Some American foods are so unhealthy law enforcement in the UK confiscates it from small resellers

Oct 19, 2025 2:40 AM

LaughingMan2Gig

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18064

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421

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@ButThisisntAboutMe

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This is in my town lol weird to see this has travelled so far lol

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

looked kinda like she "seized it" then took it home

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 5

Good job, however show the distributor getting raided too. Finish the job

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Are you assuming they are not going after them or dodging miss something?

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The brain worm claimed he cared about this stuff and then got sidetracked by some chemtrails making the frogs gay.

5 months ago | Likes 89 Dislikes 6

No matter what they say they're doing, remember: This is a foreign operation to destroy the united states from within, and dismantle everything so we can never be a global super power center again. Also, they like it when we have to suffer, and they definitely want us all to die.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

one should expect that the large resellers are not allowed to carry this stuff, either. but if it is American and banned how does it get into the shops at all?

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Why yes, I'm a snack inspector. All of this will have to go.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

EDTA is in practically every sauce, salad dressings etc in the US.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

They just assert that it causes cancer but AFIAK there is no reputable source for this claim whatsoever.

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 4

EDTA exhibits low acute toxicity with LD₅₀ (rat) of 2.0 g/kg to 2.2 g/kg. It has been found to be both cytotoxic and weakly genotoxic in laboratory animals. Oral exposures have been noted to cause reproductive and developmental effects.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylenediaminetetraacetic_acid#Side_effects

Cytotoxic = causes damage or death of living cells, Genotoxic = damage the genetic information within a cell causing mutations, which may lead to cancer

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It's quite alarming that none of the comments here seem to be 'oh shit why do they allow this shit on US shelves' rather than doubting the classification based somehow on particular chemicals presence in medicine or blaming sodding xenophobia. You are a mad bunch

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

This … is for real ? Wow

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

When you build a nation with one of the core principles being that regulation is bad, and profit is all that matters, you do get cancer soda and candy. That's a small price to pay for a select few to be able to get obscenely rich, right?

5 months ago | Likes 41 Dislikes 7

Dont forget the lead in the milk.

5 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

I'm actually glad the FDA is finally taking steps to ban that crap in our food in the US.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Loads of salt, loads of sugar. I get it. We are stupid monkeys that will overload on nutrients until it hurts us if given the choice.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

yeah, hey fellow Americans, just stay away from Shasta or Mt Dew, or any sugary sodas, even Zero Sugar is pretty bad

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I had a zero sugar iced tea the other day that made my mouth and throat drier after having a swig than it was before that swig. Absolutely bizarre and a giant Do Not Recommend on lipton iced tea.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Are they hiring?

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I've seen other reports like this more directly targeting distributors. Be it candy, wrongly labelled or stolen meat products or veggies with high levels of toxins. I don't believe shops are totally unaware, but they can be under pressure from gangs but regardless it's still their responsibility to not sell crap.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

This is a bit misleading. EDTA is allowed in many European products, but is under review pending scientific study: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/call/call-data-re-evaluation-calcium-disodium-edta-e-385-food-additive

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

UK is not part of EU.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Just checked my Mt.Dew bottle here in Canada, it has "Calcium Disodium EDTA".

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

But I have my foreskin so I’m safe from these harmful snacks

5 months ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

Better check to make sure there's not a Tylenol tucked in there somewhere.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Oh shit!!! I’m fucked!

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Why we need regulations and science and tests? SO YOU DON'T FUCKING DIE!

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I honestly love imgur for the comments on nuanced topics like such. A good government must, as a side effect, inflict pain. <- This is a bold statement that may have a lot of push back. Sometimes when we know better we do better, but we can feel like it's a removal of a freedom if the government removes those choices. I know in America from time to time I'm eating things like they are removing, I can say I know it's unhealthy but I continue. This is the duality, they should be banned, I think.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

EDTA - also good for cleaning dialysis machines

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

These things are largely political. “Oh my god, did you hear American chocolate can’t be sold in Europe!” Etc. A lot of times the reverse is also true. Different countries have different laws (shock! Horror!). The easiest example is “American cheese” which often gets vilified as “plastic” and so on and breathlessly talked about as “not legally cheese” but is just cheese melted together with an acid (usually citric acid) to make it melt smoother when re melted

5 months ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 6

The same citric acid you can buy off the shelf to make the same gooey cheese.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"American cheese" is usually a young cheddar or colby. You're talking about that golden yellow "Processed Cheese Product" that is often synonymous with American cheese but doesn't actually say that on the label.

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Or at least not only "American cheese", they have to say like "Cheese Product" even if they're leaning on "American" for marketing. So outside of the deli section you see a lot of "American cheese product" but the good stuff is just pasteurized cheese, not product.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

These "cheese products" also often contains lactose, while actual aged cheeses don't (in significant amounts).

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Plot twist. She took all those bags home

5 months ago | Likes 66 Dislikes 9

Almost definitely. Cops always keep the contraband.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

They said ‘to be destroyed’. They didn’t say how.

5 months ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 1

That's good police work there Lou, if you want to convince Americans that the UK is a totalitarian Society. Which of course Trump would never do.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

FWIW mineral oil is very good at cleaning oil based stains and finishes. It's also good at cleaning a wood surface before putting those stains and whatnot on. It sure as hell doesn't smell like something I'd want to drink and you just know that they check for it in the UK because it's legal in the USA.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

It's legal almost everywhere if it's food grade. In the EU the amount is limited by statute, in the US it's limited by the market because using too much gives you runny shits. The UK is an outlier in banning its use completely.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Haha I use it as a laxative, and to oil my cutting boards

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Ok, that makes me feel better about getting it on my hands

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Considering how they are not going to the supplier and stop them and instead raid small shops, this feels like corrupt UK cops just "legally" stealing snacks instead wanting to stop the product at the border.
I mean look at her, she is most likely to "destroy" that "contraband" all by her self.

Its weird how the UK police seems to focus on all the wrong things. Raiding small businesses and stopping thought crimes, and OMG IS THAT A UK FLAG on your wall ?!?... but child grape gangs walk free.

5 months ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 9

First, how do you know they don't do that? Supplier might be their next stop in the day for all you know.

Secondly, many of these small stores buy patches of stuff directly from the US and just have it shipped to them directly. So there might not even be a supplier to go after in the UK.

Lastly, the illegal items are already on the shelves to be sold to public. I think it's proper to remove them before they are sold to people.

5 months ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

Because she bemoaned the fact that "it's terrible that we don't get the supplier of these things". She admitted in this clip that they don't. Which you'd know if you watched the entire thing. She states it matter-of-fact.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 6

Yes, I did hear that. She says it indicating just what I said. No supplier in he UK to confront, they directly get the stuff from the US.

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Seems like a completely wasted effort that hurts the wrong people if they're just looting the stock over and over, rather than finding out who the shops' suppliers are and then going after them. Presumably the supplier is violating a variety of laws by both purchasing and distributing banned substances, maybe even illegally importing them so they can sell at higher profits?

5 months ago | Likes 204 Dislikes 11

THE CRUELTY IS THE POINT.

They want small businesses to die, so only large corporations exist.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 5

If you watched even halfway through the lady agrees with your statement and says "we need to tackle this at import", because it does hurt small businesses that she feels "genuinely sorry for".

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

You'll be hard pushed to find a reputable confectionery wholesaler who will carry this stuff. There's a demand, and the shop keepers don't give a fuck, they'll order it from elsewhere and see if they can get away with it. Trading Standards is under resourced like everyone else, good chance they won't catch you unless they hear about it.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

This isn't a 'no fault' scenario where the vendors are concerned IMO. They source, order, pay for, and sell the products in question, no one's tied their hands and forced them to order from a distributor selling them prohibited food.

5 months ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

What are the chances the supplier is a random online shop and out the reach of local law?

5 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

Extremely unlikely, as the cost to the shop would be enormous, and they wouldn't be able to make a profit after that. They need a local supplier such that the shipping/import costs aren't sky high.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

But those people are rich capitalists and the purpose of cops is to protect capital

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

You hit the importers and they lose a tiny % of their profits. Hit the retailers that lose a bigger % and then the retailers stop buying from the shady importers.

That's the theory anyway.

5 months ago | Likes 37 Dislikes 1

Which is just typical. The importers can absorb the cost unless you fine them into oblivion. The little retailers end up going out of business. Like I understand (even though i do love me some Cheetos) but there has to be a better way to handle this.

5 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

While I agree, and it’s easy for a small time shop keeper unwittingly get stocks that may be contraband, but ultimately the responsibility still lies with the retailer that exchanges goods and services for money.

5 months ago | Likes 46 Dislikes 6

Right... The supplier would be that retailer. I doubt they're buying directly from Hershey's and Frito-Lay

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

The shop, the supplier, and all the middlemen along the supply chain. They are all responsible. Every business entity at every transaction boundary has an independent responsibility to vet the goods they sell to their clients.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Ya the retailer doesn't care until their items are taken at a loss. This is the only way to make sure these items aren't on the shelves, the person buying the items knew, 100% that they were contraband so feel sorry for them all you want but the retail store is the best place to check. Doesn't take long to make sure an American thing that is banned is using the right stuff. Doesn't help the USA is poisoning it's citizens for profits

5 months ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 2

It's interesting that they call out ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), but the Wikipedia article says it has low toxicity and is used in medicine in several ways, including intravenous injections, and also in cosmetics. It doesn't mention that it's prohibited anywhere, which it typically would do, if it were. On the surface, given this presentation, the video smells a little bit like sensationalism for the sake of xenophobia.

5 months ago | Likes 53 Dislikes 10

As a food additive yes, but not in flavored drinks according to this website: https://www.coventry.gov.uk/food-safety/food-standards/3

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

It’s a buffer. I doubt that it’s carcinogenic. My critical thinking senses are tingling.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

Yeah, medicine and food industry are indeed totally diferent industries. It is OK in medicine but not okay for human consumption.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Appears it's specifically restricted in UK and EU beverages

5 months ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

It seems to be generally allowed in the UK, according to this. However, I don't know what "foods covered by regulation " and "food supplements as defined in " refer to, so it may be that beverages don't qualify. 🤷 https://data.food.gov.uk/regulated-products/novel_authorisations/novel-58

5 months ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

If this is such a big problem, how is the food getting so far as to get on shelves? Are distributers not checking the legality of what they import? Is there no licensing requirements for these distributers? Is enforcement lax because there's no funding? If it's true, somebody isn't doing their job.

5 months ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 3

My guess is that it's legal in the USA and some small shops in the UK try to save money by selling it there.

5 months ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

Save money? Like, it's cheaper to import snacks than buy from domestic wholesalers?

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Yes. If they do it properly they don't even have to pay taxes.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Read the "side effects" part of the wikipedia article. It's weakly genetoxic which means it might be carcinogenetic.

But evidence is so low it doesn't call for outright ban. Only where it's use is not needed and also where people might get large dose of it, like drinks. As it is just a colour preservative.

5 months ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

The study wikipedia cites there specifically says it is genetoxic but not carcinogenic.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

No. It doesn't say it isn't carcinogenetic. It says that a study from 1977 with 240 rats and 240 mice found no statistically significant trend in cancers between the groups.

That doesn't say it isn't carcinogenetic, just that it isn't highly carcinogenetic.

There are studies that show EDTA can cause cancers, like this one: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84571-5

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Fent is used as a medical tool, something having one use doesn't eliminate it from being a danger. My guess is kids downing 20 sodas and two bags of candy a day might jack up the amount of toxicity. Wiki clearly doesn't have the right data because it is banned.

5 months ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 2

Or the ban is political rather than backed by science.

5 months ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 6

It could be, it could be a bunch of things. Generally you'd put some kind of context to this, instead of the vague "it could be" and "i don't go to politicians for medical help" so you're like super against the current admin in the US right?

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

If it were political, the ban could be challenged in the EU court. It hasn't been challenged.

5 months ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 3

When I look for scientific consensus, politicians and lawyers are not who I ask.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 3

You should respond to the paper that was posted telling you that its not the lawyers or politicians, you made the claim it could be political and you got evidence showing you different. Respond, or just admit your cowardice.

5 months ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

you can tell its zenophobia when they specifically state that they are looking for the packages being written in english.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 16

I avoid purchasing anything with palm oil due to the deforestation involved in its production. If I can't read the ingredients on the packet, how am I to avoid buying it? Not necessarily why they're doing this but there can be legitimate reasons. The bigger issue is the suppliers selling unregulated goods to small shops, but of course the cops won't go after them.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

This is the same kind of bullshit that anti vax people use. "Oh no, I dont understand the ingredients in this vaccine, I dont want it in my body" is all I'm getting here. Dont get me wrong, companies will hide some of the gnarly shit in their products, but just because you dont understand it doesnt mean its bad. And even if you DO understand it, its not always bad.

You know apples have cyanide in them, right?

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 6

I'm well fucking aware, just like I'm well aware the cyanide's actually in the seeds mate. But being able to scan something for certain things I know I don't want in them is not the same as being hysterical over the various additives and preservatives that are labelled blandly.

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

then I imagine you know most of this?

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 5

Are you slightly dumb? They look for English because it is sold in the UK where they speak English. Imported food needs to have the ingredient and allergens listed in the local language.

5 months ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I meant they look for packages to be removed if they arent in english.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 4

Yes, I get that. Again: "Imported food needs to have the ingredient and allergens listed in the local language." Which I find pretty obvious. The ingredient list is there for a reason, that reason is foiled when the customer can't read it.

5 months ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

In europe (uk to?!) you must sell items with the official language. Foreign products have often a sticker in local language so foreign products cant hide the ingredents. Its a matter of transperancy.

5 months ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Huh, I suppose thats something, somehow, more open than the UK when it comes to foreign languages. There generally isnt a law that requires you to sell in english. In fact, some have 2-3 languages aside form english on the packaging. Didnt think America would be more progressive in much of anything over UK.

5 months ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 3