars to the food companies that sell us poison then fork over more dollars when we get hospitalized for a disease that was completely preventable. The Food Corporations and the “health care” industry laugh at us all the way to the bank. Hospitals have McDonalds’s in their buildings. Its no different than if the Drug Cartels owned the Drug treatment Centers. Laughable if it wasn’t so sad!
I’m with you Mike. After leaving in the US for over 10 years and developing serious digestives problems I am seriously reconsidering returning to Europe. I’ve spent some days there this summer eating all the “forbidden food” (I’m under a very restricted diet) and I didn’t get sick at all. I got back and within a week I got sick again. Do I want this for my children? is so sad…
Americans are lazy and stupid huh? That is why in the past two years we have won the most Olympic Medals, landed the most advanced robot on Mars using the most advanced methods, have for the past century been the driving force behind the entire world’s economy, invented the internet which you are using to disparage us oh yeah and we have been the driving force behind medical innovation.
Gosh are you misinformed. First of all, most of our scientific professionals ie; Phd’s, are foreign. Check the number of foreign Professionals in our Universities, Research Institutes and Medical facilities. Check out the countries of origin on the team that helped land the Rover on Mars! What is the USA’s ranking in education among Industrialized Nations? What is the USA’s ranking in Health Care amongst Industrialized Nations? What is our ranking in Infant mortality world wide? What is the USA’s percentage of GDP spent on Health Care relative to the rest of the world? Yes we have been the driver behind the worlds economy, we were responsible for bringing the global economy to its knees because of lack of regulation of the Banks and finance industry…, and the world is still suffering from it. As far as Olympic medals…..you win the Gold for stupidity!
GMO = roundup ready = glyphosate = poisonous in parts per trillion. Check it out for yourself.
She is only asking to label it. Many people would give up that crap you love if they knew it was full of toxins. By all means though, you eat as much as you can.
On the subject of milk the UK,Europe and Canada do not consider it organic. It is just our regular milk. Studies showed how dangerous the growth hormone and are to dairy cows and humans before it was even introduced to the dairy industry. Growth hormone has always been banned and cattle that have antibiotics are taken out of milk production until no evidence is left when tested. Not sure why it was okayed by the USDA except maybe big $$$$ from the drug companies influencing the agency/government.
What about the Carrageenan in the Starbucks pumpkin spice latte? Carrageenan is derived from red seaweed. However, it has no nutritional value. Also, “Carrageenan predictably causes inflammation, which can lead to ulceration & bleeding” Joanne Tobacman MD, Assoc. Professor of Clinical Medicine at Univ. of Illinois at Chicago. Her work showed a connection between carrageenan & GI cancer. Another article states ” the trail of research on this issue is long & pretty consistent. Carrageenan regularly induces carcinogenesis, neoplasia, & intestinal lesions” from a research article /study from Japan.
Question for the Author: Are Canadian standards closer to the US or the UK?
The general public has no idea we are slowly being poisoned. Even as a personal trainer, I have tried to pay attention to labels over the years but I have not realized how many fillers, sugars, chemicals and carcinogens are being put in our food! People believe that it must be safe if it is allowed in our food and they don’t think much further than that. It is despicable what is happening. Wake up America!
Hey Josh you obviously dont have children for one and just because you dont care what youre putting into your body doesn’t mean we feel the same and at the VERY LEAST deserve to know every ingredient in the food we purchase for ourselves and our loved ones.
People Power makes change happen. Lake Erie used to have toxins from the steel mills dumped into it, raw sewage and more. DDT, which has a half life, used to be used and it almost wiped out the American Eagle.
People must unite to bring about change.
Good job Food Babe! Following your progress, and ours, with interest!
BTW, has Subway got the yoga mat stuff out of their bread yet so I can return my business to them?
The UK provides their citizens with free health care. If British Parliament allowed the same garbage in their food as the American government does, it would make a major financial impact to their country because the overall health of its citizens would decline, causing medical costs to skyrocket. I lived in England for two years and was in awe of how much better the food quality and standards were there.
Interesting how some people will take the time to visit this site and bash it?? If you don’t like the topic of healthy eating, well…..What are you doing here?
Thank You Vani for all that you do to keep us informed.
Vani,
You have uncovered a very distinct difference in the food laws of the EU vs US. The EU has a basic premise in it’s food law that is if it may have a negative health impact it’s not allowed while US food laws work off the lack of science. For example, ADA (which you previous highlighted ) was investigated by the WHO. They found that during the manufacturing of ADA workers “could” be subject to lung disease. Based on that research, the EU banned the use of ADA. Here I. The states, they did LD50 studies which showed that ingesting 40 ppm or less does not pose a health risk. Therefore the US has allowed (and continues to allow ) the use of ADA in bread products. The lack of long term science on the ingestion of ADA does not exist and is not being studied. US law completely disregards the health risk of the manufacturing of ADA and the employees who are at risk. The solution to remove ADA exists (Subway did it) and is cost effective however the solution needs to also be GMO free as well .
I haven’t eaten at these restaurants (or most fast food restaurants for that matter) in years. The last time I visited a McD’s (not my idea), I felt unwell shortly after….
Hi Vani,
Why don’t we complain as a group with a bunch of signatures to all these fast food places?… or is there a site we can go to that does just that?
Thanks again Vani for the great info:)
yeah but pizza hut and the fries at mcdonalds (UK) suck. and so do a lot of the other recipes they chains use in other countries. yeah theyre healthier (maybe) but theyre also not what you’d come to expect from the signature meals of the fast food chains in the US. people would be pissed if they changed them..
they change the recipes. and if you follow that logic we might as well just not eat guilty pleasure/fast food
Which is a good thing!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy
Only 1.2 years difference between life expectancy of a UK man and a US man…just sayin
It’s not about life expectancy as much as it is quality of life. One can be sick and miserable and live just as long taking medications to mask all the symptoms of disease caused by eating toxic unhealthy food as one who is healthy vibrant and feeling well. I’d rather be well and enjoy whatever years I have… Thanks to Vani for making us aware of what’s in our food so we can make informed choices! And the point of the article is we don’t have to put up with it. Other countries demand real quality food without chemicals and GMOs and so can we- When we stop buying junk and start buying real food!
hey Shawn,
Just wanted to mention that when researching DO NOT use wikipedia as a source….it is simply unreliable (anyone can edit anything on wikipedia, try it) and in any academic research using wikipedia as a source would be laughable.
I can spend a lot of time with my grand kids in 1.2 years idiot..
Funny, both lists (WHO & UN) I compare according to your link show me a 2.1 years of difference between the US and UK?
But why only looking at the UK? Swiss females life a whopping 6 years longer then American females (although there must be a flaw in that table because Switzerland ranks 1 and 11.).
From living in Switzerland I know the food laws are even more strict and the people are more educated what is healthy food for you.
However, you should also take into consideration the quality of life, not just the quantity. I can’t see a 300 lbs woman in the US enjoying her life more than 110 lbs in Switzerland.
Also if you need more treatment (e.g. for breast cancer) because the food makes you sick, I can’t see that as a plus.
Vegan. Don’t eat at these places except Subway Veggie sub on wheat. Probably something wrong with that too…but don’t have to argue why I eat the other places!
There is a simple way of getting fast food chains to stop serving all that to customers.
Stop buying all that crap!
We vote with out money. They are in business and only serving what customer buys. If you stop eating that garbage, they will stop producing it.
no! The select few that know have to fight for the masses. Because the masses don’t know for themselves and will continue to eat the way they do now. Until people start caring mare about what the heck they ingest, they will continue to eat what tastes the best. If you put enough salt, sugar, and oil on it, you could make anything “taste” good. But, a turd is a turd no matter how much you coat it.
Nobody wins a fight just as nobody wins a war. What is really needed is to educate people with love and compassion.
I used to belong to the “masses” before I learned to do better. That does not mean that I was stupid and needed people to fight for me. Once educated, I just made different choices and passed on the education to a LOT of others who were free to do with it as they pleased.
Most of those people are now making better food choices which is reflecting on how food supplying companies are treating their customers in our small town. When I started 40 years ago, nobody cared for natural and organic. Now even my corner store carries organic, gluten free, vegan products. They had to adapt to people’s wishes or go broke 🙂
Damn right! In America this is how we vote for a product. If we buy crap they serve it to us with a smile. If we dont buy anything until the offer what we ask for then they will! Companies that dont adapt will fail. They adapted to A LOT of things over time and will offer good food once we all collectivly demand it with our dollar! Its probably faster than waiting on the FDA or USDA to step in anyway.
As a former citizen of Holland (EU) now living many years very happy in the United States and usually a big fan of Vani’s blog I can only say that this article does not show the complete facts and misses the answer to the main question: “why not here?”.
First of all, even if McDonald’s (and all these other companies) here in the US would change their ingredients to EU standards it still would not make them a healthy choice. Even though the ingredients they use in Europe are different, McDonald’s is still considered fast food by Europeans and e.g. the same advice as in the US is given by European doctors to limit fast food if you have health issues.
Secondly, the European food market is extremely (over) regulated by the European Union in Brussels. The European Union that makes all these rules and regulations costs the country of Great Brittain alone around 120.000.000.000 (billion) pounds a year!! Almost $200 Billion dollars. All tax money paid by citizens.
And for what? So far that I know there’s no proof that the European food market is a lot safer or better than in the US. As far as I know there’s also no proof that Europeans (except the ones living in Mediterranean countries) live a lot longer than Americans.
What does happen is that food prices in Europe are most of the time 20%, 50% if not 200%, 300% higher than in the US.
E.g. I can buy a cup of coffee here in the US at McDonalds for $1. In Germany that same cup would have cost me €1.95 (=$2.45)…= 245% more!!! The same counts for Big Macs, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Coca Cola and all these other names. Ok, so the ingredients are different because of Brussels does that mean I can now drink and eat all the McDonald’s and Coca Cola I want or that I will live longer? No, the answer is still no, just like here.
The only huge difference is, is that you pay so much more for food in Europe than in the US (something that’s completely missing in this article) and that the US government leaves the choice over to the people (US Citizens). If I want to eat fast food I can go to McDonald’s, if I want to eat healthier and willing to pay more I can go to Panera Bread or Whole Foods. It’s as simple as that.
Thinking that you can still get a 49 cents hamburger made out of organic meat at McDonald’s or according to European food standards is completely insane. That’s never going to happen.
True, there can be done a lot more on educating people (especially kids) about the potential consequences of eating bad food, smoking, drinking etc. Vane’s blog is for example a great way to learn more about food. But taking away choice by the government, regulating one bad thing for another, letting people pay more through taxes to make and enforce all the extra regulations is definitely not the solution.
Just let the free market do it’s work. McDonald’s is smart enough to come up with more healthier choices once they see customers leaving them for Panera Bread. That also answers “why not here?” Well obviously the people that go to McDonald’s now are happy with the choices offered and apparently McDonalds still has enough customers coming in every day who are willing to buy their food.
The ones that are not happy with McDonald’s menu (or any other chain) have the great freedom of choice and can choose any alternative out there they want. How great is that?
You nailed it! Good job.
Amen!!!!
Smart man! Thank you for the perspective!
Why would any one dine at a corporate restaurant that intentionally poisons there customers?
That is crazy town..
I say this without sarcasm at all. Because it tastes really really good. I like it, that’s all. And for me personally, I don’t see the point of denying myself something that I want every once in a while. I am informed, I am knowledgeable and there is no other reason than I just want it because I like it.
I will never understand why people want to vilify those of us that like “crap” food every once in a while. I know what’s in it, and I’m okay with that.
Just add GMO labeling and let Americans have the chose plane and simple . If i dont even know whats really in it how can i make a smarter healthier chose.
That comment was to Josh.
That comment was’nt to you tom sorry .
The FDA needs a petition from us each day. They care only for lobbyists. Most of their decisions are opposite of the UK and EU and Canada… Etc… How can everyone agrees color additives are horrific but in 2011 the FDA says it’s ok????
This should be an attack.. The FDA needs to be reminded they work for our health not the corporations pocket book
Move to the U.K. then!
See ya! Wouldn’t wanna be ya!
‘Murica.
I’m from the U.S. living in Germany. People like you are encouraged and common. They don’t allow anything to get into their country that isn’t healthy. They randomly test product and food to make sure it’s healthy (consumer watch groups). Why we as Americans don’t fight for quality is beyond me. Many people blindly trust the FDA and eat whatever is allowed to be sold to them. Luckily, people like you are finally calling the big companies out on their financial shortcuts for profit gain over quality. Our kids deserve better.
Doctors trust the FDA too, and some of them view informed patients negatively…my doctor laughed at me for saying Splenda and other artificial sweeteners are dangerous (I have terrible reactions to them) chemicals. He said, “hey, SALT is a chemical. They’re safe.” He didn’t get it. Most doctors have little nutritional training (they still tell you lowfat diets are the best way to lose weight) and they go by the same information the general public does – “FDA Approved,” “AMA approved”, that means it’s safe. What it really seems to mean is that some drug company or food company had enough money to pay for their own skewed research.
I recently took a photo of a warning outside of a McDonald’s store to show my 6 year old son why he is not allowed to eat copious amounts of this food. At least they have to publish that their food causes cancer.
I can’t show the photo here but .they focus the bulk of their text on the naturally occurring elements that can be harmful, then in one sentence tell you there are also other things they will not reveal that cause cancer. Big business will never be more concerned about overall well being than the well being of their few. So it is good that we can all help each other to be aware.
In response to the note about better controls costing more money…, we all know that living healthy costs more money. That is the very reason the food chain has been destroyed .. To save money. But in the end, if you don’t have your health , you don’t have anything . What a better place to spend money?
The “rapeseed” oil is GMO canola oil right out of Canada too. Interesting they list it by the crop name instead of the oil name.
Would love to know what is going on here in the Netherlands. …with our food….. I have been telling people for years ( could be that I am an ex American ) don’t eat the food out the boxes or the cans, the ready made food. Slowly, Netherlands, has been becoming American Ized. I tell my children you may choose from these cookies but not the American cookies etc… I am to worried of sneeked in gmos or other trash. Don’t think, Netherlands is not using gmo or evil ingredients for indeed they are! Just not the level as the states . However, as my husband says, there should be a food babe here in the Netherlands. 😉
Vani and Bernie would be an unstoppable team!
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-congratulates-vermont_lawmakers-on-food-labels-law
For those of you who are concerned that putting demand on American fast food to clean up their act will result in gross, flavorless food, I live in Germany after 25 years of living in the US (we are a military family). I was a regular patron of BK, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, etc, etc. Now that I’m in the EU, their food is SO MUCH BETTER!!! I don’t want to go home to live, ever, because of how much better the food tastes here. The local Burger King and McDonald’s is really good. The Pizza Hut is good, but I do admit I much prefer the authentic Italian place just down the street. 😉 Starbucks?? SO MUCH BETTER. Krispy Kreme?? I didn’t even notice a difference.
It’s not just the fast food, either. Even regular groceries are better. Veggies. Meat. Oh be still my heart, the meat is THOUSANDS times better here. Milk is amazing. Coke is actually drinkable by this girl, who has ALWAYS loathed it. I can’t say I like it, but at least that one sip doesn’t send me running the other way. Fried foods taste so much better. Am I saying let’s take away butter and fats and whole milk?? HECK NO!! Don’t you DARE touch my fats!!! BUT, I am saying naturally grown/raised foods, without steroids, copious amounts of pesticides, GMO’s, antibiotics, etc, etc, etc, taste noticeably better. Period. And, it’s worth the extra buck or two.
As a side note, due to medical reasons, my husband and I are needing to switch to a wheat free/mostly meat free diet. My husband used to be very picky about his veggies. Because of how good they taste here, he’s actually looking forward to our foray into vegeterianism. 🙂
Good thing I live in the UK.
Oh snap i thought you were dead.
Vani you are amazing and thank you. There are obviously plenty of us that DO care about this issue and I will continue to fight the fight. Some think it’s a waste of time and that no one listens but it’s OUR job to educate others. We are living in a sad, corrupt and greedy country. WE need to be the change, WE need to teach our children to be the change. Do NOT conform but take a stand. Educate our smaller communities until they all blends together. WE as Americans need to stand together to get things done and stop acting like sheep and conformists. I educate others, I teach the children and I will never stop standing up for what I believe is right. Again, thank you Vani for your perseverance and passion to help our planet and educate US.
It’s a conspiracy!. Plain and simple. The mission is to bring down America and dramatically reduce world population to 500 million. Wake up to the new world order folks!. Check out the Georgia Flagstones where the illuminati’s age of reason commandments are stated. Also Thrive-What on Earth will it Take. Any work by Mark Passio.
You need to know about Rothchilds and the such things as the Bilderberg group. Secret societies all over with satanistic agendas.
Unbelievable. The whole power system is corrupt and inextricably connected. Research it and find out. Ignorance is not bliss. We have to wake up to the bigger picture, join the dots, get honest!. Blessings
The original Josh is right. There are loads and loads of means of providing cheap, but healthy food. But businesses want to make money. If the impossible happened and everybody stopped eating fast food, then we wouldn’t have to care about obesity related problems, and paying the NHS to look after everybody who became screwed up because they eat to much Burger King!
Thank you Food Babe! When I experienced cancer at 38, had no idea about America’s highly processed, steroid injected, antibiotic administered, arsenic feed, artificially colored, flavored, and sweetened, chemically manufactured, genetically modified, sugar frosted, fat free, high fructose corn syrup filled, fake food supply – and I thought I was eating healthy.
Yes! There is such a double standard in the U.S. and until we stop putting their products in our shopping carts and on our plates – the madness will continue.
Anyone else find it strange that America (and her children) have never been fatter or sicker and we can’t seem to figure out why?
Best health always
Supermom-in-training
All the crazy chemical junk that we ingest is making us dumber. Josh sounds like the quintessential example of my point. When the population is dumber – when it gets the calories it needs to go to work, but not the nutrients to think -THAT’S when the 99% is more easily controlled.
Food costs a lot more in Europe, hamburger easily over 5 euroes. Americans generally want cheap food and therefore quality is not there.
She is putting useful information out that some people want to know or need to know. Just take the information and make your own decision. She is not making anyone follow what she says. If you want to eat it with all the added bad things go ahead.
I think it is BS that the US does not care about what is put into our food. If other countries can do it without the added crap, we can too!
Josh, any person in their right mind would appreciate and value the information that Vani is bringing to world. The bible informs us that people perish for lack of knowledge and Vani is bringing the knowledge that we need in order to keep us from deteriorating in our health. If you desire to eat fake foods that are void of nutrients and made in a lab instead of food that grows from the earth, then so be it!!!! It is only a fool that will despise helpful information. Please continue to be Team McDonald’s and leave the Food Babe Team alone to change the world.
Hi all, i agree with the post. Here in the US, everything has more sugar content. Try comparing that with indian food. Obesity is the biggest threat to mankind. let us work together for a better and healthy world.
Too all the people who are “sick and tired of hearing people complain”. In this circumstance, yor are not hearing, you are reading…by choice. This article has a title that tells you what is in the article you are about read… so YOU had the luxury of making an informed decision when you decided to read this article. I, on the other hand, have not been provided with a label telling me what I am getting myself into. We do not have that luxury and its sad that we have to continue to suffer because not enough people care. Smoking is a terrible analogy because you know what is in that cigarette and you know it’s bad for you because of the label. GMO’s are NOT labeled and so we don’t know and therefore aren’t able to make an informed decision. It’s really sickening what’s going on in this country and how people can’t see that they are being stripped of a basic human right. It might not be a right that YOU care about, but it is one others do.
Interesting that he says ‘they’ alot in referring to the manufacturers. They will do what ever is accepted by the market at the least cost to them according to what the laws of the country will allow. So it is not just the manufacturers fault. YOU buy it, supporting the market for that food. YOU are not asking for laws and regulations in your country that would force the manufacturers to produce their food with healthier ingredients. There purpose of this article is perhaps to highlight that manufacturers have healthier options open to them in providing you with your beloved fast food – but it is up to YOU to make it happen.
It occurs to me that the reason the UK is more concerned with their citizens’ health is because they are under the national healthcare. That is, the government pays their medical costs/bills. Here in the USA, we are responsible for finding insurance or other ways to pay for our so-called “health care” and therefore, there is no interest in keeping us healthy. I do agree that if one wants to eat healthfully, Pizza Hut, Starbucks (lattes) and McDonalds are NOT the way to go, regardless of how they “lessen” the blow.
..I ay be totally out to lunch here(no pun intended) And I would bet there already has been an attempt at this legislation. (If there has and my post is redundant drivel I apologize) . Why aren’t fast food corps forced to put a disclaimer on their menus that inform the buyer that this product can be harmful to your health? If their is real scientific evidence that eating these foods is harmful to you. Why should it be treated any different then a pack of cigarettes? People still choose to smoke and those who do are fully aware of the possible side effects. Why should foods that are known to have harmful side effects be protected. I understand that this would open a huge can of worms, and that it would be difficult to regulate as the debate would be never ending a to what foods are classified as bad, and which ones are ok. But at least it is a step .
As I said…This idea has probably been discussed.
@Josh, your comment was truly retarded. Here is a serious thought instead because nothing you said was funny if not just RETARDED. If you don’t like what goes on and around FoodBabe’s blog, don’t read it and certainly don’t waste your time commenting to the folks here who are in support! Whining and complaining is exactly what you are doing. First off, maybe the reason people like YOU eat it is because it is easy convenient, and tastes good. Secondly if you “completely understand and even appreciate what she and others like her try to do” then WHY are you trying to bring the rest of us down with YOU? Do us all a favor and you eat your General Mills, your McDonald’s, your Taco Bell and the rest of us will continue to bring awareness to those who want it but you quit making useless comments here that don’t do anything much but show how uneducated you are and oblivious to life around you. You might also want to spell check and proof read your comments in attack if you want people to take you the slightest in serious. Until then enjoy your french fries! And don’t worry I’m sure if one day we do get to put brands and foods and people like you JOSH to the back of the bus, there will still be a place for you to still purchase your great tasting foods somewhere in the GARBAGE which is where people like you and Monstanto belong.
I heard that you can’t even buy white flour in the UK, also, when sugar is produced in the US, they feed the good stuff to cows (molasses) and feed us the bad stuff (white sugar). Nothing white is good for you, even salt. Eat Himalayan or Sea Salt. The US is Big Pharma’s playground,.
Of course you can buy white flour here in the Uk, where on earth did you get that info from
Why don’t you hear Obama or his wife harping on this? Because he is in it for the masses. He wants all the food as cheap as he can get it. He could care less about the quality of life, he had immigrants to feed.
shocking but not surprising….
As time ticks on and costs increase, the one factor that everyone needs to come to grips with is that any business that produces food or any derivative is NOT your friend and they couldn’t give a s**t about you or your family. If these businesses know there are no checks and balances in place, they will deviate to the lowest possible production costs that eventually yields the highest profit margins for their shareholders. Once you know and understand this, arm yourself with all the information about healthy foods and ingedients possible and make the informed choice. If you don’t, you only have yourself to blame! By the way the FDA is a farce and are owned by the food processing businesses. It’s all part of politics in the USA, Canada and elsewhere around the world. Once again, if the FDA knows there’s no checks and balances making them accountable they will succumb to these bribes, profit sharing and pocket lining companies. Food Babe is the last line of defense against the monney grubbing bastards.
I can not believe that some of you don’t think that what is in our food effects all of us. Start with where the food item is grown. Pesticides ends up in our water, our soil, and into our bodies. Cancer is caused from our environment. It would be wonderful to eat at all fast food restaurants and not have to think about what is good or bad for you. It is not just fast food. Food coloring FD&C colors are made from Coal Tar, which is a cancer causing agent, a toxic chemical. This coloring is only used for coloring, no other function. They even put this in infant Pedialite. I don’t think I would put that into my newborn. Your children eat tons of it every day. The FDC coloring has to be on the label.
Exactly Thank you for the your comment! People do not want to know or hear the truth about the food we eat! I want to eat healthy and have been for some time. I know to stay away from fast food, process food, chemicals in food or products use on the body. And I have been a long time reading labels on everything before buying. We can preach and blog about how bad the food is as far as McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts ,Kentucky, Poppies chicken, Wendy’s etc. The last goes on. Some people will not and do not want to change their eating habits. People that have little money eat at these places as well as their children, even people who have more money want to eat the food time and time again. Those foods are made to make you want more! It is the chemicals the salt and the sugar all together. Fast food with high calories, carbs and fat! All bad! I am right there with Vani. I chose to make a change in eating organic, fruit and vegetables, Gluten free breads fresh and locally grown. Meats Like steak and beef I try to buy the name brands I know and have bought for years. That is the same for chicken. Buy wild caught fish not farm raised. The way the vicious cycle goes is eat bad food in US for years and your children then you may develop aliments such as asthma ,rash, stomach problems ,high blood pressure, heart disease, bad teeth and gums, and breath, skin not clear hair loss, and even cancer. Then you wonder why there are high cost of medical coverage and doctors visits are frequent. Get some medicine take it , get sick again, go to the doctor get more medicine and sometimes see an specialist! A terrible cycle in why people are sick! It is ridiculous how the FDA being in the USA do not ban chemicals like the dyes in everything from children cereals, drinks like Gatorade, sodas, candy like M&MS! The list is endless. People eat this crap. I have ate it over the years until I woke up and open my eyes to reality of making a change for the better you and health for your own good!
NOt enough Americans care enough to put up a fuss. The American diet has universally been recognized as poor in nutrition and taste compared to European diet overall — decades ago.
The sugar demand here is LUDICROUS. Ruins the taste of so many things. Store-bought and cafe muffins taste putrid, as grains and sugar do not mix well — but here the muffins are close to eating 2 chocolate bars worth of sugar. And moms give them to KIDS!
Even MacDonalds in some MacDonalds in China serves better food I hear.
The thing about all of this is this is suppose to be the so called best country in the world and the food industry is killing americans and the government does not care..the people you. Vote for could not care less….this will continue to happen because the politians only want their pockets lined with money…no one in authority cares….does no one get it it’s an up hill battle that will not get better….wow ..food babe means well and I am eating better because of her…but I get disgusted with this country when people die for it and they just kill you..ha