The ingredients in this Thanksgiving meal have been linked to cancer

A popular Thanksgiving side dish served in millions of homes each year is banned across Europe — and not because Europeans are so jealous of our delicious holiday spread.

Stove Top Stuffing, the instant boxed mix that’s cemented itself as a must-have accompaniment to turkey, contains two ingredients that are off-limits in many developed countries.

One doctor told The Post that the ingredients are known human carcinogens and can cause other health problems — and they’re actually in a lot more foods than people realize.

Invented by Ruth M. Siems and introduced by General Foods in 1972, the recipe for stove top stuffing was so unique that it was patented—and quickly became a fan favorite. A Kraft Foods spokesman told the New York Times in 2005 that it sells 60 million boxes of it each year on Thanksgiving.

The turkey version is a mixture of bread, high fructose corn syrup, salt, onion, turkey, celery, and parsley—and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), two chemicals manufactured by humans that are used as flavor enhancers and food preservatives. extend lifespan.

And although BHA and BHT are completely legal in the US – and actually appear in countless processed foods such as snacks, cereals, processed meats, chewing gum and butter – they are banned in the UK, EU and Japan.

BHA, in particular, is a known carcinogen, even in the United States – meaning it is known to increase the risk of cancer.

“A lot of countries have much stricter rules about what’s allowed in food,” Dr. Neha Pathak, MD, who serves on the WebMD Medical Team. She compared the US approach to food ingredients as “innocent until proven guilty”.

However, she added, there is growing evidence that BHA and BHT are harmful, with an increased risk of cancer topping the list of concerns.

“These types of preservatives are banned in the European Union and mainly because of the risk of cancer,” she said. “The risk of cancer is something of concern and certainly reasonably predictable based on the studies we have.

“There are many animal studies showing that high doses can cause tumor development in rats and rodents. It is classified as a reasonably anticipated human carcinogen.”

This is not the only cause for concern. Dr. Pathak said chemicals can also be endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with our hormonal functioning, affecting reproductive or developmental health.

“We’re still studying what that means in terms of endocrine disruption specifically,” she said. “We know it can interfere with the way our hormones talk to different parts of our body. Is it fertility, is it early menstruation? We are still trying to understand exactly what these downstream effects will be.’

There is also a risk of allergic reactions that can cause skin rashes or hypersensitivity responses, she added.

So does this mean you should ditch your beloved filling as soon as possible? The answer is complicated. Dr. Pathak pointed out that 70% of American diets are made up of ultra-processed foods, so the stuffing you eat one day a year is only a small part of the problem.

“We’re eating a lot of these types of foods and BHA, BHT are not just in the stove top,” she said.

“We have to be very careful about what we buy and put in our bodies throughout the year. This is just one example to highlight the types of chemicals that are unfortunately found in many of our ultra-processed foods.”

In fact, Dr. Pathak admitted that she eats ultra-processed food in her home, but said everyone should pay more attention to the ingredients on the back of the pack – and called for higher-level action to remove ingredients from harmful. of food supply.

A spokesperson for the Stove Top brand told The Post, “For more than 50 years, Stove Top Stuffing has been a trusted favorite at family dinner tables. Each box is carefully crafted, following the same high quality standards we use in each of our brands, while also exceeding the strict safety guidelines set by government agencies. We will serve our families with pride this Thanksgiving.

Dr. Pathak said don’t drive yourself crazy thinking you have to eliminate it from your table this year.

“We can’t necessarily judge ourselves and be stressed about everything we’re putting on our plate. It takes more time than some of us,” she said.

“But it’s important to recognize that 70% of what we’re putting into our bodies is ultra-processed. [and ask ourselves,] are there some things we can start to eliminate and remove so we can eat a safer and healthier diet?”