The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently revoked the regulation authorizing the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. BVO is a vegetable oil modified with bromine. Studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found potential adverse health effects in humans, leading the FDA to deem its intended use in food as unsafe. Previously, BVO was used in small amounts to prevent citrus flavoring from floating to the top in some beverages. However, few beverages in the U.S. actually contained BVO. The rule is effective starting August 2, 2024, and companies have one year from that date to reformulate, relabel, and deplete their BVO-containing products before enforcement begins.
via fox10phoenix:
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it is revoking a regulation allowing the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food.
BVO is a vegetable oil that is modified with bromine. According to the FDA, BVO’s intended use in food is “no longer considered safe” after the results of previous studies conducted that found the potential for adverse health effects in humans.
The agency has regulated BVO as a food additive since it removed the product from the codified list of Generally Recognized As Safe or “GRAS” substances in 1970. As authorized, it was used in small amounts to keep citrus flavoring from floating to the top in some beverages, and manufacturers were required to list BVO, or the specific brominated vegetable oil such as brominated soybean oil, in the ingredients list if it was used.
BVO is not allowed as a food additive in Japan or Europe.
“The FDA is taking this action as part of our regulatory authority over ingredients added to food, which includes reassessing previously evaluated food ingredients and addressing safety concerns,” the agency said on July 2. “Reassessing the safety of food ingredients as new, relevant data become available, is a priority for the FDA and a key part of our food safety mission.”
Other sources:
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/brominated-vegetable-oil-bvo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brominated_vegetable_oil
AC