The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it will ban the use of a soda additive called brominated vegetable oil (BVO) due to health concerns. The agency has revoked its regulation allowing BVO to be used in food because it is no longer considered safe. Studies conducted with the National Institutes of Health found potential adverse health effects in humans, leading to this decision.
The new rule regarding the ban on BVO will go into effect on August 2nd. BVO is commonly added to sodas to prevent citrus flavoring from separating and floating to the top of the drink. The FDA initially proposed banning BVO from food last fall, citing studies that revealed the additive’s toxicity to the thyroid.
The ingredient list may show up as “brominated vegetable oil” or more specifically as “brominated soybean oil.” The FDA mentioned that many beverage manufacturers have already reformulated their recipes to replace BVO with a different ingredient. Only a few beverages in the U.S still contain this additive, such as Sun Drop, Great Value Mountain Lightning, and Faygo Moon Mist.
Jim Jones, the deputy commissioner for the FDA’s Human Foods Program, expressed the agency’s commitment to monitoring and reassessing chemicals in food for safety. He stated that the removal of BVO from the food supply was based on a review of current science and research findings that raised safety concerns. The FDA will continue to assess emerging evidence on chemicals like BVO and take action to protect public health when necessary.