NEW YORK — Coca-Cola is dropping a controversial ingredient from its Powerade sports drink, after a similar move by PepsiCo’s Gatorade last year.
The ingredient, brominated vegetable oil, had been the target of a petition by a Mississippi teenager, who questioned why it was being used in a drink marketed toward health-conscious athletes. The petition on noted that the ingredient is linked to a flame retardant and is not approved for use in Japan or the European Union.
A representative for the Atlanta-based company confirmed Sunday that its Powerade brands are “BVO-free.” But no details were available on when the change would be complete. Powerade’s website still lists brominated vegetable oil as an ingredient for its fruit punch and strawberry lemonade flavors.
