Brominated Vegetable Oil

Brominated vegetable oil is a food-grade vegetable oil chemically modified through a reaction with bromine. It has been used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavoured soft drinks to prevent flavour oils from separating and floating to the surface, giving beverages a consistent, slightly cloudy appearance.

Safety concerns centre on the accumulation of bromine-containing compounds in body fat and tissues with chronic exposure. Animal studies have shown thyroid disruption and neurological effects at high doses. No acceptable daily intake has ever been established by JECFA or EFSA, reflecting the lack of adequate safety data for long-term human exposure.

BVO has been banned in the European Union, Japan, and India. In the United States, the FDA revoked its GRAS status in July 2024 and prohibited its use in food. Major soft drink manufacturers reformulated years before the ban. If you still see it listed on a label, the product is likely old stock or manufactured in a country without the prohibition.