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.