Olufemi Adeyemi 


The utilization of Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) as an ingredient in food and beverage products will be discontinued.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a ban on the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food and beverages due to safety concerns. BVO was commonly used as an emulsifier to prevent flavoring from separating in citrus-flavored drinks. The ban will go into effect on August 2nd, 2024, providing manufacturers with an additional year to reformulate their products and deplete existing inventory containing BVO.

Consumers should remain vigilant by checking product ingredient lists to avoid BVO, as some existing stock may still be in circulation. The Center for Science in the Public Interest released a statement describing the ban as overdue but essential.

BVO is a blending agent commonly found in approximately 70 types of soft drinks and beverages, predominantly those with vibrant colors and citrus flavors. This information is based on a database maintained by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and cited by Consumer Reports.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ban on the ingredient after an eight-month review process. The decision was based on scientific studies conducted on animals, which indicated potential adverse health effects in humans.

In 1970, the FDA made a determination that BVO was not generally recognized as safe. As a result, many beverage manufacturers have since replaced BVO with alternative ingredients. While some beverages currently on the market still contain BVO, others have eliminated its use.

“The inclusion of potentially hazardous additives, such as BVO, in our food products should be prohibited due to the substantial evidence suggesting their adverse effects on the thyroid and the potential for chronic health complications,” Brian Ronholm, the esteemed director of food policy at Consumer Reports, asserted in an official statement, “We are pleased to learn that the FDA has re-evaluated recent research highlighting the adverse health effects associated with BVO and is taking decisive action to ban its usage.”

BVO, which has already been prohibited for use in food in the majority of European nations, was one of four food additives that California outlawed in October.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited the utilization of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) due to potential adverse health effects. BVO, previously deemed safe by the FDA, has been associated with detrimental impacts on the nervous system, including fatigue and muscle coordination impairments, as evidenced by scientific studies. This prohibition aligns with the findings of a 2022 research study that revealed the accumulation of BVO in vital organs of laboratory rats.