Brominated Vegetable Oil, BVO, is a synthetic compound used to distribute flavor and coloring evenly throughout popular beverages. Fanta, Fresca, Gatorade and mountain Dew are examples of beverages with BVO.
BVO is also used as a flame retardant.
Extended and consistent consumption of BVO can: cause deteriorate muscle tissue, cause neurological damage and accumulate in breast milk.
There are safe alternatives to BVO. PepsiCo is leading the way in weaning the use of BVO, as discussed in this article published by the New York Times:
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/gatorade-listens-to-a-...
For more information on BVO, please see this website:
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/archives.jsp?tn=1title,lede,descr...