FDA Status
Banned
Since 2024-08-02
Food Additive · CAS 8016-94-2 · EU 443
Brominated Vegetable Oil
FDA status: Banned. EU: Banned. 3 U.S. states regulate it.
1.0 / 5
Composite safety Banned / Avoid
Score 1 of 5
Brominated Vegetable Oil: 1/5 (Banned / Avoid)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Brominated Vegetable Oil is banned by the FDA, though 3 U.S. states have enacted independent regulation on it, a sign federal and state views on this additive diverge. Its composite safety score is 1 out of 5 (Banned / Avoid), and the European Union separately classifies it as banned. It is used in a moderate number of tracked products.
- 74th percentile by tracked product prevalence
- Regulated by 3 U.S. states, independent of federal FDA status
The verdict
Brominated Vegetable Oil is banned by the FDA, but 3 states have acted independently, a sign federal and state views on this additive diverge. It is used in a moderate number of tracked products (74th percentile by tracked product count).
- 1/5
- Banned / Avoid
- Banned
- FDA status
- 74th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 3
- state regulations
Brominated Vegetable Oil (443), CAS 8016-94-2, is a food additive additive holding a composite safety score of 1 out of 5 (Banned / Avoid). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as Banned (status effective 2024-08-02), while the European Union lists it as Banned. This ingredient appears in approximately 199 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Various processed foods.
Regulatory pressure is notable: 3 U.S. states have enacted legislation targeting Brominated Vegetable Oil, including California, Illinois, New York. State actions frequently diverge from federal FDA policy, with legislative trends tending toward stricter controls than the federal baseline. Our regulatory timeline records 1 distinct regulatory event spanning multiple jurisdictions, illustrating how oversight has evolved over time.
No major peer-reviewed health concerns are presently documented for Brominated Vegetable Oil at consumer exposure levels, though scientific review is ongoing and positions can shift. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Banned (2024-08-02) | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Banned | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 443 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 8016-94-2 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Food Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 1 / 5 (Banned / Avoid) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 3 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 199 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Banned
443
U.S. State Regulations
3 states
California, Illinois
Safety Assessment
Brominated Vegetable Oil's 1/5 (Banned / Avoid) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has banned Brominated Vegetable Oil from food use, indicating sufficient evidence of safety concerns.
Notably, 3 US states have enacted regulations targeting Brominated Vegetable Oil, reflecting growing legislative attention to food additive safety at the state level. These state actions may differ from federal FDA policy and can range from outright bans to usage restrictions in certain product categories.
How Brominated Vegetable Oil compares
Where a safety score of 1/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Brominated Vegetable Oil highlighted)
41 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.9%) share a safety score of 1/5.
What is Brominated Vegetable Oil?
Brominated Vegetable Oil is a food additive (443) classified as food additive.
Common Uses
Various processed foods
Regulatory Timeline
2024-07-02 FDA
Banned
FDA revoked authorization for BVO.
State Regulations
| State | Status | Effective Date | Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | Banned | 2027-01-01 | AB 418 |
| Illinois | Banned | 2027-01-01 | HB 2415 |
| New York | Banned | 2027-07-01 | A 6424 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brominated Vegetable Oil safe to consume?
Brominated Vegetable Oil has a safety score of 1/5 (Banned / Avoid). It is banned by the FDA. It is regulated in 3 US states. Check with a healthcare provider for personalized advice.
What is Brominated Vegetable Oil used for in food?
Brominated Vegetable Oil is commonly used as: Various processed foods. It belongs to the Food Additive category of food additives.
Is Brominated Vegetable Oil banned in any US states?
Yes, Brominated Vegetable Oil is regulated in 3 US states: California, Illinois, New York. Regulations vary from full bans to restrictions on specific uses.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Brominated Vegetable Oil?
The FDA classifies Brominated Vegetable Oil as "Banned", while the EU status is "Banned" (443). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Brominated Vegetable Oil?
No major health concerns have been widely documented for Brominated Vegetable Oil at this time. It holds a safety score of 1/5 (Banned / Avoid). As with all food additives, ongoing scientific review may identify new findings.
How is the safety score for Brominated Vegetable Oil calculated?
The safety score of 1/5 for Brominated Vegetable Oil is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
What to do about Brominated Vegetable Oil
This additive is flagged, worth checking labels for.
- Check the FDA status (Banned) and EU status (Banned) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- 3 states have acted on this additive, see which and why. State actions
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.