Social media is abuzz with claims that various food products are not healthy, and sometimes, those posts target major consumer brands. This is our investigation regarding some such posts targeting a popular brand, Mountain Dew.
Social Media Posts
A viral social media video has sparked significant concern by claiming that Mountain Dew contains toxic ingredients such as brominated vegetable oil (BVO), sodium benzoate, and artificial colorings that are linked to severe health problems, including brain damage, memory loss, blood cancer, and attention disorders in children. According to the video, these ingredients have led to Mountain Dew being banned or reformulated in countries like Japan and those in the European Union. But how accurate are these claims?
In this fact-check, we’ll examine the truth behind these viral allegations, focusing on Mountain Dew’s ingredients in both the U.S. and abroad, the scientific evidence regarding the health risks of these ingredients, and whether Mountain Dew is really banned or just altered for international markets.
Fact Check
Claim 1: Are Toxic Ingredients Like BVO Found in Mountain Dew in the U.S.?
On the Pepsico official website, Mountain Dew’s parent company mentioned that ‘Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is used in some beverages to help keep flavouring oils well-blended. Since oils do not mix well with water, BVO helps dissolve and keep the flavor oils evenly distributed throughout the beverages. BVO is usually derived from corn or soybean oil”. Read here.
Thus, BVO is used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored sodas like Mountain Dew to prevent the separation of artificial flavoring. In a conversation with us, Prof. Renuka Silva from the Department of Applied Nutrition at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka explains that brominated vegetable oil (BVO) has been linked to liver damage, cardiovascular issues, and brain damage in animal experiments. Specifically, bromine from BVO accumulates in certain tissues, raising concerns about its long-term effects on human health. In response, the FDA, the primary authority responsible for food safety in the U.S., has banned BVO as a food additive in many products due to its potential risks.
Thus, The FDA no longer allows for the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. On July 3, 2024, the FDA revoked its food additive regulation. Therefore, BVO no longer in Mountain Dew and its ingredients list.
The FDA concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found the potential for adverse health effects in humans. Read here
Claim 2: Is Sodium Benzoate Harmful in Mountain Dew?
Another ingredient under scrutiny is sodium benzoate, a common preservative used to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth in sodas. While sodium benzoate is safe in small amounts, research has shown that when combined with vitamin C, it can form benzene, a carcinogenic compound. Prof. Renuka Silva mentioned that while it is not banned and is allowed as a preservative at permitted levels, there is no solid evidence linking it directly to blood cancers. Further, he noted that allergic reactions could occur in some individuals. However, levels of benzene in soft drinks are generally far below the threshold considered harmful. Despite this, some countries have stricter regulations on preservatives like sodium benzoate, while others have imposed guidelines to limit its concentration. Prof. Renuka Silva further noted that the potential harm from sodium benzoate arises only when consumed in large quantities over a regular basis, which is unlikely in moderate consumption of drinks like Mountain Dew.
Moreover, the FDA considers sodium benzoate to be generally safe (GRAS) when used as a food preservative, flavouring agent, and antimicrobial agent. The FDA allows a maximum of 0.1% sodium benzoate in food. The FDA considers the maximum allowable level of sodium benzoate in drinking water to be five parts per billion. Toxicity is unlikely to occur unless a person eats a diet that contains 90 times the FDA’s specified amount. Read here and here.
Claim 3: Do Artificial Colorings Like Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 Pose a Health Risk?
Artificial colorings, such as Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) and Yellow 6 (Disodium 6-hydroxy-5-(4-sulfophenyl) azo-2-naphthalenesulfonate), are used in Mountain Dew to give it its iconic bright hue. While most studies suggest these dyes are generally safe in the amounts used in foods, there is ongoing concern about their potential to cause hyperactivity, particularly in children. In fact, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recommended that foods containing these artificial colorings carry a warning that they “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Read here, here and here.
Prof. Renuka Silva emphasized the need for balance between manufacturers and consumers when it comes to the use of artificial food colors. He mentioned that government oversight is necessary to ensure that these E-coded permitted food colors are used within permitted levels.
Claim 4: Is Mountain Dew Really Banned or Just Reformulated Outside the U.S.?
Mountain Dew has been banned in some countries due to the presence of brominated vegetable oil (BVO), an ingredient that has been linked to health problems. These countries include the UK (in 1970), India (in 1990), the European Union (in 2008), and Japan. However, Since July 3, 2024, the FDA has no longer allowed the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. Therefore, BVO is no longer in Mountain Dew and its ingredients list. Thus, currently, in Europe, Mountain Dew is available in a version that doesn’t contain BVO or some of the other restricted ingredients found in the U.S. version. Similarly, in Japan, the beverage is not as widely available, and when it is, the formula is adapted to adhere to local health and safety standards.
Conclusion:
The viral claims about Mountain Dew containing toxic ingredients like brominated vegetable oil (BVO), sodium benzoate, and artificial colorings are partly true but need clarification. BVO was previously used in Mountain Dew but has been removed after the FDA concluded it posed potential health risks, and it is no longer part of the U.S. formula. Sodium benzoate, although allowed by the FDA, is considered safe in regulated amounts, but its combination with vitamin C could form carcinogenic compounds in higher concentrations. As for artificial colorings like Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, while they are deemed safe in the U.S., the European Food Safety Authority advises caution due to concerns over hyperactivity in children. Mountain Dew is not banned abroad but has been reformulated in many countries, such as those in the European Union and Japan, to exclude these controversial ingredients. This reflects an adherence to local regulations rather than an outright ban, ensuring the product complies with different safety standards worldwide.
Title:Does Mountain Dew Contain Banned Toxic Ingredients Outside the U.S.?
Written By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: Missing Context
