The US Food and Drug Administration recently announced that a common ingredient in sodas is actually toxic to the body. Although the ingredient has since been banned, many products still contain the dangerous chemical.
Most agree that the decision was long overdue, as medical professionals have known for some time just how hazardous this ingredient is. However, the ban does not take effect until 2025, so until then, it’s best to avoid these soda brands.
The FDA’s Announcement: This Common Ingredient Is Toxic
On July 2, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had officially revoked the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in all food and drinks produced in the United States.
The statement read, “[We] 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.”
What Is Brominated Vegetable Oil?
It’s important to understand that brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is not the same product as the sunflower or canola oil in your cupboard. Although BVO is technically a vegetable oil, it has been modified with bromine.
Bromine is a naturally occurring liquid element that is considered poisonous to humans. However, companies have long been allowed to use small amounts in soda products to stabilize the consistency and flavor.
BVO Has Been Used in Drinks Since the 1920s
BVO has been used in soda products since the 1920s, and in the early 1960s, the FDA approved the ingredient, saying that it could be “generally recognized as safe.”
But in recent years, it’s become glaringly obvious that BVO, even in small amounts, can be wildly detrimental to the human body.
Why Are BVOs Bad for the Body?
According to extensive medical research, BVO can leave bromine residue in the body’s organs and fat cells, eventually causing neurological problems.
Additionally, BVO can interfere with the natural functioning of the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism, weight gain, and depression. Some patients have even experienced headaches, skin irritation, chronic fatigue, and loss of muscle coordination and memory.
Studies Weren’t Conducted Until the 21st Century
With this information in mind, it’s almost unbelievable that the FDA allowed BVO to be used in sodas for more than 60 years. However, unfortunately, studies on the extensive risks of BVO weren’t actually conducted until the 21st century.
The FDA first proposed a ban on the toxic ingredient in 2023, admitting to the public that the agency needed a faster and more efficient chemical testing process. However, it still took another year to actually ban it, and the ban doesn’t even go into effect until August 2, 2025.
Doctors Have Always Warned Patients Against Soda Drinks
Although the FDA didn’t complete its own studies until recently, other medical researchers have known the dangers of BVO for decades. In fact, even in the 1970s, many doctors were concerned by the proven negative side effects.
For years, doctors have warned patients against the dangers of sodas. Of course, most doctors used the outrageous amount of sugar to try to deter consumption, but many have understood for a long time just how risky extensive bromine ingestion could be.
California Already Banned BVO
The FDA’s ban on BVO was announced exactly eight months after California passed its Food Safety Act in October 2023. The act prohibited the use of several toxic chemicals in all food and drink produced in the Golden State, including BVO.
However, while California was ahead of the FDA in banning the risky ingredient, the law doesn’t actually go into effect until 2027, two years after BVO will officially be illegal across the country.
Some Companies Have Already Removed BVO From Their Products
Because people have known for some time just how dangerous BVO can be, several big-name companies removed it from their beverages years ago.
In 2013, PepsiCo removed BVO from its Gatorade products, Pepsi drinks, and Mountain Dew, and the very next year, Coca-Cola announced that it was no longer using BVO in any of its drinks, including in Powerade and Fanta.
Which Drinks Still Have BVO?
However, while Pepsico and Coca-Cola produce the majority of soda beverages consumed in the US, many popular beverages still contain BVO.
These include but are certainly not limited to Dr. Pepper, Walmart’s Orangette, Sun Drop, HEB Orange Burst, and many other citrus-flavored drinks.
Even Without BVO, Sodas Are Still Extremely Unhealthy
It’s vital to understand that even without BVO, most soda products are still extremely unhealthy and wildly detrimental to the body.
The extensive amount of sugar can cause type 2 diabetes, weight gain, fatty liver disease, and tooth decay, and even increase a person’s risk of both heart disease and certain cancers.
Make Sure You Pick a Soda Without BVO
Even if you are willing to continue drinking sodas, despite their immense health risks, it’s absolutely crucial that you eliminate or at least substantially cut back on all beverages still made with BVO until the ban takes effect next summer.
That means checking the labels of your favorite drinks, including sports refreshments, sodas, and even some flavored waters. If the ingredient list includes the words brominated vegetable oil or BVO, it’s not safe to consume.
