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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked the registration of a modified vegetable oil known as BVO, following recent toxicology studies that question the rationale for its continued use.
– The Food and Drug Administration's action is an example of how the agency monitors emerging signals and, when necessary, conducts scientific research to investigate safety issues and takes regulatory action when science does not support the continued use of additives in food – says sciencealert.com James Jones, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods.
BVO, i.e. brominated vegetable oil
BVO, or brominated vegetable oil, has been used as an emulsifying agent since the 1930s. It is intended to ensure that citrus beverage flavorings do not float on the surface of carbonated beverages. "Sticking" a dozen or so bromine atoms to triglyceride creates a thick oil that floats evenly in water when mixed with less dense fats.
Animal studies suggest that this compound may slowly accumulate in our fatty tissues. Given bromine's potential ability to prevent iodine from doing its most important job in the thyroid gland, health authorities around the world have suspected the risks of the emulsifier for decades.
In fact, BVO is already banned in many countries, including India, Japan and European Union countries, and was declared illegal in the state of California in October 2022, but the regulations are scheduled to come into force in 2027.
Health effects of BVO
According to Consumer Reports, citing a database maintained by the Environmental Working Group, the liquid-mixing agent is used in about 70 sodas and other drinks, most of which have bright colors and citrus, orange or pineapple flavors.
– Toxic additives like BVO, which pose a risk to thyroid and other chronic health problems, should not be allowed in our food. "We are pleased that the FDA has re-examined recent studies documenting the health risks posed by BVO and is taking action to ban its use," said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, quoted by cbsnews.com.
There are case reports of side effects associated with excessive consumption of products containing BVO, according to Wikipedia. In one case, a man who consumed two to four liters of a soda containing BVO daily experienced memory loss, tremors, fatigue, loss of muscle coordination, headache, and right eyelid ptosis, as well as elevated serum chloride levels. The patient also lost the ability to walk. Ultimately, bromine poisoning was diagnosed and hemodialysis was recommended, which resolved the disease.
