Brenda Khan
Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, is a toxic chemical compound that has been used as an additive in soft drinks for decades. In 2013, a Mississippi teenager started an online petition to stop the use of BVO in sports drinks, which attracted over 200,000 signatures. In response, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola pledged to remove BVO from their products, including Diet Pepsi and other drinks like Mountain Dew and Gatorade. So, does Diet Pepsi still contain BVO?
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What You'll Learn
History of BVO use in Pepsi
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) has been used by the soft drink industry since 1931, generally at a level of about 8 parts per million (ppm). In the United States, BVO was designated in 1958 as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, this designation was withdrawn by the FDA in 1970, and restrictions were imposed on the use of BVO as a food additive, limiting its concentration to 15 ppm. Despite this, BVO continued to be used as an additive in dozens of soft drinks for decades, including in popular beverages from major brands like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
PepsiCo's use of BVO became the target of petitions on Change.org, with one started by a Mississippi teenager in 2013 garnering over 200,000 signatures. The petitioners called on the company to stop using BVO, labelling it a "fire retardant chemical". In response, PepsiCo announced in January 2013 that it would no longer use BVO in Gatorade, and in May 2014, the company said it was working to remove BVO from the rest of its products, including Mountain Dew and Amp energy drinks.
By early 2020, PepsiCo confirmed that it no longer uses BVO in any of its products. This decision was made in light of growing public awareness regarding the potential health risks associated with BVO consumption. Studies have shown that BVO can accumulate in the body and lead to detrimental health effects, including memory loss, tremors, fatigue, loss of muscle coordination, headaches, and skin irritation.
In October 2023, California became the first state to ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of BVO, along with three other additives. This led to the FDA revoking regulations allowing the use of BVO in food in July 2024, concluding that its intended use in food is no longer considered safe.
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Health concerns associated with BVO
Diet Pepsi no longer contains BVO. In May 2014, PepsiCo announced that it would remove BVO from its products, and as of early 2020, the company has stopped using BVO in all its products.
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a complex mixture of plant-derived triglycerides that have been modified with atoms of the element bromine bonded to the fat molecules. BVO has been used as an additive in the soft drink industry since 1931 to help emulsify citrus-flavoured beverages and prevent them from separating during distribution. However, BVO has been associated with several health concerns, leading to its removal from many products and bans in several countries.
One of the primary health concerns associated with BVO is its potential impact on neurological health. Studies have shown that when BVO is consumed, it can deposit in the brain and other areas rich in fat, leading to a gradual build-up of bromine in the body. This bioaccumulation can, over time, disrupt neurological functions, as the brain is particularly sensitive to chemical imbalances. High levels of bromine have been linked to neurological symptoms such as memory loss, tremors, fatigue, headaches, and loss of muscle coordination, a constellation of effects known as bromism. Long-term exposure to BVO could potentially exacerbate these symptoms and lead to more serious and persistent neurological conditions.
In addition to neurological concerns, BVO has also been linked to other health problems. Animal studies have suggested that BVO may cause heart and liver problems, as well as behavioural, developmental, and reproductive issues. There are also environmental concerns related to the production and disposal of BVO, which have further emphasised the need for regulatory action.
Due to these health concerns, BVO has been banned in several countries, including those in the European Union and Japan, and removed from many products. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also taken steps to revoke the use of BVO in food products, citing potential adverse health effects in humans.
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BVO removal from Pepsi
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a complex mixture of plant-derived triglycerides that have been modified by atoms of the element bromine bonded to the fat molecules. BVO has been used as an emulsifier in the soft drink industry since 1931, helping to keep ingredients like flavours and colours mixed together and preventing separation during distribution.
In 2013, a petition was started by a 15-year-old girl, Sarah Kavanagh, calling on PepsiCo to remove BVO from its drinks, as it had been linked to adverse health effects. The petition gained over 200,000 signatures, and in January 2013, PepsiCo announced that it would stop using BVO in Gatorade. On May 5, 2014, the company said it was working to remove BVO from the rest of its products, including Mountain Dew and Amp energy drinks.
PepsiCo has faced pressure due to increased consumer awareness of ingredient labels and a preference for natural diets. BVO has been associated with detrimental health effects when consumed over an extended period, including the accumulation of bromine in the body, leading to health issues such as memory loss, muscle coordination problems, and skin conditions.
By early 2020, PepsiCo had stopped using BVO in all its products, replacing it with alternative emulsifiers like sucrose acetate isobutyrate or glycerol ester of rosin. The removal of BVO from Pepsi's drinks reflects the company's response to consumer concerns and its commitment to providing safer and healthier products to its customers.
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BVO alternatives in soft drinks
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a complex mixture of plant-derived triglycerides that have been modified with atoms of the element bromine bonded to the fat molecules. It has been used as an additive in soft drinks, particularly citrus-flavoured beverages, to prevent the drink from separating during distribution and to keep the flavouring from floating to the top.
Due to concerns about its safety, several countries have banned the use of BVO in food and drink products, including the European Union, Japan, India, and Canada. In the United States, BVO was designated as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in 1958, but this designation was withdrawn by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1970. In July 2024, the FDA revoked regulations allowing the use of BVO in food, concluding that it is no longer safe for human consumption.
As a result of the concerns and bans surrounding BVO, soft drink companies have begun to replace it with alternative emulsifiers. Some of the commonly used BVO alternatives in soft drinks include:
- Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB, E444): This is a food additive that can be used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in soft drinks. It is a synthetic compound derived from sucrose (table sugar) and acetic acid.
- Glycerol ester of rosin (ester gum, E445): This is another emulsifier that is commonly used as a replacement for BVO in the European Union and India. It is derived from wood rosin or gum rosin and is used to stabilize and emulsify soft drinks.
- Locust bean gum: This natural emulsifier is also commonly used as a replacement for BVO in the European Union. It is derived from the seeds of the carob tree and is used to stabilize and thicken soft drinks.
These alternative emulsifiers allow soft drink companies to create products that are free from BVO while still maintaining the desired texture, appearance, and stability.
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BVO regulation
In the United States, BVO was designated in 1958 as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, this was withdrawn in 1970, and the US Code of Federal Regulations imposed restrictions on the use of BVO as a food additive, limiting its concentration to 15 ppm, with the amount of free fatty acids restricted to 2.5 percent and the iodine value to 16.
In the US, the use of BVO requires disclosure on a product's label, allowing consumers to avoid it. In 2022, the US FDA partnered with the US National Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIEHS) to fund and conduct a 90-day study in rodents to better understand the potential health effects of BVO after repeated exposure. The study found that even at the lowest dose level of ~1 mg/kg-bw per day, there were increased tissue levels of brominated fats in the heart, liver, and fat tissues. This indicated that human exposure to BVO may result in increased tissue concentrations of bromine.
In July 2024, the FDA revoked regulations allowing the use of BVO in food, concluding that it is no longer considered safe for human consumption due to potential adverse health effects, including headaches and nervous system damage. California became the first state to ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of BVO, along with three other additives.
Outside of the US, BVO has faced stricter regulations and bans. In the European Union, BVO has been banned since 2008, with any products containing BVO being pulled from shelves upon discovery. India has prohibited the use of BVO in soft drinks since 1990, and Japan banned BVO as a food additive in 2010.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Diet Pepsi does not contain BVO. In 2014, PepsiCo announced that it would remove BVO from all of its products, including Gatorade and Mountain Dew.
BVO, or Brominated Vegetable Oil, is a toxic chemical that has been used as an additive in soft drinks for decades. It acts as an emulsifier, helping to keep ingredients like flavours and colours mixed together.
BVO has been linked to various health problems, including skin irritation, memory loss, muscle coordination problems, and even more severe ailments like cancer. In 2013, a Mississippi teenager started an online petition to stop the use of BVO in sports drinks, which attracted over 200,000 signatures. Following this, PepsiCo pledged to remove BVO from its products.
