Is there BVO in Coca-Cola?

January 13, 2026 •

3 min read

In 2014, the Coca-Cola company publicly announced its decision to remove brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from all its products. No, there is currently no BVO in Coca-Cola, but the history of this ingredient and subsequent regulatory changes have left many consumers with questions about their favorite beverages.

Quick Summary

Coca-Cola has not contained brominated vegetable oil (BVO) since the company voluntarily phased out the ingredient in 2014, in response to consumer pressure and evolving health concerns. Though historically used as an emulsifier in some citrus-flavored drinks, recent FDA actions have banned BVO across the food supply.

Key Points

BVO was never in Coca-Cola Classic: The additive was formerly used in specific citrus and fruit-flavored products by The Coca-Cola Company, such as certain Powerade and Fanta varieties, not the main cola beverage.
Coca-Cola removed BVO in 2014: The company voluntarily phased out brominated vegetable oil from all its products in 2014 in response to growing consumer concerns.
BVO is now federally banned: In July 2024, the FDA issued a final rule revoking authorization for BVO in all food and beverages in the United States, based on updated safety concerns.
BVO was used as an emulsifier: The ingredient's primary function was to keep flavorings suspended and prevent them from separating in beverages.
Alternatives are used today: Coca-Cola replaced BVO with alternatives like sucrose acetate isobutyrate and glycerol ester of rosin, which are both approved food additives.
Check labels for older products: Though major brands are compliant, consumers should still check labels on smaller or older products, especially store brands, as manufacturers had until August 2025 to comply with the federal ban.

The BVO Controversy and Coca-Cola's Response

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a modified vegetable oil used as an emulsifier, primarily to keep citrus flavoring from separating and rising to the surface of beverages. While it served a cosmetic function, its use came under intense scrutiny due to health concerns and an evolving regulatory landscape. For decades, the ingredient's use in the U.S. was governed by an "interim" authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, after a wave of consumer petitions and increasing public awareness, major beverage companies began to act proactively.

In 2014, following a public campaign, Coca-Cola officially announced its decision to remove BVO from all its products. This move included brands that historically contained the additive, such as certain flavors of Fanta and Powerade. The company stated that while it considered BVO safe, it was making the change in response to consumer demand and to create a more consistent ingredient list across its global product portfolio, as BVO was already banned in many other countries.

The FDA's Landmark Decision to Ban BVO

The voluntary actions of large companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were significant, but the final, definitive blow to BVO in the U.S. came much later. In July 2024, after reviewing new data from studies, the FDA issued a final rule revoking its authorization for BVO as a food additive. The FDA concluded that, based on recent research showing potential for adverse health effects, including impacts on the thyroid, the use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe.

This federal ban, which follows state-level bans like California's Food Safety Act of 2023, effectively closes the chapter on BVO's presence in the American food supply. Manufacturers were given a one-year transition period, until August 2025, to comply with the ban.

Coca-Cola's Replacement Ingredients

When Coca-Cola phased out BVO, it reformulated its products using alternative, approved emulsifiers. The company primarily switched to two main ingredients:

Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB): Used in beverages for decades and considered a safe alternative for stabilizing emulsions.
Glycerol ester of rosin (GEOR): A food additive commonly used in drinks and chewing gum to help stabilize flavors.

This reformulation ensured that the visual appeal and flavor stability of products like Fanta and Powerade were maintained without using the controversial ingredient.

A Comparison of BVO and its Replacements


Feature	Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)	Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate (SAIB)	Glycerol Ester of Rosin (GEOR)
Function	Emulsifier for citrus flavors	Emulsifier for citrus flavors	Emulsifier for citrus flavors
Controversy	Yes, tied to health concerns and banned in many countries	Minimal, widely accepted food additive	Minimal, widely accepted food additive
Regulatory Status	FDA banned in 2024; formerly interim approval	FDA approved	FDA approved
Accumulation in Body	Can accumulate in fat tissue	Does not accumulate in fat tissue	Does not accumulate in fat tissue
Use in Coca-Cola	Formerly used in some products (removed 2014)	Used as a BVO replacement	Used as a BVO replacement

The Shift to Cleaner Ingredients

The BVO saga represents a larger trend in the food and beverage industry, driven by consumer demand for cleaner and more transparent labels. Public pressure, fueled by online petitions and consumer groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), played a crucial role in pushing corporations to move faster than federal regulators.

Lists of ingredients in beverages are changing for the better, with manufacturers opting for alternatives that lack the baggage of controversial additives. This allows companies to align with international standards and build greater trust with a health-conscious consumer base. For more information on the history and regulation of food additives, the official FDA website offers extensive resources on the topic.

Conclusion: A Clear Answer and a Changing Industry

In short, you can rest assured that Coca-Cola does not contain BVO. The company removed the controversial additive from its entire product line in 2014, well before the FDA's final ban in 2024. This decision highlights the increasing influence of consumer awareness on corporate practices and food safety standards. The BVO story serves as a reminder of how public concern can drive significant and lasting changes in the food and beverage industry, pushing for safer ingredients and greater transparency for all. Consumers should always check product labels, especially for store brands, to ensure compliance with the new regulations as older inventory is phased out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, some of The Coca-Cola Company's other products, such as certain flavors of Powerade and Fanta, contained BVO, but not the flagship Coca-Cola beverage itself.

Coca-Cola announced the removal of BVO from all of its products that used the ingredient in 2014, well before the federal ban went into effect.

Following a final rule by the FDA in July 2024, BVO is banned in all food and beverages in the U.S. However, some smaller or store-brand products may have been available until the August 2025 compliance deadline.

BVO, or brominated vegetable oil, is an emulsifier that was used to keep citrus flavorings from separating. It was removed due to consumer pressure and accumulating health concerns, which ultimately led the FDA to conclude it is not safe.

Coca-Cola uses alternative emulsifiers such as sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and glycerol ester of rosin (GEOR) to maintain the stability of its flavored drinks.

Yes, BVO has been banned in many countries and regions, including the European Union, Japan, and Canada, for many years. Major global companies like Coca-Cola began reformulating their products to align with these international standards.

For absolute certainty, consumers can check the ingredient lists on beverage labels, especially for fruit-flavored drinks. However, all major brands are now BVO-free, and the additive is federally banned.