Brominated Vegetable Oil or BVO, a complex plant derived mixture triglycerides which are brominates. This is use to help emulsify citrus flavored soft drinks, which prevents them from separating while on distribution.
According to Food and Drug Administration of United states, they consider Brominated Vegetable Oil as safe for the use as food additive, but there are cases of adverse effect with excessive consumption of Brominated Vegetable Oil consisting products. One reported case that the man consumed almost two to four liters of soda containing this on his daily experienced loss of memory, fatigue, tremors, loss of coordination in the muscle, ptosis of right eyelid and headache. He also lost the ability to run or even walk.
The chemical was banned in Japan and Europe but added for about 10 percent of soda in Northern America for almost a decade, some studies suggest that this can build up human tissues and studies in animals have found that it causes behavioral and reproductive problems with high amount of doses.
The 9 Soda’s That Contain Brominated Vegetable Oil Or BVO
According to some articles, Pepsi and Coca-cola does not contain this chemical, but following sodas and energy drinks sold in United States do so, like:
1. Sunkist Pineapple
2. Mountain Dew
3. Fanta Orange
4. Fresca Original Citrus
5. Lemonade
6. Powered Strawberry
7. Gatorade Thirst
8. Quencher Range
9. Squirt
About 10 percent of soda being sold in US contains brominated Vegetable Oil or BVO.
The Top 7 Brominated Vegetable Oil Side Effects
1. Skin Rashes
2. Severe Acne
3. Fatigue
4. Loss of Appetite
5. Abdominal Pain
6. Metallic Taste
7. Cardiac Arrhythmias
When You Absorb and Digest Bromine
It causes to displace iodine resulting to deficiency in iodine that can turn and lead to high risk of having breast cancer, prostate, ovary and thyroid gland cancers that is very alarming. It’s also a toxic of itself, it accumulates in tissues, breast milk and central nervous system which result to number of health related problems.
According to the study published in British Journal of Nutrition year 1971 concludes that “These findings, in conjunction with previous animal studies and with the geographical differences in the use of brominated vegetable oils as food additives, suggest that the high bromine levels found in the fat of tissues from UK children are due to the use of these compounds.”
This is known for acting like central nervous system and might trigger number of psychological symptoms like acute paronia and psychotic symptoms.
Since iodine is very crucial for the proper function of thyroid. Without enough iodine, thyroid gland will be completely unable for producing thyroid hormone. There are 13 million Americans who have Hypothyroidism.
Even if the side effects are minimal, it would still be better to lessen your addiction to soda, as much as possible conduct further research on what other brand of sodas contains this brominated vegetable oils and avoid drinking them and giving them to your kids or loved once. Once the side effects persisted, consult your doctor for proper medication and prescription. Drinking lower amount may not cause serious effect but it’s really impossible for anyone to know for sure. Fortunately, beverages containing this are avoidable since FDA already required drink makers to list on their labels.
