Is Brominated Vegetable Oil Bad For You?
Also Known As: BVO
Short answer
Studies are lacking, but from what we do know, brominated vegetable oil is bad for you and should be avoided whenever possible.
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO as it is commonly abbreviated, is a food additive used as an emulsifier to help citrus flavors mix with soda. Despite there being only scant research on the subject of BVO's impact on health, what has been discovered is not promising and in fact, BVO is banned as a food additive in Europe and Japan, with North America allowing for no more than 15 parts per million.
The controversy stems from the inclusion of bromine, which is also used in flame retardants. The studies that have been done point to bromine accumulating in the body's fatty tissue with long-term effects still unknown. In 2012, German scientists found that the average adult in the United States gets thousands of times more bromine from drinking sodas than from accidental leakage of organobromines into the environment.
Anecdotal evidence points to harmful effects with patients who have had no less than 2 liters of soda per day reporting memory loss and problems with their skin and nerves. BVO was also suspected as a possible culprit in the case of a man who had to go on dialysis, although he had been drinking 9 liters per day of soda.
The fact is, BVO does nothing good for the body and although little is known about it, all studies point to it being harmful. Its purpose is to act as an emulsifier, but this does not make it necessary, as evidenced by the fact that soda is widely available in Japan and Europe (where BVO is banned).
Even though BVO may only have a harmful effect when consumed in large quantities, we don't know what the long-term effects are, even if consumed in low to moderate amounts. Exercising caution and avoiding drinks that contain BVO is probably the safest way to go on this one.
Possible short-term side effects
- skin irritation
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headache
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fatigue
Possible long-term side effects
- kidney problems
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memory loss
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nerve damage
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poor balance, coordination and speech
Commonly found in
Benefits
- helps citrus flavors mix better with soda
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Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 02-20-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 02-20-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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