BVO: A Controversial History in Soft Drinks
For decades, the beverage industry used brominated vegetable oil (BVO) as a stabilizer to prevent the separation of citrus flavorings in soft drinks. However, BVO's history is clouded by decades-old safety questions and increasing consumer advocacy. In the late 1960s, the FDA removed BVO from its list of ingredients Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) after toxicity studies on animals raised concerns. Its approval remained on an interim basis for years, pending further study, even as countries like the UK, Japan, and the European Union banned its use entirely.
Public awareness of BVO's status intensified in the early 2010s, with online petitions gaining significant traction. A viral online campaign led by a teenager in 2013 specifically targeted PepsiCo's Gatorade, pushing the company to remove BVO from that product first. By 2014, both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo announced they would remove the ingredient from all of their drinks, citing global ingredient consistency. While the change was swift for many products, BVO lingered in some formulations, including Mountain Dew, for a few more years.
Why Was BVO Removed from Mountain Dew?
The decision to reformulate Mountain Dew was driven by several key factors:
- Mounting Consumer Pressure: The viral nature of social media campaigns put immense pressure on beverage companies to justify the use of a controversial ingredient.
- Health Concerns: While industry regulators maintained that BVO levels in soda were safe, decades-old animal studies indicated potential health issues, including harm to the thyroid and nervous system at high doses.
- Regulatory Scrutiny: The FDA’s decision in 2024 to issue a final ban on BVO, effective in 2025, put an official end to its use in the U.S.. This was preceded by state-level action, such as California’s 2023 ban on BVO and other additives.
- Global Market Consistency: To streamline production and distribution, large companies prefer to use consistent formulas across different regions. Since BVO was already banned in many countries, removing it from U.S. products was a logical step.
Comparison of Old vs. New Mountain Dew Ingredients
| Feature | Mountain Dew (Pre-2020) | Mountain Dew (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Emulsifier | Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) | Gum Arabic, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate (SAIB), or other alternatives |
| Function | Keeps citrus oils from separating and floating to the top | Serves the same purpose of suspending flavorings |
| Health Status | Considered safe at low concentrations, but under increased scrutiny | Considered safe for consumption by current regulations |
| Availability | Phased out of products globally | Meets current regulatory standards in all markets |
The Ingredients in Mountain Dew Today
With BVO gone, PepsiCo reformulated Mountain Dew to use alternative emulsifiers and ingredients. A typical ingredients list for Mountain Dew now includes:
- Carbonated Water: The base of the soda, providing its characteristic fizz.
- High Fructose Corn Syrup: The primary sweetener in the United States.
- Concentrated Orange Juice and Natural Flavors: Provide the citrus taste.
- Citric Acid: A flavor enhancer and preservative derived from citrus fruits.
- Sodium Benzoate: A preservative used to maintain freshness.
- Caffeine: A stimulant that adds a kick to the beverage.
- Gum Arabic: A plant-based ingredient that functions as a natural emulsifier.
- Calcium Disodium EDTA: An additive used to protect flavor.
- Yellow 5: An artificial color that gives Mountain Dew its signature hue.
What are BVO's Replacements?
As mentioned, gum arabic is a key alternative used by PepsiCo. Other options used in the industry include Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate (SAIB) and Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin (Ester Gum). These alternatives function similarly to BVO by weighing down the citrus oils, preventing them from separating and creating a consistent, stable emulsion. These ingredients have a more established safety record and are approved for use in a wider range of countries, eliminating the global inconsistency BVO once caused.
Conclusion
No, Mountain Dew does not contain BVO. Following years of consumer pressure, growing health concerns, and impending regulatory bans, PepsiCo phased out the controversial ingredient from all its products, including Mountain Dew, around 2020. The company now uses safer, globally accepted alternatives like gum arabic to stabilize its citrus flavorings. This definitive shift means that the rumors linking the modern beverage to BVO and flame retardant properties are now outdated. While BVO was a part of its past, today's Mountain Dew has a reformulated ingredient list that meets contemporary health standards and consumer expectations.
Final Takeaway on BVO in Mountain Dew
- No Longer an Ingredient: Mountain Dew was reformulated around 2020 to remove BVO.
- Replaced by Alternatives: The stabilizing function of BVO is now performed by additives like gum arabic.
- Why It Was Removed: Consumer pressure and health concerns led PepsiCo to phase out the controversial additive.
- Global Ingredient Standard: Removing BVO allowed PepsiCo to use a consistent formula worldwide, as many countries had already banned it.
- Recent FDA Ban: A federal ban on BVO in the U.S. took effect in August 2024, cementing its removal from the food supply.
