What Foods are Banned in France?

I got to thinking about what foods are banned in France, because of other countries banning some French foods. Particularly cheese. I am aware of a few types of foods not allowed in to the France, but not the specifics. So I thought I would research and share what I find. It’s really a curiously interesting topic. And oh, so wonderfully French. Let’s discover…

Cheese Glorious Cheese

So this curiosity all came about because part of my job when guiding guests is providing a pairing of cheeses with wines. Did you know there are something like a thousand cheeses in France?! And a good chunk of these are unpasteurised. This means they aren’t sent outside of France, particularly with regards English speaking countries. (But consider it a good excuse to come here.)

The French like unpasteurised because it’s long been held here that raw milk is good for you. Multiple studies of French food, and particularly cheese and wine, confirms this, as there is an enzyme (alkaline phosphatases) in unpasteurised cheese that is good for the gut. But if you pasteurise, it kills that enzyme. Besides this, it’s also a matter of taste, with the argument that raw milk products have a stronger flavour, eg taste better.

Banned Foods

Most, if not all, countries have issues and queries about foods from other countries. What they will allow in and what they won’t. Some are differences of opinion on what is healthy, like being unpasteurised, some simply politics.

Many foods that are banned in France are based on certain elements that some countries add. In example: Red dye 40, BHA (found in many snacks and baked goods) and BHT (in processed meats and cereals), any products from growth hormone fed dairy cows, Ractopamine (an animal feed additive). In fact, all animal products from the USA are banned in France due to the variety of treatments and additives. I knew about this ban, but did not know the reason why. So now we do.

Pesticides

Many pesticides are banned in France, particularly in food crops, but also now in green urban spaces, and even cemeteries. In 2008 there was a big push to reduce chemical intervention by half in agriculture. In 2018 France was the first to ban neonicotinoid pesticides, which are harmful to pollinators. And since2018, research has intensified on biodiversity, sustainability and eco-friendly agriculture.

This does not mean that France is perfect. Far from it. It is still weirdly one of the largest producers of pesticides, which are then sent to other countries to use. Such are the loopholes of business. And many of the imported fruits and vegetables have been found to have traces of banned pesticides, which does result in a recall.

GMOs

Europe allows only one genetically modified crop, maize (corn). And within Europe, each country determines what they will authorise or not. France has a none at all take on GMO crops, banning all since 2008. However, there is a caveat that some GMO foods are imported for livestock, so another loophole.

There are arguments for and against genetic modifying, but in general in Europe GMOs are seen to have little advantage to agricultural crops against potential risks.

Vegetarian Food

No vegetarian food is not banned in France. Lol. Though it is predominantly a meat eating nation, it does have vegetarian food. What they ban is certain labelling of vegetarian foods. Such as the use of words such as steak, ham, rib, sausage, etc when applied to vegetarian food. In other words, vegetarian food producers cannot use words typically associated with meat as a description. It is felt (by the meat producers) that this causes confusion.

By the way, if you are a vegetarian (or vegan) and want to know more about this aspect of food in France, have a read of my Vegetarian post.

Bread

I would be remis if I didn’t at least make a mention of bread. Not in the context of being banned, far from it. This is about France after all, the largest consumer of bread in the world. But rather on what goes into that bread. And a good portion of that is the flour, as in what type of flour. It’s a flour that is higher in protein but lower in gluten. A healthier flour if you will.

Compared to most western nations, the French population as a whole has lower rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, IBS, and, more recently discovered, celiac disease. These are particularly attributable to the types of flour and process in making bread in France. But also, one can argue, due to a generally overall healthier lifestyle that pervades the countries culture.

French Food

France is not perfect, but it certainly is stricter. And not always for the right reasons. But ultimately, as a food consumer, I can say that fresh food I purchase here tastes better. And, I generally feel healthier when eating here, versus other countries, both in what I make at home, but also eating out.

And I am not alone in thinking this. I regularly have the comment from my guests that they find food has more taste here, and/or they have less health issues from what they eat here. Such as gluten intolerant, yet find they can eat bread in France. So there must be something in the quality of food ingredients as a whole. I for one, am rather glad that France is working, harder than most, on trying to keep their foods healthier.

More French Finds

If you enjoy my research and musings on France, check out more in my French Findings.

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