Attention New Jersey: Food and Drug Administration officials have issued a warning about a widely used food found to be no longer safe.
You've probably had it in the past, and it may still be in your kitchen.
We're talking about brominated vegetable oil (BVO).
The FDA says that although the ingredient has been used in food for decades, “research conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has shown that it may have adverse health effects in humans.” “We have discovered that it is no longer considered safe.”
What is BVO?
BVO is a vegetable oil modified with bromine. Bromine is defined by the Royal Society of Chemistry as:
It is used in a wide range of fields including pesticides, dyes, insecticides, pharmaceuticals, and chemical intermediates. Although some uses are being phased out for environmental reasons, new uses continue to be discovered.
Specifically for human consumption, the FDA has allowed it to be used in small amounts in some beverages “to prevent the citrus flavor from separating and floating to the top.”
Simply put, citrus sodas are flavored with oil. Oil and water don't mix, so BVO was used to hold everything together.
FDA Recommends Elimination of Products Containing Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) – Photo: TSM Illustration
In 1970, the FDA determined that BVO was no longer “generally recognized as safe,” and over the years many beverage manufacturers reformulated their products to replace BVO with alternative ingredients.
Currently, very few beverages in the United States contain BVO.
How bad is BVO for New Jersey residents?
Food Network quoted Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at the Mayo Clinic, as saying:
Health concerns about BVO stem from one of its ingredients, bromine. Bromine can irritate the skin, nose, mouth, and stomach. It has also been linked to neurological symptoms in people who drink large amounts of citrus soda (more than 2 liters a day).
Cola soda bottles with blue tops lined up in groups on a store shelf
Which drinks still contain BVO?
according to USA Today,
BVO is most commonly found in small grocery store brands and regional beverages, including some Food Lion brand sodas, some Great Value brand sodas, and Sun Drop citrus soda.
The Environmental Working Group maintains a list of nearly 100 products, including BVO, that are still sold today. That list is available via TheMessenger.
If you want to know if items in your pantry or refrigerator contain BVO, you'll see “brominated vegetable oil” listed near the end of the product's ingredient list.
