A Cuban woman now living in France has sparked a lively discussion on social media by contrasting the food quality in Europe with that of the United States, where she previously resided. She asserts that her health has significantly improved since making the switch.
The video, shared on TikTok under the handle @anlilg ("Familia2Mundos") on Wednesday, runs for three minutes and 33 seconds. In it, the Cuban woman shares her everyday observations about the food she consumes in France.
The catalyst for her testimony was a simple apple that spoiled in just two days. Rather than seeing this as a problem, she interpreted it as a positive sign: "Look at this from two days ago, look at this apple going bad. What does this mean, my love? It means there are no preservatives, no chemicals in it."
Food Experiences: France vs. the United States
She contrasts this with her experiences in the U.S., where her children couldn't tolerate the skin of apples: "My daughter would eat one with the skin in the United States and would throw up because the skin was awful."
In France, she notes, her children eat the entire fruit without any issues.
The Cuban woman also mentioned that some carrots deteriorated quickly when left outside the refrigerator, which she also attributes to the lack of chemical additives.
Health Improvements and Market Myths
According to her, the impact on her health has been profound: "My acid reflux is gone, my heartburn is gone, everything is gone," she explains, adding that inflammation has also vanished since she started consuming food in France.
Part of the video is dedicated to debunking what she sees as a myth about the U.S. organic market. She claims that shopping at Publix or Whole Foods is essentially the same: "Organic is just the label; the product inside remains the same," she asserts, stating that "the only thing that changes is the marketing, the brand, and the price."
She further argues that no authentic European product would make it to U.S. supermarkets because the transportation costs would make it prohibitively expensive and spoil it before arrival.
Regulatory Differences Between Continents
The debate over food quality between the two continents is grounded in regulatory differences. The European Union employs the precautionary principle through the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which demands scientific evidence before allowing additives. In contrast, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) operates with a more lenient approach based on historical safe use. According to Yuka, a data application, products in the U.S. contain an average of 3.1 additives per product compared to 1.9 in France and Germany. Additives such as potassium bromate, azodicarbonamide, and BHA/BHT are allowed in the U.S. but are restricted or banned in Europe.
These kinds of comparisons are part of a recurring debate among Cubans in the diaspora on TikTok, where the "Europe vs. Miami" axis garners thousands of reactions each week.
Living Conditions: Europe Versus the United States
Last Wednesday, another Cuban in Spain reignited a similar discussion about whether living conditions are better in Europe or the U.S., arguing that one can live well on 1,000 to 1,400 euros a month without needing multiple jobs.
The Cuban diaspora in France is small, numbering between 3,000 and 5,000 people, and faces challenges in regularization, with the country rejecting nearly 80% of Cuban asylum requests. Nevertheless, some have achieved stability and share their experiences on social media, like the woman in the video, who concluded with an open invitation to her audience: "Ask me anything you want regarding food; I really, I mean, the inflammation, everything has gone away."
Frequently Asked Questions About Food Quality in Europe vs. the U.S.
Why does the Cuban woman believe European food is healthier?
She believes the absence of preservatives and chemicals in European food contributes to better health outcomes, as evidenced by her improved health conditions like reduced acid reflux and inflammation.
What regulatory differences exist between the EU and the U.S. regarding food additives?
The EU requires scientific evidence for additives through the EFSA, while the FDA in the U.S. allows additives based on historical safe use. This results in fewer additives in European products compared to those in the U.S.
How does the Cuban woman view organic labels in the U.S.?
She is skeptical of organic labels, suggesting that they are merely marketing tactics and that the actual product remains unchanged.