Kathrine Frich
FDA announced a significant regulatory change regarding brominated vegetable oil in food.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a significant regulatory change regarding brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food products.
Used in Beverages
BVO, a vegetable oil modified with bromine has been used in small amounts to prevent citrus flavoring from separating in beverages.
However, following recent studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the FDA has determined that the use of BVO in food is no longer safe due to potential adverse health effects in humans.
Effective from August
BVO was originally classified as a food additive by the FDA until it was removed from the list of Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) substances in 1970.
Manufacturers were required to disclose the presence of BVO or specific types like brominated soybean oil on product labels if used. Despite its limited use in the U.S., concerns over its safety prompted the FDA to reassess its regulatory stance.
Effective August 2, 2024, the FDA’s new rule revokes the authorization for BVO in foods. Companies have until August 2, 2025, to reformulate products, update labels, and deplete existing inventories containing BVO. This transition period allows for a phased-out approach before enforcement of the final rule begins.