What Soft Drinks Contain Brominated Vegetable Oil?

November 25, 2025 •

3 min read

As of August 2, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially banned the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in all food products. This means that manufacturers must reformulate their products, so while many major brands have already removed the chemical, you may still find older stock or certain smaller brands that contain brominated vegetable oil until early 2025.

Quick Summary

An ingredient once used to stabilize citrus flavors in sodas, brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is now banned in the U.S. by the FDA due to health concerns. This comprehensive guide covers formerly common BVO-containing drinks, brands that have reformulated, and which products may still temporarily contain the additive.

Key Points

Recent Ban: The U.S. FDA officially banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in August 2024, with manufacturers having until August 2025 to comply.
Formerly Common: Many popular citrus sodas and sports drinks like Mountain Dew, Gatorade, and Fanta previously contained BVO to stabilize flavors.
Major Brands Reformulated: PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have already removed BVO from their product lines, often replacing it with alternative stabilizers.
Check Labels for Smaller Brands: Certain regional and store-brand sodas, such as Sun Drop and some Walmart 'Great Value' varieties, may still contain BVO until the ban's compliance date.
Health Concerns: The ban was prompted by studies showing that high BVO consumption could lead to accumulation in the body's fatty tissues and potential adverse health effects on the thyroid and nervous system.
Global Alignment: The U.S. is now aligned with many other regions, including Europe, Japan, and Canada, which have had long-standing bans on BVO.

A Closer Look at the BVO Ban and Its Impact

After safety reviews indicating potential adverse health effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized its ban on brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in 2024. The ban followed consumer advocacy, particularly regarding its use in citrus-flavored soft drinks. While most major companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola phased out BVO years ago, some smaller and store-brand products continued to use it. Companies have until August 2025 to comply, so label checking is important.

Which Soft Drinks Have Historically Contained BVO?

Many well-known citrus drinks once contained BVO to emulsify flavoring oils and prevent separation. Below are examples of drinks that previously contained the additive and have since been reformulated:

Mountain Dew: PepsiCo removed BVO from Mountain Dew and other products.
Powerade (certain flavors): Coca-Cola removed BVO from all its products, including Powerade, in 2014.
Fanta (Orange): Coca-Cola also reformulated Fanta to remove BVO.
Gatorade (certain flavors): PepsiCo removed BVO from Gatorade in 2013.
Fresca: This Coca-Cola product also had BVO removed.
Squirt and Sunkist Peach Soda: These formerly contained BVO.

Beverages That May Still Contain BVO Temporarily

Some products may still contain BVO until early to mid-2025, particularly regional or store-brand soft drinks.

Sun Drop: As of mid-2024, it was one of the few national brands still containing BVO, though reformulation is underway.
Great Value (Walmart Brand) Orangette Orange Soda: Some stock may remain as Walmart reformulates.
Great Value (Walmart Brand) Mountain Lightning Citrus Soda: This item historically contained BVO.
Food Lion Brand Sodas (certain citrus flavors): These regional brands have also been cited for containing BVO.
Other store-brand beverages: Checking ingredients on citrus-flavored generic sodas is crucial.

BVO vs. Common Alternatives: A Comparison


Feature	Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)	Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate (SAIB)	Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin (Ester Gum)
Function	Emulsifier, density adjusting agent	Emulsifier, density adjusting agent	Emulsifier, stabilizer
Regulatory Status (U.S.)	Banned (effective Aug 2024)	Permitted	Permitted
Mechanism	Adds bromine to fatty acid molecules to increase density.	A sucrose derivative that is stable and effective.	A complex mixture of rosin and glycerin.
Health Concerns	Accumulates in body fat, liver, and brain; linked to thyroid and neurological issues.	No significant health concerns at currently approved levels.	Considered safe for use in beverages.
Historical Use	Used widely in citrus drinks until recent bans.	Adopted by many companies after removing BVO.	A common alternative used globally for many years.
Consumer Visibility	Explicitly listed as 'brominated vegetable oil'.	Explicitly listed as 'sucrose acetate isobutyrate'.	Listed as 'glycerol ester of wood rosin' or 'Ester Gum'.

The Future of Soft Drinks Without BVO

The FDA ban aligns the U.S. with many countries where BVO is prohibited. The phase-out period allows for reformulation, and taste and texture are not expected to change significantly with alternative stabilizers. Consumers should check labels on citrus-flavored sodas, especially off-brands, until August 2025. The ban promotes a safer food supply.

For more on food additives and consumer safety, visit the Center for Science in the Public Interest website.

Conclusion

While BVO was common in citrus soft drinks, it is now banned in the U.S. and globally due to health concerns. Major companies removed it years ago, but some smaller brands may still contain it until mid-2024. Checking labels remains key until the August 2025 compliance date. This ban reflects evolving food safety standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

BVO was used as an emulsifier and density adjusting agent in citrus-flavored soft drinks to keep the flavoring oils suspended in the liquid, preventing them from separating and floating to the top.

Most major brands have long since removed BVO. Examples include Mountain Dew, all Coca-Cola products (including Fanta and Fresca), and Gatorade, which were reformulated in the mid-2010s.

Yes, some regional and store-brand products may still contain BVO until August 2025, when manufacturers must comply with the FDA ban. It's best to check the ingredient label to be certain.

In high concentrations, bromine from BVO can build up in body tissues, potentially causing bromine toxicity. Studies have also linked BVO to negative health effects on the thyroid and nervous system in animal studies.

Common alternatives to BVO include sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and glycerol ester of wood rosin (ester gum), both of which are approved for use as emulsifiers.

The most reliable way is to read the ingredients label. BVO will be explicitly listed as 'brominated vegetable oil'. Until August 2025, it's wise to check any citrus-flavored soda, especially from a smaller brand.

Yes, BVO has been banned in many other countries for years, including Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.