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Kale, strawberries and spinach top list of ‘worst dozen’ pesticide-contaminated crops
Kale, the popular vegetable that serves as the foundation of “healthy” diets, has just made the Environmental Wellness Group’s annual list of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables, otherwise known as the “Dirty Dozen.”
WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it was revoking a rule that allowed the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in foods.
BVO is a vegetable oil modified with bromine. According to the FDA, the intended use of BVO in foods is “no longer considered safe” after previous studies revealed the risk of adverse effects on human health.
The agency has regulated BVO as a food additive since it removed the product from the codified list of substances generally recognized as safe, or “GRAS,” in 1970. As permitted, it was used in small amounts to prevent citrus flavors from floating on the surface of some beverages, and manufacturers were required to list BVO, or a specific brominated vegetable oil such as brominated soybean oil, in the ingredient list if it was used.
BVO is not authorized as a food additive in Japan or Europe.
“The FDA is taking this action as part of its regulatory authority over ingredients added to foods, which includes reevaluating previously evaluated food ingredients and addressing safety concerns,” the agency said July 2. “Reevaluating the safety of food ingredients as new relevant data becomes available is a priority for the FDA and a key element of our food safety mission.”
Drinks containing BVO
Despite this new regulation, few beverages in the United States currently contain BVO.
FILE: Orange soda (Credit: Food and Drug Administration)
In 2013, PepsiCo announced that it would remove BVO Gatorade products. Then, in 2014, Coca-Cola announced the abolition of the BVO of all products, including Powerade and Fanta products.
Currently, beverages manufactured in the United States containing BVO include:
- Sun Drop, made by Keurig Dr Pepper
- Orangette Orange Soda, sold at Walmart
BVO is most commonly found in citrus-flavored beverages. Experts recommend checking the ingredient label if you’re not sure whether a beverage contains this additive.
When will BVO be banned?
The rule goes into effect on August 2. The compliance date for this rule is one year after the effective date to allow companies to reformulate, relabel, and deplete the inventory of products containing BVO before the FDA begins enforcing the final rule.
RELATED: Are Costco’s New Rotisserie Chicken Bags Safe?
This story was reported from Los Angeles.
News Source : www.livenowfox.com
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