Many foods used to be dressed up as cures. It could be tiredness or an upset stomach, even bad blood, whatever that means. But many of these foods were banned when health officials looked closer. Here are twelve foods that were treated as health remedies & later banned. Which one surprises you the most?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Calamus bitters
Calamus root was something manufacturers used to include in bitters & candies. They promised it would calm people’s stomachs. However, lab studies tied its compounds to tumors in test animals. This pushed the FDA to prohibit it from being used in foods & Calamus vanished from our food. But some manufacturers still use it in some health products in Europe.
Tonka beans
Tonka beans smell like a beautiful mix of vanilla & almond. Bakers used to put these beans in puddings & chocolates, as many people thought they were calming. Some said they were a gentle digestive. But they’re loaded with coumarin, which can seriously affect your liver, and that’s why American law banned them in 1954.
Raw apricot kernels
Health shops used to push raw apricot kernels as a natural cancer fighter. In fact, some people included them in smoothies or ate them straight. But they’re not as good as they seem. They actually contain a compound that releases cyanide in your body, so in 2015, Australia & New Zealand banned them as food products. They’re seen more like poison than a snack.
Calabash chalk
Pregnant women in some cultures chew calabash chalk to ease nausea. The chalk looks like lumps of clay. But tests in the UK uncovered high levels of lead & arsenic, which made it incredibly dangerous. The authorities then started seizing it. They had to put out warnings that it was definitely not safe for treating morning sickness.
Konjac mini-cup jellies
Konjac jelly is essentially tiny, fruit-flavored cups & dieters liked them because they were low in calories. However, the jelly doesn’t dissolve easily, so several kids choked on it. The United States then put them on an import alert list. Now, they can’t legally be sold here anymore. Most people don’t realize that jelly could be dangerous, but it turns out, it can be.
Horse meat
Eating horse meat sounds pretty crazy now. But back in the 1940s & 50s, advertisers claimed horse meat was lean and full of protein, so they encouraged people to use it as a ‘healthier’ beef alternative. That’s partially true. But by 2007, Congress pulled funding for inspections of horse slaughterhouses. No inspections meant no legal sales, so the market disappeared.
Turtle eggs
Turtle eggs used to be promoted as a natural way to build strength & stamina. People would eat them openly in coastal regions, and sometimes in parts of America. That was until endangered species laws tightened. The FDA shut down the collection and sale of these eggs. And honestly, rightly so, since we should really try to protect these animals.
Red yeast rice
In the 1990s, red yeast rice was a trend after it was marketed as a “natural cholesterol fighter.” Health stores stocked it as an easy option for people who didn’t want prescription meds. But the catch? It contained monacolin K, which is the same active ingredient found in statin drugs. The FDA stepped in and said that makes it an unapproved drug. It legally wasn’t food anymore.
Ephedra-root bars
Many energy bars used to brag about how they had ephedra root. They claimed it would help burn fat or keep you awake longer, and for a while, the hype sold. But then reports of strokes & heart attacks came in. Even claims of high blood pressure linked back to those products, so in 2004, the FDA pulled the plug on all ephedra foods & supplements.
Synsepalum dulcificum
“Miracle fruit” is a little berry that makes sour foods taste sweet. It had a run in American health shops as a way to cut sugar cravings without using sugar. Everything changed in 2011, though. The FDA flagged shipments from Taiwan and issued an import alert. Weirdly, though, the ban only applies to Taiwan, so you can still import it, just not from there.
Trans-fat margarines
Butter had a bad reputation for many years, so margarine with partially hydrogenated oils was pitched as the healthy switch. Many ads promised it was better for your heart. However, the problem was that trans fats caused their own heart issues. The FDA banned it in 2015. By 2018, foods with industrial trans fats were almost entirely gone from grocery shelves.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.