The FDA announced on Tuesday that it will no longer allow the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food items starting August 2 because it’s no longer considered safe.
BVO contains bromine, a chemical found in fire retardants. It’s currently used in small amounts in some citrus-flavored drinks in the U.S. to help distribute flavor evenly.
After conducting studies with the National Institutes of Health, the FDA concluded that BVO could have harmful effects on humans. The agency originally proposed revoking its use in November 2023.
BVO has been banned in the UK since 1970, followed by India in 1990, the EU in 2008, and Japan in 2010. The FDA first determined in 1970 that BVO wasn’t generally recognized as safe due to concerns about its toxicity.
Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, praised the FDA’s decision, calling it a positive step forward. According to FDA rules, any product containing BVO must list it on the label.
Over time, many beverage companies in the U.S. have replaced BVO with other ingredients. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, for instance, removed BVO from drinks like Gatorade and Fanta.
However, some brands, like Sun Drop from Keurig Dr Pepper, still use BVO, though it’s becoming less common in the market.