What is Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)?
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a food additive used to stabilize citrus flavorings in soft drinks and other beverages. By bonding atoms of bromine to vegetable oil, manufacturers could create an emulsifier that prevented the oil-based flavoring from separating from the water-based liquid, ensuring the flavor remained uniformly distributed and the drink appeared cloudy. Its use dated back to the 1930s, and for a time, it was considered 'Generally Recognized as Safe' (GRAS) by the FDA. However, this designation was removed in 1970 due to emerging toxicity concerns from animal studies.
The Function and Concerns of BVO
For decades, BVO was used in small amounts (up to 15 parts per million) in many citrus-flavored sodas sold in North America. While its function was purely cosmetic—to keep the beverage's appearance consistent—concerns arose due to studies indicating that bromine from BVO can accumulate in the body's fat tissue, liver, and heart. This accumulation was linked to a rare condition called 'bromism' in cases of extreme, chronic consumption, which manifested as neurological symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and memory loss. Animal studies also showed potential thyroid and organ damage at high doses. These health risks eventually led to its banning in several countries long before the U.S. began taking action.
The Timeline of BVO's Removal from PepsiCo and Regulatory Action
- 2013: A petition by a Mississippi teenager to remove BVO from Gatorade gains traction, pressuring PepsiCo. The company announces its decision to remove the ingredient from Gatorade products.
- 2014: Both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola announce they will remove BVO from all their respective beverages. This was a company-wide pledge, although some fruit-flavored drinks like Mountain Dew were slower to transition.
- 2020: A USA Today fact-check confirms that Mountain Dew no longer contains BVO, indicating the ingredient's phase-out from major PepsiCo brands was complete.
- 2023: California passes a state law (AB 418) to ban BVO, along with three other additives, effective in 2027.
- July 2024: The FDA finalizes its rule to revoke the regulation allowing BVO in food nationwide. The decision cites new NIH-collaboration studies showing potential adverse health effects.
- August 2025: The FDA's enforcement date. All beverage products sold in the U.S. must be free of BVO by this time, providing a final push for any remaining brands to comply.
What Replaced BVO in Diet Pepsi and Other Sodas?
After removing BVO, beverage companies replaced it with alternative emulsifiers to maintain the visual appeal and flavor stability of their products. For Diet Pepsi, where a cloudy effect was less critical than in citrus-flavored sodas, the change was part of a larger ingredient evolution. In other beverages where an emulsifier was needed, replacements like sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) or glycerol ester of rosin (GEOR) were adopted. These are deemed safer for consumption and have been approved for use in other countries for years.
Comparison of Emulsifiers in Soft Drinks
| Feature | Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) | Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate (SAIB) | Glycerol Ester of Rosin (GEOR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Emulsifier and stabilizer for citrus oils | Emulsifier and stabilizer for flavorings | Emulsifier and clouding agent |
| Primary Use | Citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks | Flavor-containing beverages; often replaces BVO | Flavor-containing beverages; often replaces BVO |
| Safety Profile | Concerns over accumulation in body tissue and potential thyroid effects | Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA | Approved for use as a food additive |
| Current Status | Banned in the U.S., Europe, Japan, India, and Canada | Approved worldwide; used in PepsiCo products | Approved worldwide; used in some beverages |
How to Check for BVO in Other Products
While major brands like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have removed BVO from their products, it's still possible to find the ingredient in some smaller, store-brand, or older inventory products. Since the FDA ban was enacted in 2024 with a compliance deadline of August 2025, vigilance is still wise for specific products. If you are uncertain whether a beverage contains the additive, check the ingredient list on the label. You may see it listed as 'brominated vegetable oil' or 'brominated soybean oil'. Most BVO-containing drinks are citrus or fruit-flavored, and a consistent, cloudy appearance can sometimes be a subtle clue, though relying on the label is the most reliable method.
Conclusion: A Broader Trend in Nutrition Diet
The removal of brominated vegetable oil from Diet Pepsi and other major soft drinks is part of a larger trend toward increased consumer awareness and safer food production. The journey of BVO, from a common emulsifier to a phased-out and ultimately banned additive, highlights the power of consumer advocacy in driving change within the food industry and influencing regulatory bodies like the FDA. While Diet Pepsi is now free of BVO, this serves as a good reminder for consumers to remain attentive to ingredient labels, especially for less-common and store-brand products, as the transition to BVO-free production continues across the market. This shift towards greater ingredient transparency offers a positive step forward in the conversation about nutrition and processed foods. For more information on BVO and the FDA's regulatory action, you can visit the official FDA page on the topic.
