Illinois is forging ahead with the Illinois Food Safety Act to ban brominated vegetable oil (BVO) and some other additives, spotlighting a tug-of-war over
who controls food safety: states or the federal government. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned BVO in July 2024, Illinois' move— co-authored by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias — seeks to enforce that ban at the retail level and tackle additional chemicals, potentially setting a precedent for stricter state oversight. BVO, a bromine-modified vegetable oil, has stabilized citrus flavoring in drinks since the 1920s. Initially labeled "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) by the FDA, it lost that status in 1970 after Canadian studies flagged safety concerns. The FDA limited its use to 15 parts per million but didn't ban it outright until July 2024, after studies by the National Institutes of Health confirmed health risks in rodents mimicking human exposure levels. A 2022 Food and Chemical Toxicology study by the FDA and NIH found BVO caused thyroid toxicity and bromine buildup in rats, effects that could harm humans over time. Excessive bromine has been linked to neurological issues, fatigue and memory loss, though direct human cases from BVO are rare. "The evidence has…