Thanksgiving staple eaten by millions and not sold in other countries because of two ingredients linked to cancer

A Thanksgiving product in the US has been condemned by a leading food safety expert for containing ingredients linked to cancer and banned abroad.

Stove Top Stuffing, launched in 1972 and now manufactured by Kraft Heinz, contains butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). As many as 50 million homes will be serving it as a side dish this Thanksgiving.

BHA is a synthetic petrochemical commonly used as a preservative in grains and other dry goods. BHT is used in similar products and ensures that fats in foods stay fresh longer.

BHA is considered a carcinogen and has been shown to promote tumor growth and worsen blood clotting. It also acts as an endocrine disruptor and is associated with the underdevelopment of the reproductive system.

BHA and BHT both pose a threat to the circulatory system and BHT can affect testosterone levels as well as sperm quality.

It can also cause liver enlargement, inflammation in the lungs and kidney damage.

Although common in American foods, the substances are severely restricted in Europe. Both are banned for use in the European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Former USDA food chief Dr. Darin Detwiler told DailyMail.com that “the controversy over Stove Top Stuffing — a beloved Thanksgiving side dish that has been banned in many countries — perfectly illustrates the challenges and contradictions in global food safety standards.”

‘In the United States, the ‘Generally Recognized as Safe’ (GRAS) system allows companies to determine for themselves whether food additives are safe.

“This system, designed to streamline innovation, often bypasses rigorous, independent safety testing.

‘By contrast, countries in the European Union (EU) and Canada require much stricter approval processes before placing food additives on the market, prioritizing consumer safety over industry convenience.’

While in the USStove Top Stuffing contains BHA and BHT, for European, Canadian and other markets, Dr. Detwiler says, “similar products eliminate these chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives or a shorter shelf life.”

Hob filling iIt is only distributed in the United States.

The FDA considers BHA and BHT safe for use in processed foods in limited quantities, at the approved levels a maximum level of 0.02 percent, or 200 parts per million.

A spokesperson for the Kraft Heinz company told DailyMail.com that the ‘FDA has extensively reviewed the ingredients and determined them to be safe for people to eat’ and ‘for more than 50 years, Stove Top Stuffing has been a trusted family meal favorite ‘.

Although many reports claim that Stove Top Stuffing has been banned in other countries, a spokesperson for the product told this website that this is not the case (stock image)

In support of Kraft Heinz, Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the Consumer Brands Association, told DailyMail.com that the trade association “works closely with the FDA to ensure ingredients in consumer packaged goods are safe for consumers.”

Ms. Gallo continued, “The food and beverage industry adheres to the strict scientific and evidence-based safety standards established by the FDA, which rigorously protect America’s food supply to deliver the products consumers depend on every day.

“Both BHA and BHT are considered safe by the FDA’s review program.”

Ms. Gallo expressed concern that advocacy groups decry products like Stove Top Stuffing because “demonizing convenience foods could limit access to and avoidance of nutritious foods, resulting in reduced nutritional quality, increased risk of food-related transmitted diseases, increased food waste and worsening food waste. health disparities’.

Dr. However, Detwiler says more needs to be done to ensure stricter regulations around food products in the US.

He said: ‘As we see at Stove Top Stuffing, some manufacturers only reformulate products when forced to do so by foreign regulations.

‘This underlines the need for companies to adopt higher internal standards rather than relying solely on regulatory requirements.

“Transparency, independent testing and voluntary elimination of controversial additives are steps companies can – and should – take to rebuild consumer confidence.”