The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering banning a certain ingredient called brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from our food, reports the NY Post. In a recent statement, the FDA expressed concerns about the safety of BVO, citing studies conducted with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that found potential health risks.
BVO was previously used in popular drinks like Gatorade, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi, but it can still be found in beverages like Sun Drop and some off-brand sodas. However, the FDA has now received conclusive scientific evidence from toxicology reports supporting their proposal to remove BVO from our food.
The FDA first questioned the safety of BVO way back in 1970 when they started regulating it. They determined that it was no longer
“Generally Recognized as Safe”
(GRAS). Now, with the new evidence from the NIH studies, the FDA is taking action to protect human health.
“Health concerns about BVO stem from one of its ingredients, bromine. Bromine can irritate the skin, nose, mouth, and stomach,”
Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian at the Mayo Clinic, told the Food Network.
“It’s also been linked to neurologic symptoms in people who drink large quantities of citrus soda — more than 2 liters a day.”
Last month, the governor of California signed a law that stops the sale of food with four chemicals, including BVO. This law will start on January 1, 2027, and manufacturers who break it could be fined up to $10,000.
These four ingredients, BVO, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3 — are already banned in the European Union because they have been linked to cancer and other health problems. New York is also considering a similar law. The FDA said it will look into the safety of these ingredients and will make sure there are no inconsistencies across the country.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
