PepsiCo Subs Out BVO in Gatorade

PepsiCo Inc. will remove brominated vegetable oil or BVO, a patented flame retardant, from its Gatorade sports drink, a move that the beverage giant claims was made to answer customer complaints and not the result of an online petition on Change.org.

The Associated Press (AP) reports that a spokeswoman from PepsiCo said the removal of BVO was planned over the past year after the company began noticing complaints from consumers about the ingredient. She said it wasn't a reaction to a recent petition on Change.org by a Mississippi teenager that collected 200,000 supporters.

Some ingredients in food and drinks have drawn negative publicity in recent years both because of the ability of consumers to research data and to mobilize online. The petition on Change.org noted that BVO is banned in food in both Japan and the European Union.

PepsiCo said the ingredient is used as an emulsifier to distribute flavoring evenly in select beverages including orange and citrus drinks. Now, PepsiCo has decided to replace BVO in Gatorade with an ingredient called sucrose acetate isobutyrate, which will maintain the flavor and taste of the drinks, reported the AP.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by an unsafe product, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a product liability lawyer may be able to help you.

Tags: