Which drinks contain brominated vegetable oil? Food additive now banned by FDA

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FILE: Orange soda (Credit: Food and Drug Administration)

The use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food and drinks is now, officially, banned in the U.S.

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it was revoking a regulation allowing the use of BVO – a food additive once more widely used in popular drinks like Mountain Dew and Powerade, but has been slowly phased out amid potential health risks. 

The FDA rule, proposed last fall, went into effect on Aug. 2, 2024.

Here’s what consumers should know:

What is brominated vegetable oil (BVO)?

BVO is a food ingredient used to keep citrus flavorings from separating and floating to the top of the beverage, according to the FDA. 

At one point, it was found in a wide range of drinks sold in the U.S., but health problems related to the ingredient prompted public pressure for brands – including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo – to start removing it from their products. 

The ingredient has been linked to several health hazards, including potential harm to the thyroid, liver, and heart. In November, the FDA said it concluded that BVO in food is no longer safe after studies in rodents linked the ingredient with harm to the thyroid, a vital hormone gland that plays a major role in the metabolism, growth and development of the human body.

Other research has linked BVO to neurological and reproductive issues, as well as headaches, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, fatigue and loss of muscle coordination and memory, according to the Environmental Working Group, a consumer health advocacy nonprofit.

BVO has been banned from drinks sold in Europe and Japan for years. Last October, California passed the first law in the U.S. to ban the ingredient, in addition to three other harmful chemicals, from food sold and produced in the state.

"The (FDA) concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found the potential for adverse health effects in humans," the agency said in a statement on July 2 in an announcement that had revoked authorization for U.S. food and beverage manufacturers to use the ingredient.

Drinks with brominated vegetable oil (BVO)

Few beverages in the U.S. currently contain BVO, despite the new rule. It’s most commonly found in citrus-flavored drinks. 

In 2013, PepsiCo announced that it would remove BVO from Gatorade products. Then, in 2014, Coca-Cola announced the removal of BVO from all products, including Powerade and Fanta products.

Beverages that still contain BVO in the U.S. include Sun Drop, made by Keurig Dr Pepper, and Orangette orange soda, sold at Walmart, according to their ingredient lists.

Walmart did not immediately return a request for comment. A KDP spokesperson told FOX TV Stations, "KDP is actively reformulating Sun Drop, the only product in our portfolio of brands to contain brominated vegetable oil, which will be complete by the end 2024." 

Meanwhile, the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database lists some 600 products that may still contain BVO, according to the advocacy nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. 

"There is some uncertainty about the accuracy of these listings, though, as USDA relies on manufacturers to update the entries for their own products," the CSPI states.

Experts recommend checking the ingredient label if you’re uncertain whether a beverage contains the additive.

What happens now?

While the rule became effective on Aug. 2, the compliance date is one year after the effective date. 

This allows for companies to reformulate, relabel, and deplete the inventory of BVO-containing products before the FDA begins enforcing the final rule.

This story was reported from Cincinnati. Stephanie Weaver contributed from Los Angeles.