The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has introduced a proposal to ban the use of brominated vegetable oil, a substance that is already banned in Europe and Japan, within the United States. This move comes in response to the potential for significant health effects in humans.
Dangerous Ingredient Found in Sodas
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Following the lead of California, the FDA has decided to ban brominated vegetable oil after the state passed the California Food Safety Act in October, making it the first U.S. state to do so.
Ending Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil
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The proposal, initiated on November 2, would essentially eliminate the existing regulation that permits the use of this chemical.
Health Risks Reexamined
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While the FDA had previously permitted the use of bromine-modified vegetable oil in small amounts to prevent the separation of citrus flavoring in certain beverages, recent findings from the FDA have brought about a significant change in its safety classification.
Thyroid Health at Risk
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The findings indicate that the buildup of bromine has a detrimental effect on the thyroid, which is a key gland in the human body as it regulates metabolism, controls blood pressure and energy production, and affects various vital functions.
Skin and Memory Issues
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Besides the thyroid-related risks, Brominated vegetable oil has also been linked to skin and mucous membrane irritation, memory issues, fatigue, and loss of muscle coordination.
FDA Declares the Additive Unsafe
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The discovery of these significant risks to the body has led the FDA to classify the ongoing use of BVO in food as unsafe, marking a departure from its previous "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) designation from the 1970s.
Safety Reassessment
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The FDA stated: “The agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health … found the potential for adverse health effects in humans.”
In Response to Science
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The statement, issued by the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods James Jones, continues, "The proposed action is an example of how the agency monitors emerging evidence and, as needed, conducts scientific research to investigate safety related questions, and takes regulatory action when the science does not support the continued safe use of additives in foods."
Sodas and Flame Retardants Has BVO
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Brominated vegetable oil, which involves modifying vegetable oil with bromine, a deep red, strong-smelling oily chemical, is used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored drinks to prevent the flavoring from separating and rising to the surface. Bromine is also a prevalent component in flame retardants.
It May Be in Your Diet
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The Environmental Working Group's Eat Well Guide, a nonprofit group dedicated to consumer health, toxins, and pollutants, suggests that numerous products, predominantly sodas, may contain brominated vegetable oil as an ingredient.
Market Pressure led to BVO Removal
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A 2012 petition, backed by over 200,000 signatures, highlighted the potential health risks of the substance and mentioned that lots of companies responded to market pressure by removing its use in consumer products.
Keeping Food Safe
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The FDA states that it maintains an ongoing evaluation of the safety of different chemicals in food to ensure alignment with the most up-to-date scientific research and legal obligations, which includes the recent California law.
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