A controversial food ingredient allowed in the U.S. for about 100 years is finally retiring.
It’s called brominated vegetable oil (BVO). Environmentalists and food safety advocates are applauding the FDA’s decision.
But they call it decades overdue.
What Is Brominated Vegetable Oil?
BVO is added to food to stabilize flavoring oils, mainly in citrus-flavored sodas and other fruit-flavored drinks. “BVO keeps the flavoring suspended and evenly mixed throughout the beverage,” says Maura Harrigan, a certified specialist in oncology nutrition at the Yale School of Public Health and Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut.
BVO and new mixing substances keep citrus drinks tasting tangy.
How is brominated vegetable oil made?
The element bromine (Br) is bound to fat molecules in vegetable oil – usually soybean or palm oils.
Which Products Use Brominated Vegetable Oil?
BVO can be found in products including:
- Citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks
- Energy drinks
- Fruit-flavored syrups
- Some baked goods
Major drink brands like Pepsi and Coca-Cola have taken BVO out of their products already. Some smaller brands and store brands may still contain it. It’s best to check ingredient labels. You may see it listed as brominated vegetable oil, brominated soybean oil, etc.
Is Brominated Vegetable Oil Safe?
The FDA ruled in July 2024 to not allow BVO to be used in the American food supply after investigating research from many decades. The agency concluded it is no longer considered safe after animal studies conducted with the National Institutes of Health in 2022 showed it could harm people’s health.
But food safety advocates have been throwing shade at BVO and the FDA’s inaction for decades.
“California became the first state to ban BVO in 2023, and it was only after this state-level ban was signed into law that the FDA finally acted,” says Thomas Galligan, PhD, principal scientist for additives and supplements at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. lagged behind some other countries in making its decision. Nations and regions with BVO bans in place include:
- United Kingdom, since the 1970s
- India, since 1990
- European Union, since 2008
- Japan, since 2010
Canada removed it from its “list of permitted food additives with other accepted uses” in August 2024. But companies were given until the end of August 2025 to get food containing BVO off the shelves.
Health effects of brominated vegetable oil
“Research has indicated that when BVO is consumed, brominated fat molecules collect in fat tissue as well as organs like the heart and lungs,” says Rachel Gargano, chief registered dietitian at Live it Up in Contra Costa County, California.
“BVO can disrupt thyroid function as bromine competes with iodine, which is essential for proper thyroid function. This disruption can potentially create a hormonal imbalance affecting energy levels, weight, mood, and reproductive health.” Harrigan says.
The FDA had allowed BVO in low doses, up to 15 parts per million. These recent animal studies were conducted due to concerns over long-term exposure and accumulation build-up in fat tissues. The FDA could not determine a safe level of exposure and banned BVO, she says.
“It’s important to note that the current body of research does not support a direct mechanism by which BVO increases cancer risk in humans. Ongoing studies continue to monitor and evaluate the long-term effects of various food additives, including BVO, on cancer risk,” Harrigan says.
Brominated vegetable oil side effects
Bromine toxicity through food and beverage sources is very rare. But consuming BVO at very high levels in a relatively short time span can be dangerous.
Researchers report a man who drank 2-4 liters of cola containing BVO daily over a month had to go to the hospital. His symptoms included serious fatigue, headache, and memory loss. He even lost his ability to walk. The man improved after dialysis treatment.
Another case involves skin sores in a man who drank 8 liters a day of soda that had BVO in it over several months. The man stopped drinking the beverage and was given drug treatment. He got better in four months.
The FDA’s Stance on Brominated Vegetable Oil
“The FDA first raised concerns about the safety of BVO 50 years before it finally banned it from the food supply,” Galligan says.
A timeline of regulatory action bears that out:
1920s: BVO is first used as a food additive before the FDA could legally regulate food ingredients.
1950s to early 1960s: The FDA put BVO on its list of “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).
Late 1960s-1970s: FDA becomes aware of safety concerns and removes it from the GRAS list. The FDA lowered the amount of BVO allowed in beverages and began regulating it as a food additive.
In 1970, one study came out using rats fed BVO in amounts far greater than most people would use. It raised questions that BVO could harm the heart. Additional studies “resolved safety issues related to the heart,” the FDA said.
2022: The FDA published data from a study on rodents that showed potential danger to thyroid function, which again raised concerns about humans.
2023: The agency proposed a rule to ban the use of BVO in food because more studies – including research on people – showed it wasn’t safe.
2024: The rule was finalized and effective on Aug. 2.
Food companies were given a year to reformulate and relabel their products and get old inventory that contained BVO off store shelves. The agency set an enforcement date of Aug. 2, 2025.
Takeaways
Brominated vegetable oil has been used in food for a century. It’s mainly added to citrus sodas and other fruity beverages to keep the flavors from separating and floating to the top.
It’s been on the FDA’s radar as potentially unsafe since the 1960s.
The FDA finally banned its use in food in 2024 after a government study on rodents found it could harm the thyroid gland – whose main job is to control your metabolism.
Food and beverage makers have until Aug. 2, 2025, to reformulate and relabel products and get rid of old inventory.
Brominated Vegetable Oil FAQs
What is the problem with brominated vegetable oils?
BVO doesn’t seem to have an immediate effect on people when consumed in moderation. Animal studies show there could be a problem in humans when people ingest it for a long time and it builds up in the body’s fat tissue.
What does brominated vegetable oil do to your body?
In a study in 2022, rats were fed quantities of BVO at levels people may get through consuming food and drink. It showed significant hikes in the amount of bromide in their blood and increased levels of brominated fats in the heart, lung, and fat tissue.
It’s especially concerning for the thyroid. BVO may interfere with iodine in this gland. That’s needed for your thyroid to work properly – regulating metabolism and other important functions.
Which sodas still contain BVO?
After Aug. 2, 2025, no food or beverages should contain BVO. Most major brands reformulated their products years ago. Chances are, you won’t notice any change in the taste of your favorite soda, sports, or energy drink. Some smaller brands and store brands may still contain BVO up to the enforcement date. But stragglers could remain on shelves. Check labels if you suspect BVO may be in your drink.
Where is brominated vegetable oil already banned?
The United Kingdom, the European Union, India, and Japan are among places that banned it years ago. Canada banned it in 2024. The rule there goes into effect in August 2025.
