FDA BANS Potentially Harmful Ingredient in Soft Drinks Loved by Millions
Health authorities have banned a potentially harmful ingredient found in popular soft drinks, candy and other snacks.
The FDA announced Tuesday that it will ban the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in new products starting August 2, after BVO has been linked to a number of health problems.
From that date, manufacturers of existing products containing BVO will have one year to change their recipes or risk fines and legal action.
The FDA said it concluded that BVO is not safe for use after examining the results of studies it conducted in collaboration with the NIH.
The additive has been linked to headaches, memory loss, balance disorders and thyroid problems. Sun Drop, made by Keurig Dr Pepper, is one of the most famous examples where BVO is still used today.
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 comes after the FDA proposed withdrawing the regulations in November last year.
BVO has been used since the 1920s and in the 1950s and 1960s the FDA deemed the use of BVO as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).
However, the additive lost its GRAS status in the 1970s, and regulators have been monitoring studies to determine whether it poses a risk to human health.
Research at the time showed that animals given BVO suffered from harmful effects on the heart. However, additional studies have eliminated these safety risks.
In 2014, FDA scientists began reassessing BVO after studies in rodents showed that repeated, long-term exposure to the chemical could cause neurological problems such as memory loss, balance and coordination problems, and headaches.
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.
According to the FDA, many beverage manufacturers have replaced BVO with an alternative ingredient over time. “Today, very few beverages in the U.S. contain BVO,” the agency 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 permitted 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 commonly found in regional and store brands. Keurig Dr Pepper did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
