US FDA will no longer allow this potentially harmful additive found in some sodas

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🗞️ Driving the news: The FDA will ban the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food products, effective August 2, 2024
• Companies have one year to reformulate and relabel products containing BVO, a chemical used to stabilize citrus flavoring in sodas

🔭 The context: BVO was removed from the FDA’s Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list in 1970 due to health concerns, though it remained in limited use
• Recent petitions and state legislation, such as California's ban, have increased pressure to eliminate BVO from food products

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The elimination of BVO addresses health risks associated with its accumulation in the body, which can lead to nervous system damage and other health issues
• This decision reflects growing consumer and regulatory focus on safer food additives

⏭️ What's next: As the rule takes effect, beverage makers will need to find alternative ingredients to replace BVO
• The FDA's actions indicate a broader trend of reevaluating food additives based on emerging health evidence and public concern

💬 One quote: “Over the years many beverage makers reformulated their products to replace BVO with an alternative ingredient,” said James Jones, FDA deputy commissioner for human foods

📈 One stat: A 2012 Change.org petition against BVO garnered over 200,000 signatures, highlighting significant public demand for safer food ingredients

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