FDA Proposes Ban on Brominated Vegetable Oil in Beverages

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, 2nd November 2023 that it is proposing a ban on the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) as an additive in fruit-flavored beverages. This move comes after recent toxicology studies in animals showed that BVO may have adverse health effects in humans.

What is Brominated Vegetable Oil?

Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, is a food additive used to help keep citrus flavoring evenly distributed in fruit-flavored beverages. It helps prevent the flavors from separating and floating to the top of the drink.

BVO was initially approved by the FDA in the 1950s and has been used for decades in small amounts in some sodas and sport drinks containing citrus flavors like orange, lemon, and lime. It is still commonly found in drinks like Sun Drop, Squirt, Fanta Orange, and some flavors of Gatorade and Powerade.

Health Concerns Lead to Proposed Ban

While BVO was previously considered safe by the FDA, recent toxicology studies in animals have raised health concerns. Findings suggest BVO may build up in human tissues over time and could potentially cause reproduction and thyroid problems, as well as other chronic health issues.

In light of this new evidence, the FDA has concluded that BVO no longer meets its general recognition of safety standards. This has led the agency to take steps to officially ban the ingredient from the food supply.

“Toxic additives like BVO that have been shown to pose toxic risks to the thyroid and other chronic health problems should not be allowed in our food,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.

Beverage Companies Already Phasing Out BVO

While the FDA’s prohibition on BVO is not yet finalized, most major beverage manufacturers have already been phasing out the controversial additive over the past decade.

“Today, few beverages in the U.S. contain BVO,” the FDA stated in its announcement.

Industry leader Coca-Cola removed BVO from its Powerade sports drink back in 2013. PepsiCo eliminated the ingredient from Gatorade the same year.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, maker of Sun Drop, said it has been “actively reformulating” the citrus soda to remove BVO even before the FDA’s latest move. The company claims it “will remain compliant with all state and national regulations.”

Still, the FDA says there are roughly 70 beverage products on the market that still contain BVO, primarily smaller brands of brightly colored, fruit-flavored sodas and sports drinks. Once a final ruling is issued, these products will need to reformulate recipes to remain on store shelves.

Consumer Advocates Applaud Ban

Health and consumer advocacy groups are praising the FDA’s decision to prohibit continued use of BVO in food and drinks.

“Toxic additives like BVO that have been shown to pose toxic risks to the thyroid and other chronic health problems should not be allowed in our food,” said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.

The Environmental Working Group, which maintains a database of products containing BVO, also expressed approval. “We’ve been worried about the safety of brominated vegetable oil for a while now,” said EWG President Ken Cook.

“This is a big win for public health and all Americans who rely on the FDA to keep food safe and healthy,” Cook added.

History of BVO Approval and Usage

BVO was first patented for use as a flame retardant in 1931. By the 1950s, the chemical was approved by the FDA as a food additive to stabilize flavoring oils in citrus-flavored beverages.

When safety concerns arose in the 1970s, the FDA required BVO content be limited to 15 parts per million of the total beverage. This was considered a safe level at the time.

BVO use became commonplace in fruit-flavored sports drinks and sodas over the following decades. Popular drinks containing BVO included Mountain Dew, Fresca, Squirt, Sun Drop, and some flavors of Powerade and Gatorade.

In recent years, brominated vegetable oil has been replaced in most major brands with alternatives like sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB). However, BVO continues to be used in some smaller soda brands and specialty citrus flavors.

The FDA emphasized most beverages reformulated recipes years ago to remove BVO ahead of a ban. But agency officials said new toxicology data warrants officially prohibiting any further food use given potential health risks.

Future Steps and Impact

The FDA’s proposal to ban BVO does not yet represent a final ruling. The agency will open a comment period to receive feedback from industry, scientists, and the public before making a final determination.

Assuming the prohibition eventually takes effect, the remaining beverages containing BVO would need to alter formulations to comply. BVO removal may impact the flavor and mouth feel of certain drinks, especially those with strong citrus profiles.

But most major brands phased out BVO long ago with minimal impact on taste or texture. The FDA and beverage industry do not anticipate significant hurdles associated with further eliminating brominated vegetable oil from the food supply.

The proposed ban of BVO comes amid growing consumer demand for more natural, less processed foods and ingredients. Though an uncommon additive, eliminating BVO may give certain drinks a “cleaner” label and healthier image moving forward.