Spilling The Green Tea

Rejoice, my Holistic Warriors! The news has hit that the FDA is proposing a ban on Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO). Now, it is “proposed” so it not a complete ban, but it is in the works.

This is another toxin that should have been banned many years ago and it is sad it has taken this long for our FDA to consider banning BVO.

So what is BVO? Per Wikipedia, BVO is defined as:

a complex mixture of plant-derived triglycerides that have been modified by atoms of the element bromine bonded to the fat molecules. Brominated vegetable oil is used to help emulsify citrus-flavored soft drinks, preventing them from separating during distribution. Brominated vegetable oil has been used by the soft drink industry since 1931, generally at a level of about 8 ppm.

Now that’s list all the items that contain BVO we consume and, therefore, affect our bodies and overall health:

• A Treat bubblegum soda
• Always Save orange juice
• America’s Choice punch
• Big Ben’s orange juice
• Big Shot soda
• Boardwalk Mountain Holler soda
• Borden Pineapple Orange drink
• Clover Valley citrus soda
• Dean’s fruit drinks
• Del’s orange juice
• DG beer
• Fayo moon mist soda
• Fiz Syracuse orange soda
• Food Club mountain soda
• Food Lion soda
• Friko strawberry drink
• Giant Brand soda
• Great Value soda
• Jolly Good diet fruit punch
• Mountain Dew soda
• Mountain Lighting soda
• Ohana lemonade
• Orangette soda
• Refreshe Brand soda
• Rock Creek pineapple soda
• Shoppers Value Brand punch
• ShopRite mountain soda
• Stars and Stripes citrus soda
• Stewart’s orange cream soda
• Sun Drop soda
• Super Chill soda
• Tops orange soda
• Weis Brand soda

For the complete, detailed list click here.

Of course not drinking any soda is the best, but if you have any of these in your pantry or fridge, pour it down the drain!

BVO is nothing more than a food additive; it is not natural. Mankind has once again taken something from God’s green Earth, added something artificial to it and then market it as an “additive” that either makes products taste better, feel better or just look prettier. The consumer than pays for this “pretty poison”.

After this news went viral, Sun Drop announced that is will immediately forgo using BVO in all of their drinks and vow to abide by any current or future regulations.

Back in the 1970s, (yes, 50 years ago) it was found that BVO caused adverse heart effects. But was it banned? No! So what happened to all those people during those years who consumed BVO in the 70s, the 80s, the 90s….etc.? Cancer has been on the rise since. Cardiovascular issues have been on the rise. Coincidence? You decide!

Europe (they really are on the ball!) banned BVO in 2008.

In 2014, FDA scientists found that rodents who consumed BVO had neurological issues like memory loss, impaired balance and coordination, and headaches. They also had high tissue levels of bromine, which pose a danger to thyroid health.

A little side note here….bromine is defined as a volatile liquid, a dark red fuming toxic liquid with a choking, irritating smell, a liquid used in production of flame retardants and formerly in gasoline additives

And bromine is related to BVO which is in our food and drink products? Can you believe it? Might as well skip the soda and just give us a tank of gasoline to guzzle.

In October 2023, the state of California placed a ban on BVO and red dye no. 3 (more on that later). Good for California!

Now the FDA is considering a possible ban, but that may take months or years as it has to go through a handful of other government agencies for approval.

Good news still, right? Yes, and I hope and pray BVO is banned. But I won’t be blowing up balloons just yet; at least until it is a confirmed ban.

Meanwhile, it is always imperative to keep ourselves educated on what is going on regarding our food industry. Greed has taken over and is the main motivator in the food and drug industry. The only person who looks out for you is YOU!