Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is a food additive that has recently been banned in the United States due to its connection to memory loss, skin and nerve issues, thyroid issues, and other health problems. It is made by adding bromine to vegetable oil and is used primarily as a stabilizer to keep citrus flavors from separating in beverages. For years it was used in citrus flavored drinks to prevent them from separating. It was banned in parts of the world such as Europe and Japan as far back as 1970, according to USA Today, but banned in the United States just recently (2024). (FDA.gov)
As a step towards matching the food safety protocol of Europe, which is often noted as the blueprint for ideal public health practices, the banning of BVO is a “victory for public health” (Washington Post article “FDA to ban BVO). Since BVO is most often used by beverage companies, it will be interesting to see the reaction of these brands. Both Pepsi Co and Coca-Cola removed BVO from all their drinks in 2013-2014, but many smaller brands now have to rush to reformulate their recipes to comply with the new ban.
Though this ban is and should be considered a win, it shows how a chemical, which most of us have never even heard of, can sneak up and become a major problem. How many other chemicals, just like BVO, will be discovered as detrimental to our health? Since the answer will remain unknown, it’s important to stay educated and proactive when it comes to what we are putting into our bodies.
In conclusion, BVO is now one less chemical to worry about since all soda companies have been given one year to reformulate and eliminate BVO in their products, we should still remain educated and cautious on what we are consuming, and hopefully the positive reaction to this ban will spark more wins for public health legislation.
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