Beverages · BVO scanner

Mountain Dew & BVO: confirm your citrus soda is BVO-free

The FDA finally banned BVO in 2024 — decades after the EU, Japan, and India. Most citrus sodas reformulated quietly. Scan your bottle to confirm the new formula reached your store.

Scan a soda bottle See BVO-free brands

FDA-sourcedEU + Japan historyFree 5 scans/day

For 50+ years the EU, Japan, and India banned BVO while the US allowed it in citrus sodas. The FDA finally revoked authorization in July 2024 — but with a phase-out window, meaning some older bottles can still be on shelves. And not every regional bottler reformulates at the same pace.

If your kid drinks Mountain Dew, Sun Drop, or any citrus soda, scan the bottle. We will tell you what is actually in this specific batch.

BVO + replacement detection

We flag BVO and also surface the common replacements (SAIB, glycerol ester of rosin) so you know exactly what swapped in.

Citrus soda category focus

Mountain Dew, Sun Drop, Squirt, Fresca, store brands — citrus sodas are the BVO hot zone. Scan any of them.

BVO-free alternatives

Every result shows 3 BVO-free citrus soda alternatives including better-for-you brands like Olipop and Zevia.

Catch other soda red flags

Same scan also flags Yellow 5, caramel color IV, sodium benzoate, and high-fructose corn syrup if present.

Related soda ingredients we flag

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

Found in: Citrus sodas, some sports drinks

Restricted in:

FDA-banned 2024, banned EU/Japan/India long prior

Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)

Found in: Mountain Dew, citrus sodas, candy

Restricted in:

EU warning label required

Caramel Color IV

Found in: Colas, root beer

Restricted in:

California Prop 65 warning

Sodium Benzoate

Found in: Sodas, dressings, condiments

Restricted in:

Southampton Study warning

Acesulfame Potassium

Found in: Diet sodas, sugar-free drinks

Restricted in:

EU review pending

Frequently asked questions

What is BVO (brominated vegetable oil)?

BVO is vegetable oil modified with bromine, historically used in citrus-flavored sodas as an emulsifier to keep citrus oils suspended in the drink. The bromine atoms make the oil dense enough to mix with water.

Did the FDA ban BVO?

Yes. In July 2024 the FDA revoked the authorization for BVO in food, effective August 2024 with a one-year compliance window. Citrus sodas reformulated quietly throughout 2024 — but old inventory may still be on shelves.

Is Mountain Dew still made with BVO?

PepsiCo removed BVO from Mountain Dew years before the FDA ban, switching to sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) or glycerol ester of rosin. Scan your specific bottle to confirm — bottling and regional formulas vary.

What sodas historically used BVO?

Mountain Dew, Sun Drop, some Gatorade citrus flavors, AMP, Squirt, Fresca, and various store-brand citrus sodas. The EU, Japan, and India banned BVO long before the US.

What are BVO-free citrus soda alternatives?

Zevia citrus sodas, Olipop Lemon Lime, Poppi Orange, GoodBelly, and most major reformulated mainstream brands are BVO-free as of late 2024. Scan to verify.

Is BVO still in the soda in your fridge?

Scan the bottle. Free. No signup. Confirm in 3 seconds whether the new formula reached your store.

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Our scores are never influenced by brands. Data sourced from EFSA, FDA, Health Canada, and peer-reviewed research. Educational use only — consult your doctor for medical decisions.