FDA Bans Brominated Vegetable Oil from Food

Neal Fortin<$author.email> - July 05, 2024

FDA concludes that BVO is not safe in food. Canada also intends to remove BVO from its list of permitted food additives.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked the authorized use of brominated vegetable oil in food effective August 2 but manufacturers have one year from that date to “reformulate, relabel, and deplete the inventory” of their BVO-containing products.

The FDA concluded that BVO was not safe after studies it conducted with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found the potential for adverse effects in humans. The FDA has had questions about the safety of BVO since the 1960s but found insufficient evidence then to do more than limit the use to reduced levels in fruit-flavored drinks.

Health Canada also proposes removing brominated vegetable oil from the List of permitted food additives. Read more here.

Disclaimer.

Learn more about the laws and regulations that govern human food ingredients with MSU's Institute for Food Laws and Regulations. Particularly the following courses:

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Food Law (fall semester)
Food Laws and Regulations in the United States (fall and spring semester)

Click here for a full list of IFLR courses and when they are offered.

Click here to learn more about our online certificate programs.

MSU's Institute for Food Laws and Regulations offers online graduate courses to food industry professionals. Most IFLR students work full time for food companies or regulators, and take one online course at a time to further their professional development. Students may take as few or as many courses as they desire, and may earn a Certificate in International or United States food law after completing twelve qualifying credits (usually four courses).