FDA Announces Ban on Brominated Vegetable Oil: A Harmful Additive in Citrus-Flavored Soft Drinks
While soda is packed with fizzy and sugary goodness, the additives and preservatives they contain could harm your health. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ban on brominated vegetable oil in food products, including soft drinks, due to negative health effects. This rule was announced in July and will be effective in early August. Keep reading to learn more about this ban and how it impacts the drinks you buy at the store.
Why is the FDA banning brominated vegetable oil?
On July 2, the FDA announced that using brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food is no longer allowed. This is due to a growing body of research, including a 2022 study they published in journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, highlighting the potential risks of BVO consumption on human health — particularly damage to the thyroid gland. Because of this, the agency revoked its regulation allowing this ingredient to be used in commercial drinks.
How BVO differs from regular vegetable oil
What makes BVO different from standard vegetable oil is that a chemical called bromine is added to it. Experts at Michigan State University's Center for Research on Ingredient Safety claim that this chemical increases the oil's density, allowing it to remain mixed with other ingredients in soft drinks. While this additive began being used as a food ingredient in 1920, it wasn't regulated by the FDA until 1970.
The types of soft drinks BVO is used for
This additive is commonly mixed into citrus-flavored soft drinks, including Sun Drop and Walmart's Mountain Lightning Citrus Soda. "As authorized, it was used in small amounts, not to exceed 15 parts per million, as a stabilizer for fruit flavoring in beverages to keep the citrus flavoring from floating to the top," the FDA says. "When used, BVO was required to be listed as an ingredient on the label as 'brominated vegetable oil' or as the specific oil that has been brominated, such as 'brominated soybean oil.'" The agency notes that while they're banning the ingredient, many companies have found alternatives to BVO in beverages.
When does this brominated vegetable oil ban go into effect?
The FDA notes that this ban will be effective on August 2. It's worth noting that this change may not be seen right away if you look at the nutritional label on a citrus-flavored soft drink after the official date of the ban. "The compliance date for this rule is one year after the effective date, to provide the opportunity for companies to reformulate, relabel and deplete the inventory of BVO-containing products before the FDA begins enforcing the final rule," the agency says.
How experts are reacting to the FDA brominated vegetable oil ban
In light of this ban, many experts in health and food safety are coming out in support of it. “This decision by the FDA reflects a concern for public health and sound food production, and though the effect in the short term might be small for the food industry, it sets a precedent,” Kevin Huffman, DO, osteopathic physician, says to The Food Institute. Kelly Magurany, MSc, DABT, senior manager for toxicology at National Sanitation Foundation, also told the publication that this ban should "provide comfort and confidence to consumers in the oversight the FDA has for our food supply.”
Joanna Bacchus, founder and CEO of Biostrips, certified nutritional adviser and dietary supplement specialist, shares similar sentiments while acknowledging the challenges it could bring for some companies. “Although it will lead to increased costs and modifications in production processes, ultimately it prioritizes consumer safety, which I would consider as necessary,” she says.
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