- In August 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially revoked the regulation permitting the use of Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) in food products. This action followed recent studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which revealed that BVO may pose adverse health risks, including potential effects on the thyroid and other organs. The FDA concluded that BVO is no longer considered safe for consumption, prompting a one-year compliance period for manufacturers to reformulate and relabel affected products
- In July 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its final rule revoking the authorization for Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) as a food additive. This decision followed collaborative studies with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that identified potential health risks, including thyroid toxicity and bioaccumulation of brominated compounds. The rule officially takes effect on August 2, 2024, and companies have until August 2, 2025 to reformulate, relabel, and phase out BVO-containing products from the market
- In September 2024, Health Canada officially removed Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) from its list of permitted food additives, citing concerns from a recent safety assessment. Although no immediate health risks were identified, the findings did not support continued use of BVO in food products. The ban aligns with similar actions taken by the U.S. FDA and other global regulators. To ease the transition, Health Canada granted a one-year compliance period, ending August 30, 2025, allowing manufacturers time to reformulate and relabel affected products
- In May 2024, Health Canada issued a formal proposal to eliminate Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) from its list of permitted food additives. This decision followed an updated safety assessment, which reviewed new toxicological data and concluded that BVO’s continued use could not be supported. Although no immediate health risks were identified, the agency could not establish an acceptable daily intake due to observed adverse effects at lower doses. To facilitate industry compliance, Health Canada proposed a one-year transition period, allowing manufacturers time to reformulate and relabel affected products
- In October 2023, California became the first U.S. state to ban Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) along with potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3, under the California Food Safety Act (AB 418). Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, the regulation prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of food products containing these additives starting January. The move reflects growing concerns over the safety of certain food chemicals and aligns California with international standards, as these substances are already banned in the European Union and other countries
