What Europe Does Better When It Comes To Food - Tasting Table

"The debate between European and American food may be never-ending, but there are some misconceptions that need to be clarified. If you follow influencers who talk about food and health, you know a common trope is how people feel so much better after eating food in Europe. This is often attributed to the superior quality of ingredients in those countries, compared to highly-processed American food with lots of additives."

"The first big debate is over additives, and just how healthy (or unhealthy) food is in the U.S. versus Europe. It is true that Europe takes a stricter stance towards regulation with food additives, with the burden falling on manufacturers to prove an additive is safe before it's sold. Contrarily, in the U.S., you must prove something is not safe before banning it. This means several questionable food additives, like potassium bromate and titanium dioxide, are banned in Europe but allowed in America."

"But this list is limited, and European countries still allow many artificial food colorings and additives that influencers claim are unsafe. There are also claims about European safety that are outright false, with some people claiming its wheat can't contain glyphosate, an herbicide used for killing weeds, when it actually can. These specious claims about food safety in Europe extend to larger debates."

Influencers often claim people feel better after eating in Europe due to superior ingredient quality, but the reality is more complex. Europe uses stricter additive regulation, placing the burden on manufacturers to prove safety before sale. The United States requires evidence of harm before banning additives. Some substances such as potassium bromate and titanium dioxide are prohibited in Europe yet permitted in the U.S. Many artificial colorings and additives remain allowed in European countries. Claims that European wheat cannot contain glyphosate are false. Cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are different processed sugars with similar health effects. Cultural practices and freshness also influence perceived differences.

Read at Tasting Table