US FDA bans this popular soda ingredient; know its shocking health risks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned a commonly used soda ingredient for good across the United States last year.

The agency officially banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO), a once-common ingredient in citrus-flavored sodas, following concerns over its potential health risks.

In July 2024, the FDA revoked the registration of BVO in the wake of the toxicology studies.

"The proposed action is an example of how the agency monitors emerging evidence and, as needed, conducts scientific research to investigate safety-related questions, and takes regulatory action when the science does not support the continued safe use of additives in foods," James Jones, FDA deputy commissioner for human foods, said in a statement in 2023 while announcing the proposal. The rule took effect on Aug. 2, 2024, as per the FDA’s recommendation.

Brominated vegetable oil, Which has been used in sodas since the 1930s, helped prevent citrus flavoring agents from separating in beverages. This compound is formed when bromine atoms stick to triglycerides. This process increases the density of oils and floats evenly throughout the water when mixed with less dense fats.

However, several studies suggest that bromine can potentially disrupt thyroid activity by interfering with iodine absorption. Animal studies have shown that this compound can slowly build up in fat tissues, and thereby prevent iodine from doing its function inside the thyroid.

BVO leaves residues of bromine triglycerides in body fat and fat in the liver, heart, and brain. This accumulation can result in bromine toxicity, which causes damage to the central nervous system, headaches, nausea, memory loss, and loss of coordination.

BVO has been banned in many countries, including India, Japan, and nations of the European Union. It was outlawed in the state of California in October 2022 with legislation due to take effect in 2027. However, the FDA was slow to convince. Concerns over BVO’s safety date back decades. In the 1950s, the FDA classified the ingredient as ‘generally recognized as safe’ (GRAS), something given for commonly used additives. Due to reports of toxicity, in the 1960s, the agency revoked its GRAS status and limited BVO’s use to 15 parts per million in citrus-flavored beverages. However, over time, research proved the bromine accumulation in human tissues, which called for its ban altogether.


Many soda drink companies such as PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co. have already removed BVO from their products, reformulating recipes with safer alternatives.

(Pic courtesy: iStock)