What products is BVO found in? A guide to the phased-out food additive

October 16, 2025 •

4 min read

In July 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially banned the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food and beverages, marking the end of its decades-long use in the United States. While this is a significant step forward for consumer safety, understanding what products is BVO found in historically is important for checking lingering stock on store shelves.

Quick Summary

BVO was primarily an emulsifier in citrus-flavored sodas and sports drinks, but the FDA officially banned it in 2024. Most major brands reformulated years ago, but some store-brand or older inventory may still contain the ingredient until the August 2025 compliance date.

Key Points

Emulsifier Role: BVO was used primarily as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored beverages to prevent flavor oils from separating.
FDA Ban: The U.S. FDA officially banned BVO in July 2024, with a one-year compliance period for manufacturers.
Pre-Ban Products: Historically, BVO was found in citrus-flavored sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and certain syrups, especially smaller or store-brand products.
Major Brands Reformulated: Companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola removed BVO from products like Gatorade and Fanta years ago in response to consumer pressure.
Check Labels Until August 2025: Due to the one-year compliance window, consumers should still check labels for "brominated vegetable oil" to avoid older stock.
Health Concerns: BVO is linked to potential health issues affecting the thyroid and nervous system, leading to its eventual ban.

What is Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)?

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a complex mixture of plant-derived triglycerides that have been reacted with the element bromine. Its primary function in the food and beverage industry was as an emulsifier. It helped to keep oil-based flavorings, particularly citrus oils, evenly mixed with water-based ingredients, preventing them from separating and floating to the top. For years, this allowed manufacturers to produce visually appealing, cloudy, and consistently flavored fruit-flavored drinks. While initially granted "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) status by the FDA in the 1950s, this status was rescinded in 1970 due to emerging safety concerns. Since then, its use was restricted, and the food industry has been gradually moving away from it.

The Products That Historically Contained BVO

For decades, BVO was a common ingredient in a specific subset of the beverage market. The products you were most likely to find it in were citrus-flavored soft drinks and some sports and energy drinks. Its presence was not universal, as many major brands had already voluntarily removed it over the last decade due to public pressure and international bans.

Historically, the most prominent products containing BVO were:

Regional and Store-Brand Sodas: Many regional and store-brand beverages, particularly orange and citrus-flavored ones, continued to use BVO long after major brands switched to alternatives. Examples cited in recent reports include Walmart's Great Value Orangette orange soda and sodas from brands like D&G Genuine Jamaican.
Sun Drop: This brand, manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper, was one of the most prominent national brands still using BVO in its citrus soda formulation until recently. The company indicated it would be reformulated by the end of 2024 to comply with the new regulations.
Classic Major Brand Drinks (Pre-reformulation): Decades ago, beverages like Mountain Dew, Powerade, and Gatorade contained BVO. However, these products were reformulated and have been BVO-free for many years. For instance, PepsiCo announced BVO removal from Gatorade in 2013 and Coca-Cola followed suit for Powerade and Fanta in 2014.
Some Fruit-Flavored Beverages: In addition to carbonated drinks, some fruit juices and syrup products, particularly those with citrus or spruce oil, also used BVO.

The FDA Ban and How It Impacts Consumers

After years of scientific evaluation and building on state-level actions like California's 2023 ban, the FDA finalized its decision to fully revoke the authorization for BVO's use in July 2024. The ban is effective immediately, but a one-year compliance period allows manufacturers until August 2, 2025, to sell off existing stock and transition to alternative ingredients. This means that until the summer of 2025, it is still possible to find products containing BVO, especially on store shelves that aren't regularly rotated.

How to Identify BVO on a Product Label

To ensure you are avoiding BVO during this transition period, it is crucial to read the ingredient label carefully. BVO will be listed either as "brominated vegetable oil" or, sometimes, as the specific oil that has been brominated, such as "brominated soybean oil". As a quick visual cue, cloudy citrus-flavored drinks are the most likely candidates, especially if they are off-brand or regional products. When in doubt, a quick check of the label provides certainty.

Comparison of BVO vs. BVO Alternatives

Many companies have already switched to alternatives to achieve the same emulsifying effect without the health risks associated with BVO.


Feature	Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)	Common Alternatives (e.g., Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate)
Function	Emulsifies citrus oils and water to prevent separation.	Emulsifies flavor oils and water, also preventing separation.
Health Concerns	Linked to potential thyroid, nervous system, and organ damage based on animal studies and residue accumulation.	Generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.
Regulatory Status	FDA banned as of July 2024 (compliance by Aug 2025).	Approved for use in food and beverages in the U.S..
Market Presence	Phase-out period until August 2025. Primarily found in some regional/store-brand sodas until then.	Used widely in soft drinks and beverages across major brands.

Conclusion

While the FDA's ban on brominated vegetable oil is a welcome move for public health, the one-year transition period means consumers should remain vigilant. For the remainder of 2024 and through the summer of 2025, some products containing BVO may still be on store shelves. By being aware of what products is BVO found in historically, reading ingredient labels, and recognizing the types of drinks where it was most commonly used, consumers can make informed choices to avoid this controversial additive. For continued guidance on food additives, reliable resources like the Center for Science in the Public Interest are valuable. Center for Science in the Public Interest - BVO article

Frequently Asked Questions

BVO is a food additive used to keep citrus flavorings evenly mixed in beverages, preventing them from separating and floating to the top.

Before the 2024 ban, BVO was commonly found in citrus-flavored sodas like Sun Drop and certain store-brand options such as Walmart's Great Value Orangette. Major brands like Mountain Dew and Gatorade have removed it years ago.

Not yet. While the FDA has banned BVO, manufacturers have a one-year compliance period until August 2025 to sell or deplete their existing inventory. You may still find it in older stock during this time.

BVO was banned after animal studies linked it to potential adverse health effects, including harm to the thyroid and nervous system, prompting the FDA to declare it no longer safe.

Beverage manufacturers now use alternatives like sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and gum arabic to achieve the same emulsifying effect. These ingredients are considered safe for use.

Always check the ingredient list on the product's label. Look for "brominated vegetable oil" or "brominated soybean oil". Cloudy citrus-flavored drinks, especially from regional or store brands, are the most likely candidates for still containing it during the transition period.

Yes, BVO was banned in India in 1990, the European Union in 2008, and Japan in 2010. California also banned it in late 2023, preceding the federal ban.

Studies have shown that BVO can leave bromine residues in body fat and tissues like the liver, heart, and brain. High exposure has been linked to thyroid issues and neurological symptoms.