Foods Americans Eat That Other Countries Say “No” To

In the United States, many foods we grow up with are considered completely normal—breakfast staples, snacks, and everyday grocery items. But step outside the U.S., and some of those same foods are banned, restricted, or heavily reformulated before they’re allowed on shelves.

This isn’t about fear or conspiracy. It’s about different regulatory philosophies.

In many countries, food laws are built around prevention—if something raises health concerns, it’s restricted before it reaches consumers. In the U.S., the approach is often the opposite: products remain legal until clear harm is proven.

That difference alone creates a fascinating global divide.

American Foods Restricted or Banned Elsewhere

Here are several foods commonly sold and consumed in the U.S. that face restrictions in other parts of the world:

Mountain Dew (original U.S. formula)
Previously restricted or banned in parts of Europe and Japan due to additives that failed to meet their safety standards.

U.S. Farmed Salmon
Restricted in countries like Australia and New Zealand because of differences in farming practices, antibiotics, and feed regulations.

Processed American Cheese Slices (read the full list here)