Health How dangerous is food in the US?

[Maciamo]

I've discussed before (notably here) the difference between American and European food, and in particular how so many food additives, hormones and chemicals typically found in food in the US is banned in Europe and even in countries like China. Here is a video about American food products banned in Europe. It is made by an American who has lived for over 10 years in Britain (and has since become a British citizen).

As is often the case with this kind of videos the comments can be as interesting as the video itself. Here are a few of them.

"This confirmed my preconception that companies in the USA don’t care about the people/animals/environment as long as it makes more money."

"In regards to the chicken (bleaching), I think the best metric of success is infection rates. According to the EU, the entire EU has about 90k salmonella cases each year for a population of about 450 million people. Meanwhile in the US, according to the CDC, there are 1.35 MILLION cases EACH year for a population of about 350 million people. Long term effects of ingesting chlorine aside, I think this shows that the bleaching doesn't really help and seems to rather create unsanitary environments where Salmonella can spread easier."

"Spent most of my life in USA until I left at age 50. I also suffered terrible gastric problems which doctors couldn't identify a cause for. Since moving to EU I no longer suffer any gastric problems. I just assume I'm no longer being poisoned by food."

"Interesting point at the end about having the right to choose. I don’t see how Americans are choosing this unhealthy, sometimes outright poisonous food, it’s not like the two versions are next to each other on the shelf (for the same price). I would rather be able to trust that my food isn’t intentionally poisoning me for the sake of profit for the manufacturer and profit for the health “service” in the country I live."

"I used to host European exchange students and without fail they all would gain 20lbs - 40lbs after living here for a year. They would be so confused because their diets didn't change much. It was just the quality of food being so garbage.

Edit: the pounds would drop after moving back."

"Fun fact: Subway "bread" contains so much sugar that it's classified as cake in Germany."

"When I was camping as a kid, our breakfast cereals got left out overnight by accident. All of the cereals were ripped/chewed open and eaten by (presumably) racoons, rats, and other rodents. All of the cereals were eaten except the fruit loops. NOTHING ate the fruit loops, not even the rats. They were just left in a big pile next to the ripped box. I've never eaten fruit loops since because it made me scared of what might be in them!"

"The thing that vexes me the most about the US food industry is not only their lax safety standards, but their insistence that food producers have the right not to inform consumers about the content of their foods. I have seen enormous effort in the US to prevent mandatory labelling, or create so many exemptions that requirements become pointless. For instance, if you don't make a claim that your product brings a certain health benefit, then you are usually exempt from nutrition labelling in the US.

So, if food producers keep you from finding what it is in the food you are eating, is it really a free choice then? I think not."

 

[Maciamo]

I thought it might be worthwhile to double check what the commenter wrote about salmonella infections being so much more prevalent in the US. Here is what ChatGPT says about it:

Yes, the United States tends to report more Salmonella infections per capita than most European countries. The differences can be attributed to variations in food production, safety practices, and public health reporting systems.

Key Points to Consider:​

1. Incidence Rates:
   • In the U.S., the CDC estimates around 1.35 million Salmonella infections annually, with about 20,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths. This corresponds to a rate of roughly 410 cases per 100,000 people when including underreporting.
   • In Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports significantly lower rates, typically 20-30 confirmed cases per 100,000 people annually, though actual numbers may be higher due to underreporting.
2. Differences in Food Safety Standards:
   • Europe: The European Union has strict food safety regulations, such as requiring vaccination of poultry against Salmonella and extensive monitoring programs in the food production chain.
   • U.S.: While the FDA and USDA enforce food safety measures, Salmonella is not classified as an "adulterant" in raw meat, which allows certain levels of contamination in products like chicken.
3. Cultural and Consumption Practices:
   • The U.S. has higher consumption of undercooked or raw foods (e.g., eggs in raw cookie dough), which are common sources of Salmonella.
   • In Europe, stricter guidelines for handling eggs and poultry may contribute to lower infection rates.
4. Surveillance Systems:
   • Differences in healthcare access and diagnostic practices can influence reporting rates. The U.S. system captures more cases through broader surveillance networks, potentially inflating apparent rates.

Conclusion:
The U.S. experiences higher Salmonella incidence per capita compared to Europe. This disparity highlights the importance of food safety practices and public awareness in preventing infections.

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I followed up asking if they were any other kinds of infection that were much more common in the US than in Europe. Apparently yes.

1. Foodborne Illnesses (General)​

• The U.S. reports higher rates of Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria infections compared to Europe.
  • Factors: Differences in food handling, consumption of undercooked meats, and less stringent food safety regulations in some cases.

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2. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)​

• The U.S. has much higher rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis than most European countries:
  • Chlamydia:
    • U.S.: ~550 cases per 100,000 people annually.
    • Europe: ~180 cases per 100,000 people annually.
  • Factors: Less consistent access to preventive healthcare, higher rates of unprotected sexual activity, and differences in routine STI screening practices.

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3. Antibiotic-Resistant Infections​

• Infections caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)are more common in the U.S. than in most European countries:
  • Factors: Overuse of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture, and variations in infection control practices.

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4. Lyme Disease​

• The U.S. reports significantly more Lyme disease cases:
  • U.S.: ~30,000 confirmed cases annually, with estimates of ~476,000 based on clinical diagnoses.
  • Europe: Rates vary by region but are generally lower.
  • Factors: Differences in tick populations and outdoor activity patterns.

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5. Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) Infections​

• Higher rates of C. diff infections are seen in the U.S. compared to Europe, particularly in healthcare settings:
  • Factors: Frequent use of antibiotics in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

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6. Pertussis (Whooping Cough)​

• Pertussis rates in the U.S. are higher than in Europe:
  • U.S.: ~5-10 cases per 100,000 people.
  • Europe: ~1-2 cases per 100,000 people.
  • Factors: Variability in vaccination coverage and waning immunity from older vaccines used in the U.S.

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7. Obesity-Linked Infections​

• Obesity-related health issues (e.g., diabetes) in the U.S. predispose people to infections like skin infections, urinary tract infections, and post-surgical infections, at higher rates than in Europe.

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Underlying Reasons:​

1. Healthcare Accessibility:
   • Universal healthcare systems in Europe promote preventive care and early detection.
2. Public Health Policies:
   • European countries often have stricter antibiotic use and food safety standards.
3. Cultural and Environmental Factors:
   • Differences in diet, outdoor activity, and population density can influence infection risks.

Efforts to reduce these disparities focus on improving healthcare access, public education, and stricter regulatory policies.