FDA Proposes Banning Food Additive Used in Sodas

The additive can result in ‘toxic effects’ on the thyroid gland which is crucial in regulating metabolism, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Diet Coke in a stock photo Getty Images

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a ban on brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food due to concerns that the beverage additive could negatively affect people’s health.

“The agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found the potential for adverse health effects in humans,” the FDA said in a Nov. 2 press release. As a result, the agency proposed revoking the regulation that authorizes BVO use in food items.