In a significant move to prioritize consumer safety, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the revocation of the regulation permitting the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food items. The decision will come into effect on August 2, following the FDA's findings that BVO is no longer considered safe for consumption.

BVO, a chemical ingredient containing bromine commonly found in fire retardants, has been used in small quantities to keep the flavor evenly distributed in certain citrus-flavored drinks in the United States. However, after conducting studies in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, the FDA concluded that BVO has potential adverse effects on human health.

The proposal to revoke the regulation was initially put forth by the agency in November 2023, but the FDA has expedited the process due to the safety concerns associated with BVO. The Center for Science in the Public Interest revealed that BVO has already been banned in several countries, including the UK in 1970, India in 1990, the EU in 2008, and Japan in 2010.

The FDA's decision to revoke the regulation stems from previous concerns about the safety of BVO. In 1970, the FDA had already determined that its use in food was not generally recognized as safe due to toxicity concerns. Since then, the agency has regulated BVO as a food additive while carrying out safety studies.

Michael Ashley Schulman, the chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, praised the FDA's new regulation, stating that it is a positive step in the right direction for consumer safety.

Under FDA rules, any company using BVO as an ingredient in their products has been required to list it on their labels. However, over time, many beverage makers have shifted towards alternative ingredients, leading to a decline in BVO usage. The FDA noted that currently, few beverages in the United States still contain BVO. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have already removed BVO from their drinks, such as Gatorade and Fanta, respectively.

However, there is still one national brand, Sun Drop, manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper, that continues to use BVO in its products. Arun Sundaram, a researcher at CFRA Research, highlighted that Sun Drop is likely the biggest national brand still utilizing BVO.

With the FDA's decision to revoke the regulation allowing BVO in food, it is expected that more companies will follow the lead of industry giants like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, prioritizing consumer safety by phasing out the use of BVO in their products.