FDA Looking To Ban Food Additive Still Used In Some Sodas

The FDA is looking to ban brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from food and beverages in the US due to potential health risks, particularly related to the thyroid, liver, and heart. California has already enacted legislation banning BVO, along with other food additives, while New York State has proposed similar bills to restrict the use of “dangerous” additives.

BVO has been used in food and drink since the 1920s, but has been banned in several countries, and major companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have already removed it from their products. The FDA's reassessment of BVO follows concerns over adverse health effects in both animal studies and case reports, leading Consumer Reports to label BVO in soda as posing an “unacceptable” risk to health.