The US Banned These Chinese Food Exports For Good Reason
__________________ Jon Gardocki
When individuals mention that they don’t eat one food or another for whatever reason, the explanations are various. They may be genetically predisposed to disliking certain flavors, like cilantro, to having hive-inducing allergic reactions, to memorable yet traumatic childhood experiences. The reasons for food aversions are just as diverse as the foods themselves. However, unlike these examples above, the food is generally considered safe. What may seem perfectly healthy on the surface has some dark secrets on the inside. That’s why we’re telling you to stay away from these banned Chinese foods.
Ginseng
The majority of ginseng widely available in the United States comes courtesy of China. Even as the country exports the product to dozens of customers worldwide, the quality and safety of ginseng are not guaranteed. Greenpeace, who had tested several Chinese ginseng exports, found that each sample had varying levels of pesticides. Worse yet, there was no consistency between models. As expected, these chemicals, regardless of the overall quantity consumed, are dangerous to human health.
Table Salt
Table salt is an expectation for any kitchen and restaurant. However, the “table salt” produced in China should be avoided. Like many other items on this list, table salt processed in China is naturally flawed. Interestingly, as this salt is often tainted with earth metals, Chinese corporations are told to mark their product as “industrial salt” instead of “table salt.” In this fashion, all salt arriving from China is not sold as a “table salt” intended for use in cooking.
Rice Noodles
To make a Chinese dish authentically come to life, it would seem that imported rice noodles would be the “go-to” choice for home and restaurant chefs alike. Sadly, rice noodles produced in China may be infused with sulfur dioxide. This gas may help preserve the lifespan of the noodles, especially during long transport times, but the substance has been known to cause cancer. Therefore, it may be best to support a local Asian market that produces its own rice noodles.
Baby Formula
You may recall that in 2008 there was an international outcry regarding China’s baby formula ingredients. It was discovered that Chinese companies had been including unreasonably high levels of melamine, a product used in plastics, to increase the protein content of their baby formulas. To be fair though, there is also melamine in US-based formulas, but at much lower levels. Unfortunately, these ridiculous levels of melamine in Chinese baby formulas caused kidney stones in children, even causing kidney failure in others. Even Chinese parents don’t trust the local varieties ten years later.
Corn
Corn cultivated in China is frequently enhanced with a white powder known as sodium cyclamate. When added throughout its development, this powder helps enrich and maintain the corn’s deep yellow color while also adding sweetness to its kernels. Despite being allowed in over 170 countries, the United States has banned the substance for its potential cancer-causing effects. Further, when consumed in large quantities, sodium cyclamate may also cause liver damage. We don’t use the substance here, so we can’t blame you if you haven’t heard of it.
Shrimp
Shrimp is the most popular seafood in America, plain and simple. According to a 2018 consumption chart provided by the National Fisheries Institute, the average American eats 4.6 pounds of shrimp per year. With such a great demand for shellfish, the US needs to import nearly 65 percent of its supply. However, there’s danger in this import. According to Rodale’s Organic Life, “Imported shrimp, more than any other seafood, is contaminated with banned chemicals, pesticides, and even cockroaches, and it skirts food-safety authorities only to wind up on your plate.”
Tilapia
As seafoodhealthfacts.org reports, tilapia is the world’s oldest farmed fish. Producers appreciate the hearty fish because of its rapid growth rate and ability to thrive in crowded conditions. Today, it is produced in 130 countries around the world. Nevertheless, according to Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, just three of those countries are raising healthy fish, a leading source of safe seafood information. Seafood Watch advises that consumers stay away from Chinese-raised tilapia due to the illegal use of antibiotics and antimicrobial chemicals used during the fish’s development. Water pollution is also a red flag for potentially harmful Chinese tilapia.
Cabbage
Chinese farmers often have no choice but to ensure profitable crop production, regardless of current weather conditions. For example, cabbage will become wilted and largely inedible during the blistering hot summer months. Therefore, farmers spray their cabbage with a formalin solution to maintain the product’s freshness. Formalin, a substance containing formaldehyde and other chemicals used in household disinfectants, is highly toxic to the human body. Ingestion or contact with this chemical will cause skin and respiratory tract irritation and burns and possibly cause dizziness or suffocation. That said, formalin does maintain the cabbage’s aesthetic freshness.
Canned Peaches
Peaches that come from a can may taste delicious, but that’s because they’re loaded with excess sugar. But that’s not the real problem with the canned fruit coming from China. During an investigation by Australian officials, researchers discovered that the peach cans coming out of China contained twice the amount of the legally allowed lead. Over time, this element would saturate the peach syrup, ultimately leading to lead poisoning. Those with lead poisoning can expect bouts of poor appetite, constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, shock, muscle weakness, memory problems, and kidney problems.
Canned Tuna
Cans of tuna from China are (unsurprisingly) also contaminated with lead, just like their peaches. But that’s not all. The general issues of Chinese farm-raised fish reappear here. Like tilapia, the farmed tuna are raised in inhospitable environments. Overcrowding, waters saturated with questionable growth hormones, antibiotics, and antimicrobials, and diets composed of animal farm waste greatly diminish the quality of the fish, let alone its safe consumption. Like before, the fish itself and the time spent inside a can drastically detract from its value.
Oil
Although some oils produced in China are safe, an industry-wide absence of food safety precautions and laws allows corporate greed to disregard basic decency. In other words, Chinese oil manufacturers get away with some nasty practices. For example, companies will steal used cooking oil from restaurants, sometimes taking it from the sewer, boiling the oil mixture, and filtering the end product to be resold as “new.” Some of the cheapest companies will take rotten animal carcasses from slaughterhouses, boil the fat out of the meat and bone, and filter and sell the commodity again. Truly gross practices.
Cod
Whether fried, grilled, or baked, cod is an excellent low-fat source of protein. Sadly, these members of the whitefish family are raised in inhumane conditions. It’s common for Chinese farm-raised cod to be held in highly cramped swimming quarters littered with sewage, chemical runoff, garbage, and other things. Further, like all the seafood and fish mentioned before, these cod are subjected to dangerous and toxic conditions. It’s best to avoid these foreign-born fish as consuming their meat will undoubtedly transfer these harmful substances into your system.
Mushrooms
China is notorious for its contaminated mushrooms. For starters, cheaper varieties are frequently mislabeled in order to fetch a higher asking price. This practice is also accomplished by falsely stating that specific crops are certified “organic.” In reality, they are not. Secondly, like many items exported from China, their mushrooms absorb the often illegal and unhealthy pesticides used during growth. US-based food inspectors have noticed these trends for years. It’s best to find locally sourced mushrooms instead.
Lamb
Chinese consumers are humbled to consume foods that many Americans wouldn’t dare touch. Items like silkworms, bird’s nest soup, scorpions, turtle shell jelly, fried seahorse, and bat soup are unsurprising dishes. That last one is just a bowl of broth with an entire cooked bat placed inside – wings, talons, and all. Odd. Nevertheless, lamb purchased in China may not be what you bought. In 2013, 900 Chinese sellers were arrested as they were passing off rat meat as lamb meat.
Tea
China cultivates, processes, and consumes a great deal of tea. With millions of pounds of tea leaves being dried and used in teas year-round, one might reasonably assume that Chinese teas are a generally safe bet. Unfortunately, that mindset can be dangerous. Thankfully, Chinese teas are largely forbidden from being sold to international customers, but that doesn’t mean some bags won’t make it to foreign grounds. It’s important to stay cognizant if you’re a tea-drinker, as these leaves may have been treated with as many as 30 toxic chemicals.
Wine
Brands like Screaming Eagle, Penfolds Grange Hermitage, Château d’Yquem, Cheval Blanc St-Emilion, and Chateau Lafite are some of the world’s most recognized and luxurious wine brands. Although a few Chinese brands have since joined the ranks of “world’s best,” China is famous for its knock-offs made with artificial flavors, dyes, and added sugar. Jeremy Oliver, an Australian wine critic, believes that 50 percent of all Chinese wines over $35 are “bogus.” Chinese wine may be on the safer side of foods and drinks covered here, but that doesn’t mean they’re authentic…or even worth the money.
Milk
As an expansion of the 2008 melamine baby formula tragedy, the Chinese milk industry added melamine to its dairy products for enhanced protein content. As expected, humans young and old also felt the toxic effects of this unsafe inclusion. Aside from the kidney failure found in infants, individuals were known to have suffered from chronic kidney inflammation, bladder carcinoma, and nephrolithiasis – more commonly known as kidney stones. Consumers still refuse to re-adopt these Chinese products into their diets.
Pork
China is the number one consumer of pork worldwide. In 2012, the country consumed over 53 million metric tons of the bovine, accounting for more than half of global pork consumption. One reason for this mass adoption is that beef is nearly twice as expensive as pork. Some may prefer pork, but beef is still a luxury purchase. Therefore, to help sell the cheaper stuff, producers are adding borax additives to their pork meat to help better it more aesthetically resemble beef.
Chicken
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has strict safety procedures for chicken producers. Similarly, China also has a board that defines industry-wide safety procedures, but they are not as heavily enforced. Worse yet, many Chinese chicken farmers are unaware of these safety measures. Therefore, it is not uncommon to hear of poultry suffering from Avian influenza in the eastern region. Further, chickens raised in this region are also known to suffer from heavy metal contamination, harmful pesticide residue, and bacteria like salmonella and campylobacter.
Soy Sauce
Even with its high sodium content, soy sauce, like ketchup and mustard, is likely a cooking and sauce staple in your refrigerator or pantry. From marinades to dipping sauces, soy sauce comes in handy for a wide range of tasty uses. Despite its typically Asian origins, we specifically recommend staying away from Chinese-produced soy sauce. Nearly 25 percent of exported bottles contain a chemical known as 4-Methylimidazole. This substance is known to be potentially carcinogenic in humans.
Eggs
Although American supermarkets have taken initiatives to showcase local farms and farmers, stores still require products from international suppliers. In this instance, we’re talking about chicken eggs from China. When you’re opening up the carton to check for any broken shells and their expiration date, be sure to check its country of origin, as well. Eggs from China may have been harmfully treated with paraffin wax or calcium carbonate. Avoid these two substances to avoid being poisoned.
Green Peas
Peas are one of nature’s most beneficial green vegetables due to their fiber content and antioxidant levels. Unfortunately, green peas imported from China may not be the real thing. Bags labeled “Green Peas” may contain a culmination of green peas, snow peas, and soybeans. Then, these “peas” are treated with preservatives, colors, and bleaches to ensure a longer lifespan and a greener color. A 2010 report found that after opening a bag, “The peas were an unnatural color and had a penetrating odor. After 20 minutes of cooking, the peas did not turn soft but the water turned green.” These initial lies aside, these peas have also been known to contain cancer-causing chemicals.
Apple Juice
Whether you realize it or not, China is one of the world’s largest producers (and consumers) of many food and drink items. Dismally, to keep up with domestic and international demand, shortcuts to cultivation often take precedence over safety. This continues in the world of Chinese apple juice. To keep products “fresh,” pesticides are used throughout the development process. With excessive pesticide use, Chinese apple juice has been found to contain arsenic. Arsenic poisoning can cause irritated throat and lungs, muscle weakness and cramping, skin rashes, and even death.
Watermelon
As an extension of the apple juice example, Chinese watermelon is subjected to unrestricted quantities of pesticides. Again, these pesticides help deter pests, improve the look, feel, and texture of the flesh and skin, and hasten the growing process of these sweet green and red fruits. But one can never be sure what harmful substances each watermelon has picked up along the way to supermarkets near and far. At least here in the United States, we suggest you purchase locally as growing standards are strict and enforced.
Garlic
We can’t stress this point enough – China’s agriculture industry is heavily reliant on pesticide use. This is why many of their homegrown foods are detrimental to our health despite their look and price. Garlic, an item fed mysterious pesticidal chemicals, is yet another food that should be completely avoided. This is especially the case as garlic, when growing, is bombarded from all angles with chemicals. The vegetable is just very absorbent. Any and all substances that come in contact with garlic will be absorbed.
Beef
In Chinese meat shops, flesh from any animal is highly prone to bacteria and cross-contamination. Substandard safety practices and fast turnaround allow more profit to producers and sellers, which is why these acts are encouraged. Additionally, “beef” purchased at the market may not be beef at all. It is not uncommon for similar-looking meats and questionable chemicals to be combined to create a product reminiscent of beef. What you thought was beef was pork modified with several substances.
Rice
Along with rice noodles, one would expect rice from China to be a relatively safe bet, right? Woefully, this is still incorrect. Interestingly, Chinese rice factories will sometimes include a synthetic resin that imitates the look of rice but is just a tiny nodule of plastic. Somehow combining the two is cheaper than selling authentic rice, which is already insanely cheap. Nonetheless, to make this false product even more detrimental, the resins in this tiny plastic are also known to cause cancer.
Black Pepper
Black pepper, in its largely unaltered state, is famous for its numerous health benefits. Black pepper has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, fight cancer, provide anti-inflammatory properties, and is naturally high in antioxidants. But in China, black pepper may not be black pepper. Instead, cheaper stores and producers will pass mud pellets off as black pepper. That’s right, mud from the ground. Next time you purchase a shaker of black pepper, think about its origin.
Frozen Fish
Avoid purchasing frozen fish imported from China if at all possible. The processed fish, much like any of their other farmed fish, are born and raised in inhumane conditions. They are fed pig and goose feces. They are loaded to the gills with antibiotics and antimicrobials. They are lastly raised in waters containing dangerous chemicals like lead and mercury. China may offer some exotic species we do not provide here in the United States, but we suggest you better stay safe rather than sorry.
Sweet Potato Noodles
Korean cuisine is famous for its sweet potato noodles. As sweet potato noodles are quite a bit healthier than rice and yellow noodles, they’re often used in place of them. Buying sweet potato noodles from China is different. China’s Guangdong Province was the scene of several factory scandals a few years ago. Sweet potato noodles were being manufactured using industrial dyes and paraffin wax, according to authorities. In reality, Chinese suppliers of this healthier alternative are doing the exact opposite.
