The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently banned the use of a common beverage additive – Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO).
BVO is a product of vegetable oil that has been brominated, containing a large amount of triglycerides, which has the effect of a stabilizer. It has been used as a food additive since the 1920s, particularly in some sports drinks and fruit-flavored beverages.
In 1970, the FDA began regulating the amount of this compound in food, removing it from the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list and allowing only limited use in food products. For example, some citrus-flavored beverages use this compound to prevent the citrus flavoring from floating on the surface of the drink and separating. Additionally, if a product contains this compound, the FDA requires manufacturers to clearly label it in the product ingredients list.
On July 2, the FDA issued an announcement stating that the use of this additive in food products will be prohibited. The announcement stated, “Our conclusion is that the use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe.” The FDA cited findings from their collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggesting that BVO “poses a potential health risk to humans.”
The FDA’s announcement also mentioned, “This is part of our regulatory action on food additives, including revisiting previously assessed food components to address safety concerns. Reassessing the safety of food components based on the latest relevant data is the FDA’s top priority and a key part of our mission to uphold food safety.”
Bromine is a natural element that can be used as a pool cleaner similar to chlorine and as a flame retardant. It is also used in other sedatives. However, BVO as a food additive has faced increasing opposition in recent years.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a consumer advocacy group, in an article announcing the FDA’s decision, mentioned that California banned the use of BVO last October, becoming the first U.S. state to do so. Additionally, the EU, India, and the UK have also banned BVO.
CSPI stated, “BVO leaves brominated vegetable oil residues in human fat, liver, heart, and brain fat, and high bromine levels in the body can lead to bromine poisoning, causing damage to the central nervous system with symptoms like headaches, nausea, memory loss, and coordination issues, as well as having an impact on the thyroid.”
Which foods contain this ingredient? The FDA’s announcement mentioned, “Nowadays, there are hardly any beverages in the U.S. that contain BVO.” One of the most common drinks containing BVO may be Sun Drop citrus soda. Moreover, several private label citrus juices, pineapple juices, or citrus-flavored sodas from chains like Giant, Food Lion, and Walmart still contain this ingredient.
This new regulation will come into effect on August 1, with compliance enforcement beginning a year later. This means that manufacturers will have one year to redesign formulas, update ingredient labels, and clear out inventory for all products containing this ingredient.