Trump vows to renegotiate USMCA free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico
Donald Trump has vowed to renegotiate the USMCA free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.
In a move to safeguard public heath, Health Canada says it has officially banned the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) as a food additive.
The decision follows growing concerns of health risks associated with the additive, which was previously permitted in limited quantities.
Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban of BVO on August 2, Health Canada’s ban came into effect at the end of last month. The ban could impact a range of food and beverage products currently on our shelves.
Here’s what you need to know:
Brominated vegetable oil is a chemical compound used primarily as an emulsifier in certain beverages.
Emulsifiers help ingredients that do not naturally mix, such as water and oil, stay blended together. In the case of BVO, it is effective in soft drinks, especially those with citrus flavours, and sports beverages to prevent flavouring oils from separating and floating to the top.
BVO is a vegetable oil that is treated with bromine – a chemical element found naturally in the Earth’s crust and in seawater.
The proposal to ban BVO as a food additive was initiated by Health Canada in May, following a review of its safety profile. The decision was formalized in last month, when the department officially removed BVO from its list of permitted food additives.
The key concern with BVO lies in its potential health risks when consumed in large quantities.
According to Health Canada, previous laboratory studies have reported adverse effects on certain organs like the liver, heart or thyroid of animals given BVO orally. The department explained that these effects were seen at much higher doses than humans would get from beverages containing BVO as a food additive.
A 2022 study published by the U.S. FDA and National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported similar findings in rats fed BVO in their diet, this time at lower doses, compared to previous studies.
Citing the study in an updated analysis, the Canadian health agency said that because an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for BVO could not be established based on available safety data, and given previous laboratory studies confirming health risks at higher and lower doses, BVO would be banned as a food additive.
Health Canada added that its analysis of the studies “did not identify an immediate health concern with the currently-permitted use of BVO.”
Health Canada’s decision aligns with a global trend of reducing or eliminating BVO. Several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and the U.K., have already banned its use.
BVO has historically been used in several popular beverages, particularly to stabilize citrus-flavoured drinks. The products most affected will be soft and energy drinks.
In an written statement to CTVNews.ca Friday, PepsiCo, the producer of drinks like Mountain Dew, Gatorade and Naked Juice, said the company does not produce or distribute any products with BVO. Gatorade's brand website echoes this claim.
Coca-Cola, the producer of Fanta, Fresca and Diet Coke, among other popular brands, also confirmed in an emailed statement that BVO was phased out of their products several years ago.
“BVO is currently on our restricted use materials list for additives,” the statement read.
As per food safety regulations, Health Canada has given manufacturers time to reformulate and relabel their products.
The health agency said a one-year transition, ending August 30, 2025, will allow these changes to be made.
“All requirements related to the current permitted use of BVO as a food additive will continue to apply until the end of the transition period,” the health agency said.
Among these requirements is that beverages in Canada containing BVO must note the food additives used in the ingredients list.
Donald Trump has vowed to renegotiate the USMCA free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.
Both the Liberals and Conservatives are claiming a win after the parliamentary budget officer released an updated report on the economic impacts of the federal carbon tax on Canadian households.
CTV film critic Richard Crouse says 'The Apprentice' is several things: It's the making of MAGA. It's a story of unchecked ambition. It’s a cautionary tale.
The northern lights could be visible across most of Canada on Thursday night.
One person was killed and officials were working to rescue 12 others trapped deep beneath the surface of a former Colorado gold mine after an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, authorities said Thursday.
The victim of a violent robbery in Thornhill says he had $100,000 to $110,000 stolen from him after being boxed in his car.
The superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division (WSD) has apologized over a message displayed during a professional development day on Wednesday.
Global Affairs Canada says it's aware of reports of the death of a Canadian in Lebanon.
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. Hundreds of residents have been rescued so far.
There was an eye-catching mix of rainbows and lightning over Vancouver following a brief downpour this week.
Jeff Warner from Aidie Creek Gardens in the northern Ontario community of Englehart has a passion for growing big pumpkins and his effort is paying off in more ways than one.
Saskatchewan’s Jessica Campbell has made hockey history, becoming the first ever female assistant coach in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Have you ever seen videos of hovercrafts online or on TV and thought, 'Wow, I wish I could ride one of those.' One Alberta man did, and then built his own.
A B.C. couple is getting desperate – and creative – in their search for their missing dog.
Videos of a meteor streaking across the skies of southern Ontario have surfaced and small bits of the outer space rock may have made it to land, one astronomy professor says.
A unique form of clouds made an appearance over the skies of Ottawa on Sunday evening.
Bernie Hicks, known as the ‘Batman of Amherst,’ always wanted to sit in a Batmobile until a kind stranger made it happen.
Bubi’s Awesome Eats, located on University Ave West took to social media to announce the closure on Friday.