00:00 Brominated vegetable oil or BVO is a common food additive used to help citrus soda maintain its tangy flavor.
00:07 There's just one problem. There's growing evidence it's toxic and the ingredient has already been banned in many parts of the world, including Europe and Japan.
00:15 The additive has been used in food since the 1930s. However, more recent studies have shown that it may build up in fatty tissue.
00:22 That's a problem because bromine can restrict the effectiveness of iodine inside our thyroid glands, meaning it could pose a risk to human health.
00:30 The FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, James Jones, had this to say about the recent decision.
00:35 "The proposed action is an example of how the agency monitors emerging evidence and, as needed, conducts scientific research to investigate safety-related questions
00:44 and takes regulatory action when the science does not support the continued safe use of additives in food."
00:50 It's been a long road for the FDA to reach this consensus, having limited BVO and its use to specific amounts and only in citrus-flavored drinks since the 1960s.
00:59 California even issued a state ban on the ingredient in 2022. However, it won't go into effect until 2027.
01:06 And soda companies seem ready for this legislation, with both PepsiCo and Coca-ColaCo having already begun to phase BVO out of their products over the last 10 years.
01:16 [MUSIC PLAYING]
Comments