FDA to Nationwide Ban Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) in Food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its intention to revoke the regulation permitting the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food products. This decision follows California's recent ban on BVO as an ingredient. The FDA has concluded that the use of BVO in food can no longer be considered safe, based on research conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which identified potential adverse health effects in humans.

Brominated vegetable oil is a component found in approximately 70 sports drinks, sodas, and other food items. It is used to prevent the separation and floating of citrus flavorings in beverages, helping them mix evenly. BVO is a vegetable oil modified with bromine and was previously allowed in limited quantities by the FDA. In 1970, the FDA ceased recognizing BVO as "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) and began regulating its use as a food additive. Over time, many beverage manufacturers reformulated their products to replace BVO with alternative ingredients, resulting in very few beverages in the U.S. containing BVO today.

Brian Ronholm, food policy director at Consumer Reports, stated that "the evidence is clear that brominated vegetable oil in sodas and other beverages poses an unacceptable risk to our health." He expressed support for the FDA's decision to prohibit its use and applauded the passage of California's ingredient ban.

According to Consumer Reports, peer-reviewed studies conducted on rodents have linked BVO to various health issues, including neurological problems, thyroid, heart, and liver problems, as well as behavioral, developmental, and reproductive concerns. The European Union has also banned the use of BVO in food.

California's new law, effective in 2027, bans BVO along with Red Dye 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben from food products sold within the state.

The FDA emphasized that its decision to prioritize the review of food chemicals is based on risk, scientific evidence, and regulatory authority. The agency's collaboration with the NIH has provided "conclusive scientific evidence" supporting the proposal to revoke the FDA's authorization for BVO as a food additive.

The FDA stated that it continuously reviews and assesses the safety of various food chemicals to ensure they meet safety standards, including all the ingredients covered by California's recent law. The agency is also reviewing regulations related to the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in ingested drugs and foods, with a forthcoming decision.

This FDA action is part of its ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of food additives based on the latest scientific research and risk assessments.