36. Tostitos Salsa Con Queso Dip
Banned in: Norway and Austria
Reason: Contains Yellow 5 & Yellow 6
Est. Global Sales: $2 billion per year in sales for the Tostitos brand in total*
Tostitos, the popular brand known for its tortilla chips and mouthwatering dips, has sadly struggled to make its mark in European markets. The culprit? Banned or strongly discouraged ingredients. Talk about a tough cookie! Now, here’s the scoop: Tostitos, like many other unassuming-looking foods, makes use of Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 to give its products that irresistible, vibrant appearance. But guess what? These food colorings have faced strict scrutiny and regulation in the EU. In fact, they’re completely off-limits in Norway and Austria. Why? Because they contain tartrazine, a synthetic yellow dye that’s been known to trigger allergic reactions and intolerance in some lucky folks. So, while Tostitos continues to flourish Stateside, its European dreams remain tantalizingly out of reach. It’s a colorful conundrum, indeed!
36. Tostitos Salsa Con Queso Dip
37. Frosted Flakes
Banned in: Japan and EU
Reason: Contains BHT
Est. Global Sales: $429.4 million per year in the U.S.*
Butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT, is a familiar ingredient found in both the medical field and food production. Its medicinal powers can tackle cold sores, herpes, and even AIDS. Meanwhile, in the culinary world, it plays the role of an antioxidant and preservative, skillfully preventing spoiling. While the FDA considers it safe, studies reveal that large BHT doses can pose a toxicity risk. Consequently, this little troublemaker is banned in the EU, Japan, and several other nations. The controversial BHT ban even had Frosted Flakes shaking in their sugar-coated boots! Luckily, these countries found a creative way to keep producing everyone’s favorite flakes with an alternative recipe. How’s that for a twist in the tale?
37. Frosted Flakes
