The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to ban brominated vegetable oil (BVO), a food additive used as a stabilizer in citrus-flavored beverages. This decision follows the agency's conclusion that BVO is no longer safe for consumption. While BVO was previously authorized for use in small amounts (15 parts per million or lower), the FDA notes that many products in the United States have already phased it out.
What is Brominated Vegetable Oil?
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a vegetable oil that has been modified with bromine, a naturally occurring chemical element. It functions as a food stabilizer, primarily in citrus drinks, preventing flavorings from separating and floating to the top.
History of BVO Regulation
In the late 1950s and 1960s, BVO was initially on the FDA's list of ingredients "generally regarded as safe." However, in the late 1960s, its use was restricted to flavoring-oil stabilizer in fruit-flavored drinks. The FDA's decision to ban BVO comes after decades of concerns and regulatory actions in other countries. The United Kingdom banned BVO in 1970, followed by the European Union in 2008, India, and Japan.
FDA's Proposed Ban and Timeline
In November of last year, the FDA issued a proposed rule to revoke the regulation allowing BVO to be used in food. This move came shortly after California banned BVO and three other food additives in October 2023. The FDA has set a deadline of August 2, 2024, for the ban to take effect. Companies will then have one year to reformulate, relabel, and stop selling products containing BVO.
Potential Health Effects of BVO
Studies have raised concerns about the potential health effects of BVO. Animal studies have indicated that BVO can have "toxic effects on the thyroid gland," according to Thomas Galligan, Ph.D., principal scientist for food additives and supplements at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Read also: Benefits of couples massage detailed
A 2022 study found that BVO can interfere with the function of the thyroid gland, potentially leading to hypothyroidism (when the gland produces too little thyroid hormone), weight gain, and depression. Accumulation of too much bromine in the body can also damage the central nervous system and cause headaches and nausea. However, there is only one documented case of a person developing bromine toxicity from consuming soda with BVO; it more commonly occurs in individuals exposed to bromine through their work.
Which Products Contain(ed) BVO?
While many major soda brands have already removed BVO from their formulations, some drinks on the market still contain it. The USDA's database indicates that over 600 products may contain BVO as an ingredient. One such product is Sun Drop, made by Keurig Dr Pepper. Other products that have contained BVO include Dr. Orangette orange soda (sold at Walmart), store-brand orange sodas (sold at Giant and HEB), and citrus-flavored juice beverages like Borden’s Pineapple Orange Sun Burst.
Identifying Products Containing BVO
To determine whether a soda contains BVO, check the ingredient list for "brominated vegetable oil" or "brominated" followed by a specific type of oil (e.g., soybean). Other clues include:
- It's most common in citrus-flavored drinks.
- A cloudy appearance throughout the bottle may indicate the presence of BVO.
- Generic, off-brand sodas are more likely to contain BVO than name brands.
- Fountain sodas in restaurants usually carry name brands, reducing the risk of BVO.
BVO is typically found in carbonated drinks, but non-carbonated drinks can also contain it. Always double-check the label before buying any citrus-flavored beverages. 100% fruit juice is not a concern.
Do Coke and Mountain Dew Contain BVO?
Coca-Cola does not contain brominated vegetable oil, according to Coca-Cola.com. Mountain Dew also does not have BVO in its ingredients list, according to its maker, PepsiCo. Both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola no longer use BVO in any of their products. In 2014, both companies announced that they would remove brominated vegetable oil from their soft drinks due to mounting public pressure. By 2020, it was gone from most types of Mountain Dew.
Read also: How digestive health affects weight loss
BVO vs. Flame Retardants: Clearing Up Misconceptions
A common misconception is that BVO is the same as the brominated flame retardants used in various products. While both contain bromine, they are different chemical compounds with different properties. The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum has stated that its member companies "have never marketed BVO as a flame retardant," clarifying that "apart from the fact that both contain bromine, there is no direct connection between brominated vegetable oil and brominated flame retardants." Equating the two would be like comparing Splenda, a sweetener, with bleach, since both contain the element chlorine.
Is BVO Safe? A History of Controversy
Brominated vegetable oil has been controversial for years, with ongoing questions about its safety. While the American Beverage Association has stated that BVO is "safe, permitted by the FDA, and when used is listed as an ingredient," some scientists have recommended further study.
An article from Environmental Health News, published in Scientific American in 2011, reported cases of patients requiring medical attention for bromine-related symptoms (such as memory loss and nerve disorders) after drinking large amounts of soda containing BVO (more than 2 liters a day). Walter Vetter, a food chemist at Germany's University of Hohenheim, has stated that "the scientific data is scarce" surrounding BVO and that it merits further study.
Limited studies of BVO in humans and animals have found bromine building up in tissues. While drinking soda in moderation (e.g., a can a day) is unlikely to cause harmful effects, experts agree that more information is needed to understand the long-term effects of BVO buildup in the body.
The Broader Implications of the BVO Ban
The FDA's proposed ban on BVO is viewed by some as long overdue. Thomas Galligan, CSPI’s principal scientist for food additives and supplements, calls it an “indictment of the FDA,” stating, “It’s too little too late. Consumers shouldn’t wait decades for commonsense food safety regulations to come from FDA or other agencies, and we can’t rely on industry to regulate itself in the meantime. BVO is fortunately mostly removed from the food supply already, which is great, but FDA should have proposed this rule years ago.”
Read also: Weight Loss Meds & BCBS
What Consumers Can Do
Despite the phasing out of BVO by major brands, it may still be present in some smaller brands and older products. Consumers should check the labels of fruit-flavored beverages and choose those that do not list BVO. Choosing water over sugary drinks like Mountain Dew and orange soda is always a healthier option, as these beverages often contain high amounts of added sugars or sweeteners of concern, as well as other harmful additives like synthetic food dyes.