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Food additive · Stabilizer

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)

E-number
E443
CAS
8016-94-2

A vegetable oil bonded with bromine that kept citrus flavoring evenly mixed in some sodas. The FDA revoked its use in food in 2024.

  • Food additive
  • Emulsifier
  • Ultra-processing marker
  • Expert review pending
Very high concern Level 4 of 4 How concern levels work

Banned or revoked by a major regulator, or classified by IARC as Group 1 or 2A at relevant exposure. The concern level sets how many points brominated vegetable oil (BVO) costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • Not permitted in food somewhereRegulatory

    The FDA revoked its authorization in 2024 because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm; California bans it from 2027. [1][2][3]

  • Thyroid effects in animal studiesStrong evidence

    FDA-NIH studies found that oral exposure raises bromine levels in tissues and that, at high exposure, the thyroid is a target organ in rodents. [2]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
United States Authorization revoked Authorization revoked by final rule of July 3, 2024 (effective August 2, 2024; compliance date August 2, 2025). Aug 2, 2024 [1]
Canada Authorization revoked Removed from Health Canada's permitted list on August 30, 2024 (one-year transition to August 30, 2025). Aug 30, 2024 [4]
European Union Not permitted Not on the Union list of food additives. — [5]
California (US) Banned Not allowed in food sold in California from January 1, 2027 (AB 418). From Jan 1, 2027 [3]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Popular products that list brominated vegetable oil (BVO)

1 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list brominated vegetable oil (BVO).

Diets and allergens

Vegan
Yes
Vegetarian
Yes
Gluten-free
Yes

For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.

Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (6)
  • bvo
  • e443
  • brominated soybean oil
  • brominated vegetable oil
  • brominated vegetable oils
  • brominated vegetable oil bvo

Sources

  1. Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Jul 3, 2024 · Law

    “This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”

    federalregister.gov

  2. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 2, 2024 · Regulator

    “The FDA no longer allows for the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food.”

    fda.gov

  3. California AB 418 (2023), the California Food Safety Act (Health and Safety Code §109025)

    California Legislative Information · Oct 7, 2023 · Law

    “Commencing January 1, 2027, a person or entity shall not manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce a food product for human consumption that contains any of the following substances”

    leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

  4. Modification to the List of permitted food additives with other accepted uses to remove brominated vegetable oil

    Health Canada · Aug 30, 2024 · Regulator

    “Therefore, Health Canada has modified the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses by removing brominated vegetable oil as proposed.”

    canada.ca

  5. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 by establishing a Union list of food additives

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 11, 2011 · Law

    “E 127 Erythrosine 200 only cocktail cherries and candied cherries”

    eur-lex.europa.eu