Decoding the Ingredient List: What sodas have BVO in them?

October 5, 2025 •

3 min read

In July 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule revoking authorization for the food additive brominated vegetable oil (BVO), a substance once common in many citrus-flavored sodas. This regulatory change raises important questions for consumers concerned about their health: What sodas have BVO in them? and what does this mean for the drinks on store shelves today?

Quick Summary

The FDA banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in July 2024 after health concerns emerged. While major brands removed it years ago, some store brands still used it. A one-year compliance period allows for reformulation, meaning consumers should check labels until August 2025.

Key Points

FDA Ban: In July 2024, the FDA banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO), with a one-year compliance period for manufacturers ending August 2, 2025.
Major Brands Already BVO-Free: Large companies like PepsiCo (Mountain Dew, Gatorade) and Coca-Cola (Fanta, Powerade) phased out BVO from their products years ago following public pressure.
Recent BVO Use: Up until the ban, BVO was still found in some store-brand and regional citrus sodas, including Keurig Dr Pepper's Sun Drop and Walmart's Great Value Orangette.
Check the Label: To be certain, consumers should check the ingredient list for “brominated vegetable oil” or “brominated soybean oil” on citrus-flavored drinks, especially until August 2025.
Replaced by Safer Alternatives: Manufacturers are using approved emulsifiers like SAIB or glycerol ester of wood rosin instead of BVO.
Why BVO was Banned: Health concerns, primarily related to potential thyroid and nervous system issues found in animal studies, prompted the FDA's action.

The FDA Ban on Brominated Vegetable Oil

Effective August 2, 2024, the FDA banned BVO in food and beverages, citing new studies indicating potential adverse health effects in rodents, particularly on the thyroid gland. The FDA concluded that BVO's safety for food use was no longer supported.

A one-year compliance period, ending August 2, 2025, allows manufacturers time to reformulate and relabel products. During this time, older inventory containing BVO may still be available. This ban aligns the U.S. with regulations in Europe and Japan, where BVO has been banned for years.

Which Sodas Have Historically Contained BVO?

Historically, many citrus-flavored beverages used BVO. However, following public pressure, major companies voluntarily phased out the ingredient over a decade ago.

Big Brand Reformulations

PepsiCo: Mountain Dew and Gatorade previously contained BVO. PepsiCo removed BVO from Gatorade in 2013 and from all its products by 2016.
Coca-Cola: This company also removed BVO from products like Fanta and Powerade in 2014.
Keurig Dr Pepper: Sun Drop was a national brand that still contained BVO before the ban, and the company is now reformulating the product.

Store and Smaller Brands

More recently, BVO was found in some store-brand and smaller regional beverages.

Walmart's Great Value: Citrus sodas like Orangette and Mountain Lightning contained BVO, and Walmart is working with suppliers to reformulate these.
Giant Food: Some of their store-brand orange sodas also contained BVO and are being reformulated.
Other Brands: Regional grocery chains and smaller companies also offered sodas with BVO.

How to Spot BVO and Its Replacements

Because older stock may be available until August 2025, check the ingredient label for "brominated vegetable oil" or "brominated soybean oil". BVO is typically in cloudy, citrus-flavored drinks.

Alternatives used by manufacturers include sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) or glycerol ester of wood rosin. These are FDA-approved as safe.

Comparing BVO-Containing and BVO-Free Sodas


Feature	Sodas with BVO (Pre-2024/2025)	Sodas without BVO (Current)
Emulsifier	Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)	Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate (SAIB), Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin, etc.
Status	Increasingly rare; banned by FDA as of Aug 2024, with compliance by Aug 2025	Standard across major brands; required for all products in the US by Aug 2025
Health Concerns	Linked to potential thyroid and nervous system issues	Considered safe for consumption at approved levels
Common Brands	Historically included Mountain Dew, Fanta, Gatorade; more recently some store brands like Sun Drop, Great Value	Includes all major brand reformulations; now standard for all US citrus sodas
Labeling	Explicitly listed as “brominated vegetable oil”	Lists alternative emulsifiers or stabilizers

Conclusion: A Clearer Path to a Better Diet

The FDA's ban on BVO marks a significant change. While major companies already removed BVO, the regulation ensures all manufacturers comply. Soon, no soda in the U.S. will contain BVO. This provides clearer choices for consumers, although sodas remain high in sugar or artificial sweeteners. Water or unsweetened tea are healthier options. The history of BVO highlights the importance of reading ingredient labels carefully.

Learn more about the FDA's regulatory actions by visiting the official FDA website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but only older stock can be sold, and this is temporary. The FDA ban on manufacturing new products with BVO took effect on August 2, 2024, with a compliance period for companies to sell existing inventory ending on August 2, 2025.

BVO was used as an emulsifier to keep citrus-flavored oils from separating from the water and floating to the top of beverages. This ensured a consistent and uniform flavor throughout the drink.

Studies in rodents have linked high exposure to BVO with potential adverse health effects on the thyroid gland. Excessive consumption has also been associated with nervous system issues in rare case reports.

Beverage manufacturers have replaced BVO with alternative emulsifiers like sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and glycerol ester of wood rosin, both of which are considered safe for consumption by the FDA.

Yes, brands like Mountain Dew, Fanta, and Gatorade historically contained BVO, but their parent companies, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, phased out the ingredient in the mid-2010s.

The easiest way is to read the ingredient list on the label. Look for "brominated vegetable oil" or "brominated soybean oil." You can also look for cloudy, citrus-flavored sodas, especially from store brands.

Yes, BVO has been banned in many countries for years, including throughout Europe, in Japan, and in India. California also passed a state ban in 2023, preceding the federal regulation.