How the nutrition of popular US foods compare to UK versions

So much for a happy meal.

The quality of ultraprocessed American food – especially President-elect Donald Trump’s favorite Big Mac -Thanks Receiving New Inquiry Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by Trump. To lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy has made headlines for calling Legal food additive “poison” and criticizing Ingredients in Froot LoopsBut long before there were presidential campaigns, sites like Food Babe existed highlighting worrying differences In American ultraprocessed foods versus their foreign counterparts.

The Post took a look at the nutrition labels of three US foods – baked beans, tomato sauce and peanut butter – comparing their ingredients, calories, fat and salt amounts to similar UK products to see whether We’re being royally spoiled.

We also put together nutrition information for a McDonald’s Big Mac and Pret A Manger’s egg salad sandwich — and surprisingly, even the seemingly similar products weren’t exactly the same.

darrin detwilerAn assistant teaching professor of food policy at Northeastern University told The Post that he is unable to eat some American foods, such as bread, because of processing. But they have no problem eating bread in Amsterdam and other parts of Europe.

Passengers have noted on social media what they have lost weight by going to EuropeEven when eating seemingly “unhealthy” foods like bread and cheese. And while it may be that they travel more on your holidays – or eating smaller portion sizes – Many have speculated that the difference depends on the quality of the food they are served.

So is the American diet really that bad compared to other countries? Detwiler calls it “different.”

“American companies make food that is suitable for the average healthy American adult, while we have many vulnerable populations – the very young, the elderly, those with weakened immune systems and those who are pregnant,” Detwiler said.

“When it comes to why you don’t see certain ingredients in foods in Canada or Europe, it’s because [the companies there are] Basing it on more vulnerable victims, said Detwiler, who has advised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “And if you’re responsible to all the people, you look at the idea that your bottom line needs the most attention.”

Europe is asked to take a More cautious approach towards food safety compared to the US, which has a Federal “loophole” It allows food companies to determine which substances are “generally recognized as safe.”

Over 10,000 chemicals and additives While it is allowed in American food EU bus allows More than 300 food additives.

For example, EU bans titanium dioxide Excess concerns in food can damage DNA. In response to the 2022 move, American candy company Mars reformulated its Skittles Recipe to remove coloring agent For sale in Europe. titanium dioxide is Still an ingredient in US Skittles since its FDA approved,

“I don’t understand why it is that American companies are OK with making and distributing healthy versions of their cereal boxes or whatever to Canada and the EU, but not doing so here in the United States. Are?” Detwiler was surprised. “To me, it’s problematic, and I think there will be some questions that will be raised and addressed about why are we allowing companies to do this?”

These questions come from more than 40% of American adults and nearly 20% of American children. are obeseNot coincidentally, ultraprocessed foods – which are loaded with calories, sugar, salt and fat – make up about 60% Typical American adult diet.

even between obesity epidemicDetwiler and other experts say RFK Jr. faces an uphill battle within the industry and among consumers in making sweeping changes to the ingredients in American food.

“It’s definitely going to be challenging. I mean, we’ve definitely created a monster with the sugary and processed food options that we have,” jamie maitlandCertified Holistic Nutritionist, Author “21 Day Reset Cookbook” and founder of office healthtold The Post.

Maitland attributes the resistance to change to cultural traditions, preferences, and convenience, noting that American “foods are often mass-produced, designed to have a long shelf life, to have a low cost, Which leads to more complex ingredient lists that are unfortunately full of preservatives, artificial flavors.”

Sotiria EverettThe clinical assistant professor at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine hopes the latest discussion about the American diet will raise awareness about the foods we eat.

“Most people don’t read labels. They eat something simply because something written on the front of the package might make a statement or claim that interests them, [like] ‘Source of vitamin C’ or ‘whole grains,” Everett said. “But when you actually turn that package over and see that while there are whole grains, there are also 40 grams of sugar, so it’s not the best choice.”

Here’s a look at the nutritional value of five popular American foods and their UK counterparts.

Baked Beans

quantity 100 grams Bush’s Original Baked Beans It has about three dozen more calories, almost twice as many carbs, sodium and sugar and almost four times as much fat. Heinz Baked Beans from UK,

One major difference between the two products is that Bush beans are in a bacon and brown sugar mixture, while Heinz beans are in tomato sauce.