Brominated Vegetable Oil
Decode Label flags Brominated Vegetable Oil as a high concern in food and drink (neurotoxin). It was not found in any of the 893 published products we have analysed.
The concern
Citrus-drink emulsifier — bromine accumulates in body fat; authorisation revoked in the US
BVO is vegetable oil bonded to bromine, used to keep citrus flavouring suspended in soft drinks. Bromine accumulates in body fat and heavy consumption has produced bromism — headache, memory loss, loss of coordination and thyroid effects. The US FDA revoked its authorisation as a food additive in 2024, and it is banned in the EU, India and Japan. Its concern is bromine toxicity, not cancer.
Most relevant to
Cited authority
US FDA Final Rule, July 2024 (revoking 21 CFR 180.30); EFSA; WHO/JECFA
Linked sources: FDA →
Not found in this catalogue
0 of 893 published products Decode Label has analysed list Brominated Vegetable Oil or any of its label synonyms. That describes this catalogue, not the Indian market as a whole. If a product we score lists it, it will appear here and its score will reflect it.
Hazard classification
A full revocation, not a concentration limit — FDA concluded there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm. Effective 2 August 2024; one-year compliance window for reformulation.
Identity
- Canonical name
- Brominated Vegetable Oil
- CAS number
- 8016-94-2
- E number
- E443
Also appears on labels as
Questions
Is Brominated Vegetable Oil safe?
FDA: FDA Final Rule (July 2024) — revoked all authorisation for food use (21 CFR 180.30). Why it is flagged: Citrus-drink emulsifier — bromine accumulates in body fat; authorisation revoked in the US. Decode Label treats it as a high concern in food and drink. It was not found in any of the 893 published products we have analysed.
How common is Brominated Vegetable Oil in Indian packaged products?
Decode Label has not found Brominated Vegetable Oil in any of the 893 published products analysed so far. That describes this catalogue, not the Indian market as a whole.
Which authorities have classified Brominated Vegetable Oil?
FDA — FDA Final Rule (July 2024) — revoked all authorisation for food use (21 CFR 180.30).
Who should be most careful with Brominated Vegetable Oil?
Anyone eating this regularly; Children.
Method and limits
- Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 893 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
- Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
- A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
- No regulatory rows. This substance is not matched in our regulatory warehouse, so the concern above rests on the cited authority alone.
- Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 28 September 2026.
- Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.