The FDA is Pushing to Ban Brominated Vegetable Oil (BMO)

For years we've been given this advice: before you eat something, read the food ingredient label.

Check you nutrition labels for Brominated Vegetable Oil
Brominated Vegetable Oil is used in citrus flavored products to keep contents from separating. // Canva
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That's great. Except that food and beverage companies often use big fancy words to report their ingredients. Unless you're a chemist, how is the average person supposed to make sense out of all the gobbelty-gook?

  • The FDA may repeal authorization for the use of Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
  • The FDA no longer considers the use of BVO in food to be safe and may remove it from the GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) list
  • Brominated vegetable oil has been associated with skin and mucous membrane irritation, fatigue, loss of muscle coordination, and memory problems
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Where is Brominated Vegetable Oil Used...and Why?

UPI reports that Brominated Vegetable Oil or BVO is a food additive frequently found in certain soft drinks. It's used to keep citrus flavoring from separating out in sodas and other beverages.

You'll find BVO in certain store-brand beverages, particularly citrus-flavored beverages.

Arizona families worry about soft drink additive
What's lurking in your family's drinks? // Canva
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Brands that still contain BVO:

  • Sun Drop soda
  • Walmart's Great Value Mountain Lightning Citrus Soda
  • Walmart's Great Value Orangette
  • Walmart's Great Value Fruit Punch Soda Pop

Consumer Pressure to Remove BVO

It was frequently used in Gatorade, Mountain Dew, and other beverages, but major soft drink manufacturers removed it in 2013 after receiving pressure from consumers to do so.

Check you nutrition labels for Brominated Vegetable Oil
BVO has been removed from some sodas after consumer pressure. // Canva
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There's evidence that a build-up of bromine, especially in the thyroid, can cause problems with blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism, and the body's hormone response.

As if that wasn't bad enough, according to Dr. Weil, Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) was developed as a flame retardant for plastics and foam cushions.

Arizona consumers advised FDA May pull brominated vegetable oil
Brominated Vegetable Oil was developed as a flame retardant. Yet it's used in common soft drinks. // Canva
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Remove Beverages Containing BVO From Your Home

Since the wheels of government turn slowly, there's no way to know if or when a ban on BVO will happen.

Check you nutrition labels for Brominated Vegetable Oil
Be sure to check product labels for Brominated Vegetable Oil. The FDA will likely ban it, yet it's still in some products. // Canva
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For now, it's better to be on the safe side. Scrutinize those nutrition labels. If you find anything in your pantry or refrigerator that contains brominated vegetable oil, consider tossing it.

For a full list of beverages that still use Brominated Vegetable Oil, click HERE.

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