The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to ban a commonly used ingredient found in fruity sodas and sports drinks due to its potential harm to humans. The agency is proposing a denial of registration for brominated vegetable oil (BVO).
BVO has been a key component in citrus-flavored sodas since the 1930s. Its role is to keep citrus flavorings evenly mixed in the beverage, preventing them from floating to the top. The ingredient accomplishes this by attaching bromine atoms to a triglyceride, creating a dense oil that effectively mixes with water.
However, animal studies have raised concerns about the accumulation of BVO in fat tissues, as well as the potential interference of bromine with iodine in the thyroid. Several countries, including India, Japan, and EU nations, have already banned BVO. California has also passed legislation to outlaw BVO, effective from 2027.
The FDA has had a changing stance on BVO over the years. In the 1950s, it was classified as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), but concerns about its toxicity led to a reversal of its GRAS status in the 1960s. At that time, the FDA allowed BVO only in limited concentrations (up to 15 parts per million) in citrus-flavored drinks.
Ongoing research on the risks of small amounts of BVO over time has been challenging, requiring lengthy studies with substantial sample sizes. However, recent animal studies, taking into account the concentrations of BVO that humans might ingest, have convinced the FDA that a complete ban is warranted.
Fortunately, major soda companies such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co. have already been phasing out BVO from their products for the past decade. The FDA’s proposed ban on BVO could potentially trigger further regulatory shifts, as the agency is reviewing rules for specific food additives and considering automatic prohibition of food coloring agents found to be carcinogenic.
The final decision on the FDA’s reclassification of BVO is expected in early 2024. With effective alternatives already in use, it is unlikely that the removal of BVO from citrus beverages will be missed.
For those interested in providing public comments on the proposed ban for BVO, NBC News reported that comments will be accepted until January 17, 2024.
In the meantime, for more health-related reports, visit the TechTimes Health section.
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