Is coffee mate banned in other countries?

Many Americans who love coffee add coffee mate to their cups, as it is legal in the US. But is coffee mate banned in other countries? Read on to find out!

Yes. Countries like Iceland and Norway banned the use of coffee mate since it contains an unhealthy trans-fat called hydrogenated oil.

Many coffee mate lovers assume that this is a healthy lactose-free creamer. Since I discovered coffee mate, I became obsessed with the French vanilla creamer. I took a trip to visit my sister, who lives in Denmark, and was surprised to learn that coffee mate was banned in the country.

She told me that the original and light versions were the only coffee mate products I could get there. I wanted to learn why coffee mate is banned in some countries, so I researched and created this post. By the end of it, you will also learn which countries have banned this creamer.

Table of Contents

Why is coffee mate banned in some countries?

Coffee mate is banned in some countries since it contains a trans-fat known as hydrogenated oil. Experts reveal that this transfat is unhealthy since it increases the level of bad cholesterol in the body and lowers good cholesterol.

The trans-fat can increase the risk of developing a stroke, diabetes, or heart disease. Though food manufacturers use hydrogenated oil to keep the creamer fresh for long, it is high in linoleic acid, which is linked to other conditions such as asthma and obesity.

Which countries have banned coffee mate?

Is coffee mate banned in other countries — Coffee mate. Image source: Pixabay

Most European countries have very strict regulations in terms of the foodstuffs that people can consume. Coffee mate has been banned in Hungary, Iceland, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and Norway. These countries have banned the main ingredient in coffee mate, hydrogenated oil.

A few years back, the European Commission passed legislation that limited the processing of Trans fats in food to 2%. Though the label on the coffee mate indicates that it has 0 grams of Trans fat, research shows it contains this compound.

Are all coffee-mate products banned in some countries?

No. Though coffee mate is banned in some countries, it is available in powder form as a coffee whitener in Europe. The coffee creamer is available in a few varieties based on the country. Most European countries allow the selling of coffee mate with no added flavor.

The coffee mate in European countries is manufactured without hydrogenated fat which is unhealthy for consumption. Nestle’s UK website reveals that the varieties of coffee mate not banned in the country include Nestle coffee Mate light and Nestle Coffee Mate Original.

Final Thoughts

Nestle, one of the largest companies, has been selling coffee mate to the world for decades. Though coffee mate has become quite popular in the US, it is banned in some European countries since it is made with hydrogenated oil. They ban this trans-fat since it is linked to heart disease and other conditions.