Why is there vegetable oil in Mountain Dew?

Question

What exactly is it's purpose? It seems like an odd ingredient for a soft drink. And what is bromiated vegetable oil anyway?

Answer 1

Ah, it makes it glide down your throat!

Well, here's the science -

Brominated vegetable oil is used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soft drinks such as Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Powerade, Mello Yello, Pineapple and Orange Fanta, Sun Drop, Squirt and Fresca to help natural fat-soluble citrus flavors stay suspended in the drink and to produce a cloudy appearance.

The addition of bromine increases the density of the oil, and the amount of bromine is carefully controlled to achieve a density that is the same as the water in the drink. As a result, the BVO remains suspended in the water instead of forming separate layers.

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I didn't know it had it.... but I know we stopped having SunnyD in our house once I discovered it had oil in it.

Answer 2

Its to make sure the solution made does not clump up, and give it that cloudy affect. Same idea as putting dish soap in scented oils to make a air freshener. Keeps everything suspended

Answer 3

its what they lube the machines with and a little may fall in

Answer 4

i never knew there was.

Answer 5

its to give it that extra "Umph" lol

Answer 6

I've seen it in a few other things like Gatorade, and other soda. I've wondered myself. I'm pretty sure it's a very small amount too. But yeah, the best thing to do is call the 800 number on the bottle or can and ask. :).....which is what I might do myself sometime soon. haha. I was gonna ask them a couple other things anyway, but I always forget to call.

Here is a link to the oil on WIkipedia.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brominated_...

And wow, after reading some of this, I might limit how much Dew I drink. haha. I love the taste and the energy I seem to get from the caffeine in it. But I plan to call and ask about this and do some more research online on brominated vegetable oil and negative health effects from it.

Answer 7

its mountain dew's way of putting vegetables into your stomachs *thumbs up* so healthy huh