Brominated Vegetable Oil (E443): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Vegetable oil, typically soybean or maize, chemically brominated to raise its density so it keeps citrus flavour oils suspended in soft drinks. Animal studies found brominated fatty acids accumulate in heart, liver and fat tissue and persist for many months, with dose-dependent thyroid follicular-cell changes and disruption of the thyroid hormone axis; central-nervous-system effects were seen in earlier high-exposure studies. The EU never authorised it, and the US FDA revoked its authorisation in 2024 after concluding its food use is no longer safe.
- Category
- Stabiliser / Emulsifier — Brominated lipid
- Typically used in
- Historically used to emulsify and stabilise citrus flavour oils in some citrus-flavoured soft drinks and sports drinks.
- Regulatory status
- Banned in the EU; FDA revoked authorisation 2024.
- Also listed as
- BVO
- Concerns flagged
-
Accumulates in the bodyEndocrine disruptionNeurotoxicity concernThyroid effects
Scrannr flags Brominated Vegetable Oil automatically when you scan a barcode.
Where this comes from
- US FDA (2024) — FDA Revokes Regulation Allowing the Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil BVO in Food https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-revokes-regulation-allowing-use-brominated-vegetable-oil-bvo-food
- US FDA Federal Register (2024) — Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/07/03/2024-14300/revocation-of-authorization-for-use-of-brominated-vegetable-oil-in-food
Products containing Brominated Vegetable Oil
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