FDA BANS potentially harmful ingredient found in sodas loved by millions
Health authorities are set to ban a harmful ingredient found in popular soft drinks, sweets and other snacks.
The FDA announced Tuesday that it will ban the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO), an additive containing bromine that is found in flame retardants.
Small amounts of BVO are allowed in some citrus drinks in the U.S. to even out the flavors. Sun Drop, made by Keurig Dr Pepper, is one of the most notable examples that still uses BVO.
The FDA said it concluded that BVO was not safe for use after results from studies it conducted in collaboration with the NIH showed it could cause harmful effects in people.
The measure will take effect on August 2 and will give manufacturers a year to change their recipes or face consequences.
Sun Drop, Mountain Lightning from Walmart and drinks from regional supermarket Food Lion all contain brominated vegetable oil, which the FDA has now banned.
Brominated vegetable oil is used in beverages, including some Sun Drop soft drinks
The decision follows the FDA’s move to withdraw regulations last November after research linked it to headaches, memory loss, balance problems and thyroid problems.
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, BVO was banned in the United Kingdom in 1970, followed by India in 1990, the EU in 2008, and Japan in 2010.
In 1970, the FDA concluded that its use in food was not generally recognized as safe due to concerns about toxicity. The agency subsequently began regulating BVO as a food additive, while simultaneously conducting safety studies.
Michael Ashley Schulman, Chief Investment Officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, said: “The FDA’s new regulation to disallow BVO as a food additive is a hugely positive signal in the right direction.”
Under FDA rules, it was required to list a certain ingredient on the label when a company used it in a product.
Over time, many beverage manufacturers have replaced BVO with an alternative ingredient, the FDA said. “Today, few beverages in the U.S. contain BVO,” the FDA said.
PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have removed BVO from their beverages, such as Gatorade and Fanta.
“Sun Drop, made by Keurig Dr Pepper, still uses BVO… This is probably the largest national brand that still uses it,” said Arun Sundaram of CFRA Research.
Sun Drop is available in a mix of lemon, lime and sweet orange flavours. These flavours all contain BVO.
However, last year the company announced that it planned to remove BVO from the ingredients list.
“We are actively reformulating Sun Drop to no longer contain this ingredient and remain in compliance with all state and national regulations,” a spokesperson said.
The citrus flavor also contains yellow 5, which is banned in countries like the UK because it contains benzidine, a human and animal carcinogen that is allowed in low doses.
According to the FDA, taking free benzidine increases the risk of cancer to just below the “concern” threshold, or one cancer per 1 million people.
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst, consumer organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) gives Sun Drop a 10 for its use of BVO, Yellow 5 and the additive sodium benzoate.
BVO has also been found in Faygo, a Detroit-based brand that sells more than 50 flavors of soda in stores across the country. The brand’s Moon Mist flavor scores a nine on EWG’s scale for containing BVO, potassium benzoate and the artificial sweetener sucralose.
However, BVO is most common in regional and store brands.
Keurig Dr Pepper did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.