THE The FDA has just announced It will no longer allow the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food products due to safety concerns following recent National Institute of Health (NIH) StudiesBVO is a vegetable oil modified with added bromine, a food additive used in sodas to prevent citrus flavors from floating to the surface.
According to Environmental Working Group (EWG)According to a study by the nonprofit Consumer Health Research and Advocacy Association, dozens of products, primarily sodas and some fruit juices, contain BVO. However, its safety has been questioned since it was removed from the FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list in 1970. Since then, the FDA has only allowed BVO to be used in products in small amounts and with stricter safety oversight.
Since then, many companies have eliminated BVO from consumer products due to market pressure, and now the FDA is requiring its use to be banned entirely due to additional research.
This new FDA Rule Banning BVO in Products The new law will go into effect on August 2. However, companies have one year after that date to deplete their stocks containing BVO, as well as reformulate and relabel their products to be BVO-free.
Health Risks of Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
Several studies have detailed the health risks associated with consuming bovine essential oils, including:
- Nervous system injury
- Headache
- Irritation of the skin and mucous membranes
- Fatigue
- Loss of coordination and memory
These health risks have been studied for some time in animal studies, with 1976 study found that pigs consuming BVO developed lesions in their hearts, kidneys, livers and testicles.
The FDA also notes a Rat Study 2022 which showed that BVO can persist after consumption, accumulating in the heart, liver and adipose tissues of rats.
Sodas containing BVO
THE Current EWG List highlights several types and brands of soda that still contain BVO as an ingredient. Here are some of the items on that list:
- HEB Orange Burst Soda with Cane Sugar
- Food Lion Diet Orange Soda
- Giant Diet Orange Soda
- Refreshe Diet Grapefruit Soda
- Dg Real Jamaican Ginger Beer
- Mountain Dew Diet Soda
- Shopper’s Value Fruit Punch
- Del’s Mandarin Orange Juice
- Friko strawberry drink with fruit pulp
- Blue Bayou Big Shot Pineapple Flavored Soda
- Borden Pineapple Orange Flavored Sun Burst Drink
Take away
What to do while waiting for this ban to come into effect? Try to eliminate your consumption of soda and concentrated fruit juices as much as possible and opt for water instead. Always check ingredient labels and avoid any products containing organic castor oil.
Ultimately, if you drink a soda every now and then in a social setting, that’s okay, but you don’t want to drink it every day.
Melissa Mitri, M.Sc., Dietitian
Melissa is a registered dietitian, weight loss expert, and freelance writer in the field for over 18 years. Learn more about Melissa
#Harmful #Additive #Sodas