What is the banned ingredient in Mountain Dew?

November 11, 2025 •

2 min read

For years, consumers have questioned the ingredients behind Mountain Dew's unique flavor and consistency, with many pointing to a chemical banned in over 100 countries. The specific banned ingredient in Mountain Dew was brominated vegetable oil, or BVO. Once used to stabilize citrus flavorings, BVO faced increasing scrutiny due to potential health risks, which ultimately led to its removal from the beverage by PepsiCo.

Quick Summary

This article details the history and function of brominated vegetable oil (BVO), the additive once used in Mountain Dew. It covers the health concerns that prompted its removal by PepsiCo and the recent broader ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Key Points

The Banned Ingredient: Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) was the additive used in Mountain Dew that has since been banned.
Function of BVO: BVO served as an emulsifier, preventing citrus flavorings from separating from the rest of the beverage.
Reason for the Ban: The ingredient was banned due to increasing evidence from animal studies showing that BVO could accumulate in fatty tissues and cause potential neurological and thyroid problems.
Global Restrictions: BVO has been banned or restricted in numerous countries for decades, including the UK since 1970, the EU since 2008, and Canada as of 2024.
PepsiCo's Reformulation: PepsiCo removed BVO from Mountain Dew and other products years before the final U.S. ban in response to consumer concerns.
Final U.S. Action: The U.S. FDA issued a final ban on BVO in July 2024, effective August 2, 2024, giving manufacturers a year to comply.
Modern Alternatives: Today, safer alternatives like sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) or ester gum are used to achieve the same stabilizing effect.

The Controversial History of Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a modified vegetable oil used in beverages since the 1920s. Its purpose was to prevent oil-based flavorings from separating from water in drinks, ensuring a consistent mixture and cloudy look. It was widely used in citrus drinks like Mountain Dew.

Why BVO Was Considered a Risk

BVO was initially deemed 'generally recognized as safe' (GRAS) but was reclassified in 1970 due to animal study concerns. It was allowed on an 'interim' basis in limited amounts, but health concerns persisted. Animal studies indicated BVO led to bromine accumulation in fatty tissues and organs. While human effects were unclear, high bromine levels (bromism) can cause neurological issues. A 2022 study highlighted the thyroid as a target organ for adverse effects.

The Industry Responds and the Global Ban

Facing pressure and new data, beverage companies began removing BVO. PepsiCo announced its removal from products like Mountain Dew in 2014, with the ingredient officially phased out later. Other companies, including Coca-Cola, also removed BVO. Many countries had already banned BVO, including the UK (1970), EU (2008), and Japan (2010). Canada also banned BVO in 2024.

Comparison of BVO-Containing vs. BVO-Free Beverages


Feature	BVO-Containing Beverage (Before 2016)	BVO-Free Beverage (Modern)
Emulsifier	Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)	Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate (SAIB), Ester Gum, or other alternatives
Appearance	Cloudy and consistent due to BVO's density-adjusting properties	Maintained stability through alternative emulsifiers; appearance is often indistinguishable from older versions
Health Concerns	Linked to bromine accumulation in fatty tissues, potential thyroid issues, and neurological effects	No BVO-related health concerns; modern alternatives are deemed safer by regulatory bodies
Market Availability	No longer legally available in the U.S. or many other countries as of 2024/2025	Widespread availability in compliance with current regulations
Flavor	Some consumers report a difference in taste, attributing it to the presence of BVO	The flavor is maintained through reformulated recipes and ingredient alternatives

The Final U.S. Ban

The U.S. FDA finalized a ban on BVO in July 2024, effective August 2024, citing new scientific evidence that it's not safe. Manufacturers have one year to comply. This action completes its global ban journey, though older products may still be available temporarily.

Conclusion: Looking Beyond BVO

The removal of BVO from drinks like Mountain Dew highlights the need for continuous assessment of food ingredients. BVO was used for a cosmetic effect potentially at the expense of health. Safer alternatives now achieve the same result. The BVO ban underscores the importance of transparency in food production. Consumers can make informed choices by reading labels. For more on food additives and chemical safety, resources like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are helpful.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Mountain Dew no longer contains brominated vegetable oil (BVO). PepsiCo, the manufacturer, removed the ingredient from its recipe several years ago in response to consumer pressure and health concerns.

BVO is a vegetable oil modified with bromine, which was used as a food additive to keep citrus flavorings from separating from the rest of the liquid in drinks. It served as an emulsifier to maintain a consistent mixture and cloudy appearance.

BVO was banned due to health concerns identified through animal studies, which showed that bromine from the oil could accumulate in fatty tissues and organs like the heart, liver, and thyroid. The FDA concluded there was no longer a reasonable certainty of its safety.

While the final U.S. ban was enacted in July 2024, BVO has been restricted or banned in many other countries for decades. The UK banned it in 1970, the EU in 2008, and Japan in 2010. Canada also recently moved to ban it in 2024.

Beverage manufacturers have replaced BVO with alternative emulsifiers that are considered safe by regulatory bodies. Common alternatives include sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and glycerol ester of wood rosin (ester gum).

Potential health effects linked to BVO included bromine accumulation in fat and organs, which could interfere with thyroid function. High consumption has also been associated with neurological symptoms like headaches, memory loss, and fatigue in some individuals.

The U.S. FDA's ban, which went into effect in August 2024, gave manufacturers a one-year grace period to reformulate their products and sell off existing inventory. This means BVO-containing products could potentially remain on shelves until August 2025.