January 28th, 2013
05:05 PM ET
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A Mississippi teenager is taking a victory lap after Gatorade announced it will change a minor ingredient in some of its popular sports drinks.

Sarah Kavanagh, a fifteen-year-old volleyball player and Gatorade lover, was drinking an orange Gatorade at home when she read about one of the ingredients in it. She dumped out the rest of the bottle right then and there, and began an online campaign to lobby the company to change formulas. The petition eventually drew over 200,000 signatures.

Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, is used in a number of drinks to prevent the colors and flavors from separating. The article that Kavanagh read in Scientific American said that the ingredient has been banned in Japan and Europe, and that bromine is cited in chemical company patents as a flame retardant.

"I don't want to use a product that has [BVO] in it," she told CNN affiliate WDAM. "The Gatorade company in the U.K. doesn't use it; they don't think it's necessary. So obviously we can make the same product without this ingredient."

PepsiCo Inc, which makes Gatorade, says for the past year - before the petition began - it has been studying that very question, and performed "extensive sensory testing." Over the next few months, bottles with the new recipe will be phased in on store shelves, to replace the flavors like orange and citrus-cooler that used BVO. (Many flavors, like grape and fruit punch, never used it in the first place.)

Gatorade said in a statement, "While our products are safe, we are making this change because we know that some consumers have a negative perception of BVO in Gatorade, despite being permitted for use in North American and Latin American countries."

Michael Jacobson at the Center for Science in the Public Interest said he thinks the substance shouldn’t be used in food. He said in one test on animals, BVO caused a behavior change - although the test was done at much higher doses. "This substance has not been demonstrated to be safe," he said. "Unfortunately it's been very poorly tested."

The Food and Drug Administration reiterated that it considers BVO safe, at the low levels used in drinks. "Based on several long-term animal studies," said FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess, "the FDA has determined that BVO is safe and presents no health risks."

The substance is used in plenty of other drink brands. A quick trip to the supermarket showed it listed on the labels of Fresca, Fanta, Mountain Dew, Sun Drop, and some flavors of Powerade.

The makers of those drinks - PepsiCo, CocaCola, and Dr. Pepper/Snapple - assured CNN that the drinks are safe, and they each emphasized that they are in compliance with the FDA, and the ingredients are clearly marked on the labels. All three also said they are always open to reformulating their recipes.

Kavanagh is eager to enjoy her favorite sports drink again.

"I didn't expect all the attention to be brought to it," she said, "but I'm definitely grateful for it."

CNN’s Saundra Young contributed to this story

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Filed under: Content Partner • Health News • Sip • Soft Drinks • TV-The Situation Room


soundoff (659 Responses)
  1. http://web-concepts.over-blog.com

    It¡¦s really a great and helpful piece of information. I¡¦m happy that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

    May 11, 2013 at 7:53 am | Reply
  2. Austen

    It's a proven fact that 99% of all people who drink h2o die. We need to take this terrible chemical out of our water.

    April 6, 2013 at 1:25 am | Reply
  3. Gary

    Now ler's see Gatorade remove all the artificial food coloring from their sports drinks. It is very difficult to find one of these products that isn't made some bright color (marketing) by these food dyes.

    March 2, 2013 at 3:35 pm | Reply
  4. Richard Plouffe

    I have a co-worker that consistantly goes through liter(s) of Mountain Dew most nights we work and admits to drinking as much if not more at home. In this article, the FDA "reiterated that it considers BVO safe, at the low levels used in drinks". What about higher levels? I know there are more people out there then just my friend that drinks more then 3 normal humans put together. We've expressed our concerns with my friend but at this point he's almost addicted to it and when he tries to slow down or stop, feels aweful. Sugar and caffeine addictions can be just as bad as alcohol for some. Back to the point, did the FDA take into consideration people like my friend when they made that statement?

    February 26, 2013 at 10:49 pm | Reply
  5. Duke

    She did something nobody on this whole thread has done. She got somebody to listen to her, a billion dollar company, and make them change their views. Now just sulk away and walk back over your troll bridges and wait for your next customer and your three-riddles challenge,

    February 26, 2013 at 2:46 am | Reply
  6. Jimmy

    So how much exercise does this 15 year old do to drink gatoraid?

    February 25, 2013 at 8:06 am | Reply
    • Austen

      So much amen

      April 6, 2013 at 1:23 am | Reply
  7. TheTruth

    Glad to see she draws the line at BVO. If she only knew what was in her "Happy Meals."...

    February 23, 2013 at 7:30 am | Reply
  8. dstnyisurs

    I don't understand. It says that when she contacted Gatorade they told her they were already working on it. She didn't bring the matter to Gatorade's attention, she didn't find a new recipe for them, and she didn't do really anything besides start an online petition for an issue that was already being worked on. Why is she taking a victory lap?

    February 21, 2013 at 12:11 pm | Reply
    • Frank

      Because if she hadn't started the petition, nothing would have changed. BVO would still be in that gunk. She's responsible for the change. Hence, victory.

      February 21, 2013 at 3:15 pm | Reply
  9. Laura Daltry

    I think it's great that an online petition had the power to influence a change in an ingredient of a product. One more use of the internet to produce change! Laura Daltry

    February 20, 2013 at 2:33 pm | Reply
  10. Evan

    Googling Monsanto should make you rethink your views on the FDA.

    February 20, 2013 at 10:24 am | Reply
    • RM

      Gatorade is the least of our worries when it comes to substances we ingest in this country.

      February 21, 2013 at 7:36 am | Reply
  11. Rich

    Good for the company for removing a controversial ingredient that isn't necessary. However, it seems likely to be much ado about nothing. It should definitely be studied more, but to refuse to drink the product seems to be an overreaction at this point.

    February 19, 2013 at 10:22 pm | Reply
    • George

      It's so easy to boycott something that to NOT boycott it if you want it to change is an overreaction.

      February 21, 2013 at 3:18 pm | Reply
  12. jrl1234

    At least they she petitioned the company to make a change and not the government, That girl probably save millions of tax dollars the FDA would have wasted on testing and regulating.

    February 19, 2013 at 2:54 pm | Reply
  13. Reef

    Now if these companies would stop putting aspartame in their sodas, I could be a healthy fatso like my grandparents came here to be!

    February 19, 2013 at 1:46 pm | Reply
  14. JC

    Love all the grandstanding about people need to stop eating X because it is a toxin, or boycott product Y because they think it causes some sort of deficiency.

    Why do people assume that food producers are trying to kill them? The average lifespan keeps increasing thanks to advancements in the food and medical industry yet so many people want to look for the boogeyman.

    How many people out there eat organically and drink only water yet still die at 51 due to heart disease, while the 450 pounder lives another 25 years with type 2 diabetes. How many interviews with 100+ year olds do we need to read that attribute their vitality to things like whiskey or smoking which are clearly harmful...

    Your body has means of dealing with "harmful" substances, let's stop acting like Gatorade was caught with their pants down by a 15 year old girl who apparently can't use the internet.

    And to those who started talking about vaccines and autism...do some research and stop listening to celebrities who don't know !@$%.

    February 19, 2013 at 2:31 am | Reply
    • thoughts

      It is the way the stuff makes people feel – and perhaps act – and the consequences of those negative feelings that make some people more adamantly against the additives. I think it takes being able to truly be in touch with yourself or another in your care and knowing more about the foods or additives and their possible effects to be able to discern what products cause problems to be avoided – and which do not. No two people are exactly alike – I think that is where some of the major issues lie when and if others do not understand the controversy over the possible negative effects of some of these products on some people. Why is it so hard for some to understand that some people are more sensitive or reactive to the chemicals, and why the scorn for the concern over that which makes someone sick or feeling ill – especially when the possibility for those negative effects scientifically exists?

      February 19, 2013 at 6:00 am | Reply
    • Lawless4U

      I was agreeing with you until you said "your body has a way of dealing with toxic substances".

      Now you sound like that conservative nutcase who said "women's bodies have ways of shutting that whole thing down" when he spoke of rape pregnacies.

      Sorry but you lost ALL legitimacy.

      February 19, 2013 at 2:41 pm | Reply
      • What?

        It does – it's called a liver. However, like everything else, it's not perfect, so it doesn't get all the toxic substances.

        February 19, 2013 at 7:28 pm | Reply
        • KF

          You forgot about the kidneys...

          February 25, 2013 at 8:14 am |
        • What?

          @ KF

          No, I didn't really . . . I figured that would be "information overload", and might have caused a mental meltdown on their end. ;)

          February 25, 2013 at 8:47 am |
    • RM

      The only reason people are living longer is because we are keeping them alive wirtth advanced medical care. We have the best medical care, yet rank near the bottom in health compared to the other industrialized countries. The current generations health is poorer than the previous and studies state they are unlikely to live as long. Face it, our food is shit. Most of it is over processed and loaded with cheap fillers. You can't trust most companies or the FDA.

      February 21, 2013 at 7:47 am | Reply
    • George

      Why so defensive?

      February 21, 2013 at 3:20 pm | Reply
    • Jean Sartre

      You probably have not noticed the obesity issues in America nor the fact the the FDA is understaffed, overworked, underfunded... and a huge joke!

      With advanced in medical technology, we could probably keep your heart beating until you are 200 years old... perhaps people – some – are living longer... this says absolutely nothing about the QUALITY of that life...

      February 22, 2013 at 11:43 am | Reply
  15. Shizzle Dizzle

    The sugar is the poison – take it out Gatorade.

    February 18, 2013 at 2:23 pm | Reply
    • Lawless4U

      Really?

      Let me grab a bag of chips, this should be interesting.

      February 19, 2013 at 2:43 pm | Reply
      • George

        Dude, don't eat those chips – they've got Olestra in them! Leakage man, leakage...

        February 21, 2013 at 3:22 pm | Reply
  16. Drew

    Mountain Dew contains the ingredient as well. I love the stuff, but maybe they should eliminate the ingredient as well!

    February 13, 2013 at 3:20 pm | Reply
    • bob

      this sort of attitude really troubles me. "bromine is a fire retardant, so i dont want it in my drink" – you arent drinking fire retardant you are drinking about 6 parts per million of a compound that contains an element that can be used as a fire retardant. And it's been proven safe. side effects havent been shown until someone that is hypersensitive to the chemical drinks 2 gallons of sodapop a day for long periods of time.Carbon and Nitrogen together make up cyanogen, the toxic base of cyanide. and yet carbon and nitrogen are both fundamental building blocks of life, and a substantial amount of your body weight is comprised of these two elements. Whats next? shall we ban evil dihydrogen monoxide? it kills thousands if not millions of people a year! (aka water)

      February 13, 2013 at 7:29 pm | Reply
      • Natural vs. Man-Made

        The chemicals may be the same by name – but they are not the same as organic. The body apparently can tell the difference – and reacts accordingly.

        Also – it matters that there is such a larger quantity of fluoride – as this is the most reactive of fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide. Since the weights of these salts is the same – they have the ability to get stuck where they are not needed – and have adverse health effects – if the balance of intake – and quite possibly the difference of natural vs. chemically derived compounds that react differently is consumed with overloads of – say – fluoride.

        Anyone consuming Prozac – since it has a more toxic concentration of fluoride – needs to have strict dietary advice, guidelines, and support I would think – especially if not known whether they are highly sensitive to these chemicals or not.

        Prozac was handed out like candy for so many years – one of the bigger pharma and co. evils – although I am sure there is more just as evil. I have even read you can find it in large concentrations in natural water areas – like lakes – and is hard to remove from drinking water.

        February 14, 2013 at 5:26 am | Reply
        • Courtney

          As an individual with a chemistry degree, it makes me happy to see that so many people on here understand that the activity and characteristics of an individual element does not necessarily predict the activity/characteristics of an arbitrary compound containing that element. I'm glad to see that not everyone just blindly accepts what they read without checking the facts. Go chemistry! haha.

          February 14, 2013 at 5:53 pm |
        • Chemistry is awesome

          I have to fundamentally dis-agree with your first statement. Stating "The chemicals may be the same by name – but they are not the same as organic. The body apparently can tell the difference – and reacts accordingly." is simplye untrue. A molecular compound is just that – nothing more, and nothing less. Bromine versus bromide are different compoundis, but they also don't have the same name. It does not matter whether these compounds were created 'naturally' or artificially, the body will treat them the same, because chemical reactions are based on the atomic bonds, now how the bonds were formed, since the eneregy the bond holds is determined only by the physical chemistry. If there are higher or lower levels of impurities (other compounds mixed in) this can affect the bodies response, but its not the response to be basic compound but rather an entirely different compound.

          I was highly unaware of BVO until this artcile – I don't drink gatorade or mtn dew with any great frequency (unless you use a fourier transform to describe my entire life's consumption – little nerd joke there), so I really don't care.

          I'm also going to take the comments on the flame retardant one step further. Perhaps the girl should stop drinking water. Afterall, hydrogen is highly flammable and incredibly reactive – its also a the component of the standard nuclear fission reaction – talk about dangerous OMG!

          February 15, 2013 at 1:32 pm |
        • hmmm

          That does sound true about atom being atom – but the logic I use in writing the statement you clarify so well (thank you for explaining better what you meant) – to me – logically – can also be seen that the body will react unnaturally to an unnatural substance – be it an organic molecule or synthetic molecule with the same name – the body will react organically or synthetically. This may not be true – but it may be for some – so therefore it could be a truth in logic.

          Anyway – I never drink the stuff either – and have found pure cane soda much more refreshing – as well as organic foods and salts.

          February 15, 2013 at 7:25 pm |
        • John Danielson

          I don't know how you reach the conclusion that you are using "logic" – you aren't. His statement doesn't simply "sound" true, it is true. A molecule is a molecule, and your cells cannot tell the difference between a "naturally" formed molecule and a "synthetic" molecule of the same compound.

          February 17, 2013 at 10:04 pm |
        • Dana

          Where is your evidence that the body can or cannot tell man-made from natural molecules? It would really be nice if someone would actually present some data instead of just saying "I'm a chemistry major, so I'm right!"

          February 18, 2013 at 2:21 pm |
        • Freak of Nature

          my newest embodiment ... freak of nature ... defined by the ability to tell the difference between natural and man-made molecules in the human body

          February 19, 2013 at 2:11 am |
        • What?

          @ Dana

          You are showing your absolute, complete ignorance of chemistry and biological systems with that comment. Any given chemical compound is a VERY specific combination of atoms, in a VERY specific configuration, with VERY specific bonding between the atoms – and that doesn't change, no matter how or where the compound was "made". And the biochemical processes in the body typically process very specific chemical compounds.

          Based on your comment, if one gave you a source it would be a waste of time . . . because the information it contained would undoubtedly be "over your head".

          February 19, 2013 at 7:34 pm |
        • thoughts

          maybe the problem lies more in labeling and understanding labeling then. And companies not labeling and not caring what happens when the man-made chemicals react with the bodies natural defenses against foreign molecules – which logically – an unnatural man-made and induced chemical reaction and replacement (like with prozac and serotonin theories of benefit and negative reactions of deadly side effects). The body can tell the synthetic difference – and reacts naturally – by trying to destroy it – which like with serotonin – is a big part of the human personality or psyche. What is so hard to understand about that for all you naysayers? please – have even one experience like those whom complain if they survive have – please ... i for one am tired of arguing about it because it is obvious to me – and is scientific fact – that what i know is fact – and naysayers are shills or sheeple or evil leaders of the pack ...

          February 20, 2013 at 5:05 am |
      • The voice

        I understand your point, about people being fussy (pretty much the point I believe)... But I am sure you are able to see her side, if there is a safer and better product to be used in its place, why not make the switch? I see there is a lot of products used that affect our health, I am pretty positive that the point made here is that, if its considered unsafe somewhere else, why use it here? or if there is a possible health issue that the FDA missed, which isn't uncommon or unheard of that the FDA legalize or agree to something that's more profitable to CEO pockets and goes against our health. look at them agreeing with children taken psychiatric drugs, and the deaths its caused. look at the standards for health supplements thanks to Texas and FDA, they don't have to have in what's on the label in the product itself or do what the product is intended to do, and so forth over profit... so, in the end I agree with removing this product and that's because the people spoke up and they listened.. two thumbs up to Gatorade for resolving the issue rather then argue it.

        February 14, 2013 at 6:02 pm | Reply
        • John Danielson

          In almost all cases, the answer to a question beginning with "Why don't they...?" is "money".

          February 17, 2013 at 10:05 pm |
      • Brian

        Remember, water is a fire retardant as well.

        February 17, 2013 at 4:49 pm | Reply
        • Lawless4U

          Yeah..............and water can kill you.

          February 19, 2013 at 2:46 pm |
  17. d.

    But (reports) of spontaneous combustion are way down so am thinking keep it in cause you all know what a problem that was getting to be.

    Thank you... thank you...ill be here all week.

    February 13, 2013 at 8:41 am | Reply
  18. mike hunt

    oh my gosh! BVO can be used as a fire retardant! oh nooos! guess what, water puts out fire too, and its used in many household chemicals and cleaners! double oh nooos! we should stop drinking water!

    February 12, 2013 at 11:49 am | Reply
    • D.Hawlk

      Please help America, stop licking the walls.

      February 13, 2013 at 6:32 am | Reply
      • The voice

        are you American? because if so, lead by example and don't discredit people about having an issue with what we consume. The people that are assumed to be wall lickers are the closed minded, naïve, and ignorant people lacking the knowledge of understanding. This girl wasn't the only one with the issue, but was the first to do something about it... what have you done? other then discredit a person who isn't afraid to make a difference, even a small one because in the end every small change will correct the big picture. Do you understand what I am getting at? I am not discrediting you, but I am discrediting your attempt to discredit a 15 year old with an issue and did something about it.

        Thank you Gatorade for listening to the people, companies that do this will be more respected and appreciated. I am also thanking Sarah Kavanagh for standing up for what she believes is right.

        February 14, 2013 at 7:02 pm | Reply
        • Brian

          I think the problem is Gatorade is not listening to /science/ which says, "In the quantities in which BVO appears in this drink, it is safe." People's opinions, perspectives, knowledge, and attitudes do not necessarily reflect objective reality; science shows what objective reality is. I have actually stopped drinking Gatorade as a result of fostering such "bad science".

          February 17, 2013 at 4:52 pm |
    • loreeeeeee

      You don't get it, do you?

      The US has some of the most lax laws and regulations pertaining to the food that you eat. The UK has it right. Perhaps we should elevate our standards, too.

      February 13, 2013 at 1:46 pm | Reply
      • Scott

        That is not necessaily true. Look up Thalidomide. The US was one of the first to ban it And there are many drugs available across the borders that are not available in the US. Each has their own standards and priorities. I wouldn't say we are lax, just focus in different areas.

        February 16, 2013 at 7:11 am | Reply
      • John Danielson

        Rather, the UK has it dead wrong. If you don't like what is in your food, grow your own, make your own, or buy something else. Vote with your dollars, every problem can be solved with capitalism.

        What we need are less regulations. We don't need certifications for lawyers, doctors, plumbers, or any other profession – they exist only to protect the jobs of those currently in the profession and do not improve the quality of it any more than free market economics and a professional's own reputation would accomplish. At least with unions, they're honest about what they do.

        February 17, 2013 at 10:07 pm | Reply
        • Jean Sartre

          This isn't the TEA PARTY RANT BLOG... go take your meds like a nice little boy and grow up!

          February 22, 2013 at 11:57 am |
    • Chemistry is awesome

      BVO is not a fire retardant – bromine is. This girl must be failing chemistry or its being taught by a liberal weenie teacher instructing in junk science. Because some chem company lists it in a patent as the fire retardant ingredient is rather completely unrelated to anything else. Clorine gas will kill you, yet sodium-cloride is essential to your life. I'm surprised she's not also trying to boycott salt. Although if she did it might reduce her water retention and should lose some frickin weight!

      February 15, 2013 at 1:41 pm | Reply
      • MZ

        EXACTLY. People come up with "a cause" just to gain notoriety.

        February 16, 2013 at 4:59 pm | Reply
  19. Animal

    This girl needs to get a better grip on the English language. When 'inated' is added to a word, the word becomes a verb in the past tense. And in this case a process, not an ingredient.

    February 11, 2013 at 8:34 am | Reply
    • loreeeeeee

      And yet, Gatorade is changing it.

      February 13, 2013 at 1:44 pm | Reply
      • John Danielson

        I'm confused. Are you making an analogy that, by saying Gatorade is removing BVO, which we know to be true, that his statement that the girl is a moron is also true? It's a bit of a leap, but at least you arrive at the correct conclusion.

        February 17, 2013 at 10:09 pm | Reply
  20. CM

    As long as it's still an effective hangover cure, I don't care what's in it. That's the only time I drink the stuff...

    February 10, 2013 at 8:26 am | Reply
    • 9Edge1st

      I never drink the stuff. Coca Cola is my drink of choice, it helps to dilute stomach acid which is so strong it is known to dissolve horse meat, LOL

      February 10, 2013 at 3:14 pm | Reply
  21. Andrey

    That's great they got rid of the chemical with studies that show it's safe, and probably replaced it with another chemical that's less well studied. Great job.

    February 9, 2013 at 11:26 am | Reply
    • loreeeeeee

      "Safe" according to the US. But, not in other countries. Tell me, why is that?

      February 13, 2013 at 1:47 pm | Reply
  22. thoughts

    egad!
    I wonder what salt that they use for melting snow is made of?
    Is it the same salt on roads, highways, etc., that is used on sidewalks?

    ... pass the seaweed ... please!!!
    i've decided to use organic spices on my popcorn from now on – like garlic – or chili powder – something like that.
    Rethinking the teflon and plastic of the popcorn maker – still tasting the ionized salt from THAT experiment which made me feel stiff and achy and screachy inside my brain ...
    spitting is a blessing if done in appropriate ways and understood when not.

    egad! Wonder what snow and ice removal salt does to people and the environment???
    will a lot of salt be used to clear the blizzard? or simply snow plows? interesting.

    February 9, 2013 at 6:10 am | Reply
    • mike hunt

      are you eating the salt off teh roads or something? sand also melts ice. you know, that same sand they pull your seaweed out of.

      February 12, 2013 at 11:51 am | Reply
      • jackson`

        salt melts ice. sand does not. sand is applied to the roads in order to increase traction. are you from the south?

        February 13, 2013 at 12:11 pm | Reply
        • Canuck

          Salt can only melt ice up to a temperature of -10 degrees celcius after which point it no longer has any effect.
          Sand is put down in the morning by the plows for traction, but as it heats throughout the day it causes the ice to melt faster than it would unsanded due to the higher reflective properties of clear ice vs sanded ice.

          you both must be americans.
          canadians will always know snow better

          February 13, 2013 at 2:02 pm |
  23. thecakeisNOTaLIE

    "The article that Kavanagh read in Scientific American said that the ingredient has been banned in Japan and Europe, and that bromine is cited in chemical company patents as a flame retardant."

    Really? because water is a good flame retardant too. So is sodium bicarbonate which is used in baking. Just because it has "flame retardant" capabilities doesn't mean its bad for you.

    "The Food and Drug Administration reiterated that it considers BVO safe, at the low levels used in drinks. "Based on several long-term animal studies," said FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess, "the FDA has determined that BVO is safe and presents no health risks."

    So I guess those studies mean nothing to the uneducated consumer. The name sounds bad! lets ban it!.

    February 8, 2013 at 3:00 pm | Reply
    • Notbuyingit

      They also stated that FenFen, Paxil, and Chantix were good too...

      February 9, 2013 at 2:33 am | Reply
    • i am a human being

      ... not a lab rat!

      silly scientist – need to learn that.

      February 9, 2013 at 4:30 am | Reply
      • John Danielson

        Are you sure? Lab rats will eat anything you put in front of their face, humans are a bit more discerning. From the sound of it, you don't trust the scientists claiming things are safe, but you want things banned from foods because... you'll eat anything put in front of your face? Or will you be human and read the label and make an informed choice?

        February 17, 2013 at 10:12 pm | Reply
        • not a lab rat

          The part that truly sucks – still have to deal with the stuff in others and the illnesses that it causes – whether i personally consume it or not or if I do not know or understand what is in the product and what reactions are possible and consume the product myself. Labels are not always available – especially when others are cooking. Docs, etc., are to blame as well – for taking advantage of the situation and causing more harm for their benefit or because they are too corrupt to care about possible negative effects of what they prescribe or do not attend to negative effects in terms of followup care or attend to the negative effects by causing more negative effects for as long as they can – to make more money ...

          February 21, 2013 at 8:52 pm |
        • morethoughts

          It does truly suck – because all these years now – and all these people sick – and made sicker – for the benefit of capitalism and corruption and political and economic control – and all these docs said almost nothing yet basically aided and abetted the corrupt and deadly disabeling schemes. How many people complained – and complained – and complained – and were basically told to shut up – sit down – and take your medicine or leave us alone or go to jail – and the courts enabled them in their malicious ruin of the USA health – and still do – and still will. Why did PepsiCo really decide to change this one product?

          February 23, 2013 at 5:01 am |
    • ironwolf56

      I'd take anything the FDA says with a big grain of salt. For a company that's supposed to be for the public good they sure seem to side with the corporations a lot; funny how pretty much every single one of their former directors in the past few decades has gone on to a multi-million dollar drug or food company job after finishing their time at the FDA.

      February 10, 2013 at 10:41 pm | Reply
      • They Should Be In Prison

        The people who reported the false claims about Prozac – are probably the people who have hired these people. They should all be in jail. How does an average american citizen have them tried for accessory to homicide, suicide, and the disability of (probably) millions by allowing this one med to be lied about for so very long – and even approved for children – when the tests results included people jumping out of the hospital windows during the tests, and its basis for action is fluoride – which is a poison??? I have lost all respect in this FDA run system from that one med alone. Those responsible for the malious lies, deceipt, and criminal neglect should be in prison for the rest of their lives.

        February 13, 2013 at 3:29 am | Reply
        • Reasons For Everything

          There was one reason and one reason only for the manufacture and corrupt promotion of Prozac: The ultimate take over of the NRA (and the USA people). Prozac is made by a foreign country afterall – one that has always tried to control US.
          Seems like some people dumped prozac overboard like the tea a few centuries ago – only thing is – it ended up in the drinking water.
          Tea has fluoride in it too I think – no wonder they pushed that so much too – some thinks never change.

          February 16, 2013 at 6:47 pm |
        • Reasons So Sad

          The lies and corruption and deception runs so deep within the system – and the political atmosphere pushes the public into fear and distrust and hatred of others – when it is they themselves who are to fear and distrust by their pushing the fear and distrust and hatred on the public. And they do this so obviously – that you can sit here and write about it continuously – and people will applaud every little seeming step in the 'right' direction – yet – you can also sit here and know that they are laughing their a..... off because it is yet another ploy in their game of causing problems so that they can seem like heroes when they ride in with their silver knights to save the day – once again – yeah and hooray for US – we did something 'right' for a change (wink – wink) – and you sit and watch them playing their deadly games – and trying not to let them drive you insane or expend you (because then they win – it is their game – and that never changes). And for icing on the cake – if you say anything about it – or try to change it – they tell you and everyone else that you are crazy. good ol' US of A.

          February 16, 2013 at 8:14 pm |
      • Jean Sartre

        I'd take anything the FDA says with a salt block!

        Corporations OWN THE FDA!

        February 22, 2013 at 12:05 pm | Reply
    • loreeeeeee

      You really equate water to a manufactured chemical?

      February 13, 2013 at 1:48 pm | Reply
      • Canuck

        check your facts man... Dihydrogen monoxide: is a terrible compound.

        the substance is the major component of acid rain and contributes to the "greenhouse effect".
        it may cause severe burns and is is fatal if inhaled.
        Not only does it contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape but it accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
        It may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.

        Yet we use it all the time
        I think we should ban it

        February 13, 2013 at 2:08 pm | Reply
  24. Jamaes

    How about dropping the sugar drinks and going with something healthy such as a balanced diet and clean water? I never understood why people are drawn to Gatorade and drinks like it, they arent' good for you regardless if they have bromide it them or not.

    February 8, 2013 at 2:22 pm | Reply
  25. Ideas about Autism

    Reevaluate recommended diets to make sure iodine is present in correct amounts in food in pregnant and nursing mothers and baby formulas.. Reevaluate ionized salt to make sure it truly works as needed. Do not let kids (inform moms to be and nursing as well) eat red dye and other food colorings and additives that cause mental definiciencies and abnormalities. Stop trying to cover for vaccines – make them right so they do not cause health issues – enough with the corruption and lies and making something unnatural to take the place of natural foods that do a better job than the vaccine or food additive could.

    use seaweed as substitute for what is now in geletin – jello – etc. (that stuff is toxic). Teach the safety aspects of seaweed – which there are – so read about it before taking this advice.

    teach americans more about salts and sugars and chemical additives – stop shoving the worst toxins in kids foods – buy adult food for kids as kids foods are cartoonish for a reason now – unless the manufacturer has already made their foods more kid healthy. Teach diet and nutrition in schools at every grade – as needs change as age changes – make sure the training is not filled with corporate lies and propaganda and chemical laden food recommendations.

    reevaluate all institutionalized diets – like school lunches – focus on salts, sugars, and chemical additives for much needed improvements for overall health.

    Find that new industrial fertilizer that will not kill the planet and it's people now – not later ... enough waiting to see if the world is going to end ... why push it?

    February 5, 2013 at 1:43 am | Reply
    • thoughts

      in simply learning more about these 4 salts as i have just done – not at indepth level
      it makes me wonder if autism is not truly caused by too much bromine, flouride, chloride, iron, and other heavy metals and too little iodide to flush the toxins out.
      If autism has seen a tremendous rise in conjunction with the bromide pesticide and instecticide use, etc. (i'm not a chemist nor am i studied on this stuff obviously), since ... when? ... and the government still has not come up with reasons nor answers ... when the problem is fairly obvious if you do know even a little about these chemicals and their effects on the human body ... then why so many USA problems now on a massive scale that affects the world as well.

      no words to describe how it feels to this happen and be affected by it – mental illness just by watching it continue to happen. Is there a way to reverse this which is causing the downfall of our nation .... and the world?

      February 6, 2013 at 2:57 am | Reply
      • dgatwood

        Autism is caused by genetics. It isn't caused by pesticides any more than it is caused by vaccinations. We have higher diagnosis rates for autism now, not because the actual rate of incidence is higher, but rather because we're doing a better job at screening for it. Thus, more recent autism statistics now properly count all the people with milder forms of autism who previously would simply have been dismissed as "moody" or "slackers".

        February 9, 2013 at 8:19 pm | Reply
        • thoughts

          Well that is politics for you.
          Labeling people who aren't sick – sick
          and ignoring the ones who are sick
          based on cost analysis of what category
          is less expensive to treat -
          money input in gov. paid health non-care.
          This is true – facts are there.
          It is all money – power – greed – prejudice – and corruption.
          Use these people for research purposes and to feed the system – support the privatized penal system
          It is a game and a way of life (to them).

          Anyway,
          it could be genetics
          (another money maker).
          Or it could be a form of Celtic or Asian or ... disease
          There are different salts recommended:
          Celtic, Himalayan, etc.

          Things to think about.

          February 10, 2013 at 5:09 am |
      • Traylor

        Fluoride is poison, simply. It should not be in anybody's water. There is a massive lobby blocking any serious research into just how dangerous it is. I just moved to a place that uses fresh well water with no additives and I buy non-fluoridated toothpaste at the health food store. I won't buy iodized salt either. You get plenty of iodine just from eating a balanced diet.

        February 12, 2013 at 9:05 am | Reply
        • prozac sucks

          Fluoride was used and is used by governments to dumb down and subdue the population – like the Nazis. The USA is criminally negligent in poisoning the population with its fluoride policies.
          Prozac is seriously depresseng with its corrupt fluoride based deceitful control of the USA mental health sysem.

          February 12, 2013 at 3:39 pm |
  26. Michaela

    if we knew half of what was in our food, we'd probably never eat or drink!

    February 3, 2013 at 12:25 am | Reply
  27. More Thoughts

    The military's problem with self-inflicted deaths could probably benefit greatly by paying close heed to the bromine, fluoride, and chloride chemicals in their members' diets – and recommend and provide more foods and beverages that replenish the body's natural need for iodine – instead of the bromine, fluoride, and chloride that might currently be replacing iodine. This will help to relieve mental illnesses.

    Have them exercise and sweat more as a built in reflex to suicidal thoughts – and train them to eat sea salt and sea foods rich in iodine – and not contaminated with other heavy metals and toxic chemicals.

    Make this is a war against the poisoning of the USA population by the USA population – as we are ultimately in control of this. Do it NOW – for everyone.

    Do NOT allow fluoride, bromide, or chloride intensive ingestion as is seen prevalent in USA civilians even though it is a detriment to the wellbeing of societies.

    February 2, 2013 at 7:21 am | Reply
    • Geogal

      Because the suicides have nothing to do with the situations they're put in, right? No, not at all....

      February 2, 2013 at 3:58 pm | Reply
      • more thoughts

        No – some of them are happening to veterans who haven't even been in combat zones- or overseas.
        So that is not the entire problem – yet bromide can cause psychosis, suicidal ideation, and homicidal behaviors.
        It is in a lot of products that are consumed – if added stressors from military – and added intake from military environment – then could be one of the causes.

        Yes – the combat environment is harsh – but that is not the only cause.

        February 2, 2013 at 4:32 pm | Reply
        • Geogal

          Did you really think I only meant combat? No....there's much more to the military that can be very, very stressful for those in it.

          February 3, 2013 at 1:14 am |
        • thoughts

          I didn't know what you knew actually – but knew that there are MANYstressors in the military – not just for the military veterans.
          Just the thought of the military is stressful for some. Their missions are stressful, the environment is stressful to some, and there is a overriding loss of ability to think independently or have independent free will to some degree for some. The loss of personal control and responsibility for someone trying to be an adult – and inabiity to understand the big picture is stressful and depressing don't you think? That is how it feels like when you deal with the system as a civilian sometimes – looking in from the outside to the decisions of the government that affects all – even if only to regulate in the best interest of we the people vs. they the corporations – like the FDA.

          I was surprised to see pepsiCo listen to the requested changes – yet even more pleased to see part of the solution to an illness event from this type toxicity I am trying to figure out a way to avoid if possible – yet didn't understand fully the big picture – so struggling against the tide of lies and political oppression – to get the truth. Also need to know so I can tell others better ways so they will be healthier – since noone else will give me or them the real understanding we need to survive.

          February 3, 2013 at 2:26 am |
        • first hypothesis

          the veterans are being subjected to training that inudates them with salts in disportionate amounts to their well-being.
          after each one of these toxic events – they need to be trained to detox to healthy state in order to maintain wellness.

          February 3, 2013 at 4:17 am |
        • first hypothesis action plan:one

          have all these professional chemists, doctors, biologists, and geologists, and psy-ologists get together pronto and come up with a plan that is for we the people by we the people who want we the people to survive (not just them).
          Inform the public of the true information and diet plans – and get pepsiCo to create a beverage that is in total balance with the needs of the human body (not a rat or something).

          tangent: thinking 666 are three comets? there are major people coming to power in this sunspot 666 time period hypothesis theory – sunspot 1666. go to spaceweather.com for updates on the weather ...

          February 3, 2013 at 5:36 am |
        • first hypothesis action plan:one

          Have all these professional chemists, doctors, biologists, and geologists, and psy-ologists get together pronto and come up with a plan that is for we the people by we the people who want we the people to survive (not just them).
          Inform the public of the true information and diet plans – and get pepsiCo to create a beverage that is in total balance with the needs of the human body (not a rat or something).

          Tangents: thinking 666 are three comets? There are major people coming to power in this sunspot 666 time period hypothesis theory – sunspot 1666…

          Go to spaceweather.com for updates on the weather…

          February 3, 2013 at 5:40 am |
        • other tanget idea

          666 is symbol for fish – 3rd factor

          is there a fourth?

          February 3, 2013 at 6:01 am |
        • First Tangent 4th Factor Hypothesis

          Sunspot 1666 – 1 is for the sun

          February 3, 2013 at 7:37 am |
        • First Hypothsis Action Plan:2

          Remember Tang? It was made to go into space by NASA wasn't it?

          Shopping List: Check out sea salt, Tang (wonder if it is still available – read ingrediants anyway to see what is in it), and sea food – the japanese eat seaweed wrapped sushi all the time, or just seaweed products. And pure water ... (figure out what is best pure water ...)

          February 3, 2013 at 7:49 am |
        • SeaWeed Notes

          I forgot the shopping list – but seaweed is an interesting food.
          The japanese have these little crackers with seaweed in it.
          They also (as does a lot of the world) make geletin from seaweed.
          SeaWeed is a natural source of Iodide, which is needed for thyroid functioning, and is used in health aspects of radiation therapies and x-ray imaging.
          There are many aspects about seaweed that should be studied to understand better the whys and hows and all the safety aspects of seaweed before consuming in massive amounts. There is this thing that I do not fully understand yet – the recommendation for massive iodine intake – tapered to normal intake and reduction to normal levels of other salts. This is discussed on wiki – but needs to be better understood – for this type recommendation.

          February 5, 2013 at 2:40 am |
      • Thoughts

        Geogal – I apologize – I didn't mean to be rude.

        I have gotten to reading about halite – and looked at images of rock salt lamps – and read more about their health benefits.
        Very interesting reading indeed – thank you for pointing me in that direction – has not got to chloride yet...

        Anyway – i was thinking more about seaweed and the military and thought about how the Japanese eat a lot of sea weed – as do their neighbors – so thinking that if military stationed there – they should eat as well – because the natives eat it and they are well. Maybe needs to be considered in other areas to – like if a culture typically eats certain foods to maintain their health – it could be naturalized diet for that area of the world to maintain optimum health.

        And like if soldiers here in USA are eating a diet that is making others ill – than they will get ill too.

        Things to consider to understand better…

        February 5, 2013 at 3:52 am | Reply
      • Note 1:

        the situations could and probaly does include their diets

        February 5, 2013 at 4:09 am | Reply
    • Geogal

      Also...you know what NaCl is right? Sodium CHLORIDE.....

      Guess you better avoid regular old salt....see how well you do with that.

      February 2, 2013 at 4:00 pm | Reply
      • more thoughts

        i still have to do more reading to understand salt better – but iodine is the natural salt of the body from what i've read

        February 2, 2013 at 4:34 pm | Reply
        • Geogal

          There are a lot of different salts; "Iodine" is not a salt though, it's an element and salts are compounds. If you mean iodized salt, that's still NaCl with some sort of Iodine salt is added. Halite/Soldium Chloride is a common kind of salt and the kind used to make table salt (NaCl). Potassium Chloride aka "Sylvite" is also a salt and commonly used in "diet salts" for those on low sodium diets; it also tastes bitter. Both are also common salts necessary for the human body to function, in the right amounts. Iodine is required by the body for other reasons.

          There's plenty of other salts out there though, some fine for us to ingest, some not.

          February 2, 2013 at 9:14 pm |
        • thoughts

          yes – see i didn't understand that part yet – i think i said persumably ionized salt or sea salt might work better.

          I don't know actually – i have been avoiding salt for so long – still have the same blue canister of ionized salt i've had for years now – although i did actually put it next to the popcorn maker i recently bought since the microwave popcorn is so toxic ...

          so – thanks for informing us more about this. What is in sea salt? I meant to buy some today – and forgot.

          i'll be back ...

          February 3, 2013 at 2:33 am |
        • Geogal

          You don't understand it...yet you're making "hypotheses." Hypotheses are supposed to be "educated guesses." That is, if you're ignorant of the subject, your hypothesis is not a hypothesis.

          February 3, 2013 at 8:18 am |
        • thoughts

          ok – so then i'll call it: in my USA educated guess hypothesis – will that clear the issue up? we'll refer to it as USAEG Hypothesis to differentuate it from – "... we have no idea why their killing themselves, sir."; Sir: "well carry on then" – Hypothesis to make things quite clear.

          February 3, 2013 at 9:36 am |
        • Geogal

          Or use what you actually do know when coming up with guesses. Or....wait, and research the basics that you don't know. For instance...which salts are required by the body and why. You didn't know that, but you were ready to tell people what salts they should have and what salts they shouldn't have,how much they should sweat, etc. I bet you don't even know if the chemical you're against is excreted in human sweat, yet you suggest they sweat more to get rid of it. You don't even know if it's in the diets of military personnel. but you're ready to insist it's the problem.

          Leave it to those who actually have the knowledge required to assess the situation; your conspiracy theories help no one. Imagine if people immediately believed your baseless assertions and failed to continue assess the mental health of the military based on the actual, relevant information.

          February 3, 2013 at 1:38 pm |
        • thoughts

          why would they do that? If they did that and had any control of the situation – without checking out the reality and science and getting their team of professionals to give them expert advice they shouldn't be in charge any way.

          besides – i'll i recommended was exercise, sweat, pure water, seafood, and the right balance of salts and iodine
          all pretty basic don't you think
          sorry if i sounded so professional
          i usually talk like this so no one actually thinks i know what i'm talking about
          but someone else when i started talking about this stuff chided me for not talking prof. like
          so – there you have it
          now i'm getting chided for talkin all prof. like and all

          .... can't win can ya????

          February 3, 2013 at 2:48 pm |
        • more thoughts

          anyway – rest is needed too – especially when the adrenals are overloaded from overwhelming stress.
          meditation and yoga are recommended and work well for this. if not – learn to relax
          teach them NOT TO KILL themselves – in other words – better to sleep for a few days – then to kill yourself
          here is another one – don't make it such a stigma to have a mental illness
          why do people expect the brain to stay healthy in unhealthy environments?
          and ... if the environment has to be one of war in order to have war – then that environment is rather easy to create
          don't you think???

          i still have to learn more about salt – but please – feel free not to share as you may be a shill – unless you want to prove otherwise ...

          February 3, 2013 at 3:17 pm |
        • Geogal

          I already told you about salts, and no that wasn't all you said. You said to avoid anything with chloride in it....which would include NaCl, despite that it's a necessary mineral in our diets.

          Again, if you don't know the information, don't go around acting like you do.

          February 3, 2013 at 3:42 pm |
        • thoughts

          learn EFT – emotional freedom technique
          this can be done on-line on youtube videos
          pay heed not to over due quick method hand techniques like they tell you not to in the videos

          these people are not going to want to ask for help now anyway – which is what prez. must have wanted in first place to cut costs – so these helpful tips can be provided to them AT LEAST – and someone who knows about sugars and salts and human health and is not a shill could figure this out since they probably already know and let the rest of us know ... otherwise – figure it out yourself as best you can since everyone is different in this respect to some degree I would think

          February 3, 2013 at 3:43 pm |
        • thoughts

          geogal – you simply misunderstand me
          if you want to understand better what i have said – then read what i said again
          what i have said is sound advice – and you keep complaining because I don't know that much about salt – which I keep saying.
          thanks for the input – now go play – chow

          February 3, 2013 at 3:50 pm |
        • Geogal

          I have read what you said, perhaps you should do the same? And perhaps you should reread what I said. Then, perhaps, you will understand.

          February 3, 2013 at 4:36 pm |
        • thoughts

          you are annoying aren't you?
          what company do you work for?
          i have google and wikipedia at my fingertips when i'm up to researching salts and sugars and human health.
          shill

          February 3, 2013 at 4:49 pm |
        • Geogal

          Oh, of course, the old "what company do you work for?" Paranoid aren't you?

          February 3, 2013 at 5:20 pm |
        • seriously

          what are you trying to prove?
          that you are a jerk?
          you are right – what would make me think you work for anyone?
          oi

          February 3, 2013 at 5:29 pm |
        • morethoughts

          ok – well maybe you misunderstand.
          next time you harp on me – why don't you show me the exact quote from where i actually said don't consume chloride and I will try to help you understand what I said better. My understanding at this point is that seaweed is good ... yum ... made me feel better right away.

          February 4, 2013 at 2:24 pm |
      • Geogal

        I know your kind....anytime anyone has the knowledge to know what a laugh conspiracy theories are must "work for a company that benefits from it."

        February 3, 2013 at 7:06 pm | Reply
        • thoughts

          conspiracy theories?
          I have no idea where you get that in any of my posts actually.
          I have simply discovered more about salts and sugars and human health in relation to corporations and politics and the USA government in relation to bromide, fluoride, chloride and iodide – and am simply relating what I do know to this new found knowledge – and in doing so am understanding more about it – (which even you say I should do to satisfy your need for me to be perfect in your eyes) – which is about the things I talked about – which isn't much actually – as it is all fairly common sense.
          I think you misunderstand my new found knowledge of these salts – which i freely admit – as your right to assert yourself and your knowledge into the conversation. If you would please stop harping on me – and provide your version of reality in regards to whatever conspiracy theory or knowledge of salts and sugars and human health – or whatever – except me – then – please – be my quest.
          other then that -you are being a troll – please stop – thank you

          February 3, 2013 at 7:37 pm |
        • morethoughts

          thank you

          ok

          well – I started my search in learning more about sugars and salts with reading up on Skittles – which I saw was contained in MRE packages (sometimes). I thought it would be an easy place to start.

          I can see where the extra calories might be needed in MRE's, but what is disturbing are the chemicals in the food colorings, etc. Even having them sit in the skittle bag – which would be my next step in researching skittles and effects on mental health – after sitting in hot MRE cans – or for a time – might add more unintended and unwanted chemicals.

          I think if the military actually looked at the chemical mixes of the products themselves – they might recommend other products for MRE's on the basis of awareness of affect on mental illness.

          what is truly sad is that you can immediately read that the red dyes in particular – and others surely – cause hyperactivity etc. in kids – which has then helped to lead a national edemic of ADHD requiring a whole billions of dollars worth of meds – doctors – research – and then add many billions more to the lives ruined by having ADHD – and you can see that many have and had reason for concern – and that if this was once a conspiracy theory – it has been proven to be true – yet there you see it – in a picture of MRE's. I personally can only eat a few skittles before I do not eat them again for a very long time – and then I might eat another – and remember how it is so unsatisfying with just the sugar content alone – so for me it has never been about conspiracy theory – but about how things made me feel.

          so – that's as far as i've got ...

          skittles has these new colors now that are darker in coloring – and i didn't read about it yet – but saw briefly mentioned that the colors don't match the flavors. so now i guess you can't even pick the red ones out i bet their thinking – go ahead – guess where the red is now?

          February 4, 2013 at 10:08 am |
        • morethoughts2

          I thought of a candy I sometimes crave in the hard candy variety like skittles – and the only one was Hot Tamales.
          So I again went to wiki and looked at Hot Tamales and started to follow the link for the salt contianed in that which led to discover that it is also in Mac and Cheese – which I hate – so stopped. You can not get very far when you follow these chemicals before you get to something you totally hate if you are someone who is adversly effected by these chemicals.

          I think I just like the taste of cinammon actually – which I made myself aware of in thought the last time I craved Hot Tamales (because I knew I dd not actually want them) – and started eating plain cinammon instead on more frequent basis – which is supposed to be a very healthy spice from what i've read and how i do like it. I have not researched cinnammon candies or items that can go into an MRE that would be healthy – but providing something more healthy in that category might be possible – i do not know.

          February 4, 2013 at 11:18 am |
  28. thoughts

    Increased Military Suicides – Solutions Needed Quickly!!!

    Here is one:

    1. Detox all military immediately of bromine and replace with iodine.

    2. Do NOT under any circumstance – prescribe them SSRI's, esp. Prozac, nor ANY of the other meds. WAKE UP!

    3. They need to sweat more and then not replace that sweat with more bromine, chlorine, and fluoride – eat seafood, seaweed, and presumably ionized salt or perhaps sea salt works well...

    February 2, 2013 at 6:08 am | Reply
    • Esteban

      To this individual that keeps appearing names "Thoughts".

      You really need to stop speaking about military suicides, because it has become increasingly apparent that you haven't the slightest idea on the subject. While everybody's experience in the military differs, I can without a shadow of a doubt inform you that the chief concern for the increasing rate of suicide is not table salt or even a lack there-of of sweating. Try looking at the inherent mental stresses on every single one of the jobs as well. Saying you, as a non-veteran civilian, can even begin to claim that you can understand what needs to be done militarily is a joke, simple as that.

      You think that soldiers need to sweat more? Do you not realize how physically demanding physical therapy is (which generally leaves everyone drenched in sweat, at least when I was in), not to mention how physically demanding most of the occupations in the military are? Besides pointing that out, let's ask the obvious: Do you really think the deployed soldiers need to sweat more than they already do?

      Lastly, on a strict side-note, just because you 'researched' something on wikipedia or peeked on google doesn't make for splendidly structured arguments. Especially Wikipedia, I hate how people believe everything they read on that site.

      February 9, 2013 at 3:52 pm | Reply
      • thoughts

        I know the military life is stressful – but some of these people are committing suicide when they are out of the service. Maybe that is a problem – maybe they are used to sweating the toxins out – and then they don't get as much structured exercise – or sweat as much – but yet the diet has become a norm – so the lack of detoxifying as much – or not having the same balanced diet or whatever – could be a cause of illnesses that affect everyone else in civilian world – as well as military world.

        Just a thought, anyway, I did also mention that rest and yoga and EFT (emotional freedom technique) and resting adrenals (should research those more) was also a key to coping in such a stressful and/or differing situations. And looking at the diet and exercise differences to make sure staying balanced. anyway – i can understand why you may have been upset at the info – i was – and am – but i am pleased to know better how to cope and survive in healthy manner based upon my newfound deeper understanding of salts, still understanding of course – and sugars, and additives in relation to mental health. Sorry i was so anxious to share the news of possibly a way to look at things differently or more in-depth for a possible solution and deeper understanding.

        February 9, 2013 at 6:46 pm | Reply
      • morethoughts

        I like wiki because you can learn a lot of factual type info – and skip through the terms like the internet – except you still get wiki – with more factual info. It makes learning easier for me – altho there are many differing tangents – i can usually understand better that way by relating new facts to something I may already have some understanding or knowledge of.
        II have always enjoyed reading encyclopedias – although I always questioned all of them.

        February 9, 2013 at 7:18 pm | Reply
  29. Penelopanter

    I just got paid $6784 working on my laptop using these simple steps leaked on this web page. Make up to $85 per hour doing simple tasks that are so easy to do that you won't forgive yourself if you don't check it out! Payments are paid every Friday! Here is what I've been doing Big44.ℂOM

    February 1, 2013 at 11:02 pm | Reply
  30. Vin

    Fatty needs to worry less about the BVO she drinks, and more about the cake she crams in her face.

    February 1, 2013 at 6:02 pm | Reply
    • why so mean

      Why are you so mean to this kid? Is that what school age kids have to suffer through every day from their peers at school because of some government sponsored brain washing campaign to demand our kids start consuming more products with bromine in and on it. They already inudate these kids with flouride and clorine and bromine – and recommend the loss of consumption of regular salt. I mean – our government actually promotes diebeties, cancer, heart problems, nuerological disorders, and mental illness – with impunity – and then turns its back on kids and their parents screaming couse they cannot survive in the environment as it is that they cannot escape from – since the poison is in most things consumable. The USA government is criminally neglectful to the world when it comes to bromine – and to the USA for the flouride and chloride toxicity in this nation through the water supply and some meds – like prozac.

      February 1, 2013 at 11:09 pm | Reply
    • edwin

      Someone had to say what we were all thinking.
      She has no business drinking Gatordade in the first place. It's a sports drink made for atheletes.

      I, on the other hand, will gladly finish this BVO laden Mountain Dew. It hasn't killed me nor shrunk my testes.

      February 9, 2013 at 12:38 pm | Reply
      • Sarah

        I think you're wrong about the testes. Your last girlfriend had to buy a magnifying glass. Everything in that area ( along with your brain) had shrunk.

        February 10, 2013 at 7:11 pm | Reply
        • edwin

          Great ad-hominem. Your parents should be proud.

          February 11, 2013 at 10:19 am |
    • Sarah

      Here's a kid who's trying to do something to benefit us all and you want to bash her because she isn't skinny? Get a life, you ignorant donkey's behind. Post pictures of your kid and let's she how homely he / she is. You don't know this girl's life or whether or not she's trying to lose weight. Keep your nasty comments and your ugly heart to yourself.

      February 10, 2013 at 7:08 pm | Reply
  31. Geogal

    I wonder if she knows water is a solvent...

    I'm not saying that BVO is necessarily good, but I get tired of the "omg did you know that chemical is used in (insert inedible substance here)????" as the basis for what is and isn't safe.

    February 1, 2013 at 3:54 pm | Reply
  32. Andy Majure

    I think it was wise of her to make that choice and make gederade safer.

    February 1, 2013 at 12:41 pm | Reply
  33. EliTheNinjaBoss

    You ever wonder why kids these days can be so wild and crazy, and how your parents are always saying "You kids these days are so much more disobedient than we were when we were young?"? This could be the reason why, at least in the USA

    February 1, 2013 at 12:37 pm | Reply
  34. Trenton

    I don't think that one ingredient could be that harmful. I mean, than if it was, than we would have a LOT less ingredients in a LOT less drinks. I really don't mind that ingredient.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:47 am | Reply
    • Amethyst

      Can I interest you in some soylent green?

      February 1, 2013 at 7:24 pm | Reply
  35. Peyton

    I really don't think it matters because fast food is what is really bad for you not Gatorade. There is one bad ingredient in Gatorade but there is a lot of bad ingredients in fast food.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:43 am | Reply
  36. Kaylea

    I dont drink gatorade that much, but when i do it is usually during a volleyball or basketball game. I think if there is something bad in gatorade people maybe shouldnt drink it until it official that BVO is not in it. If poeple want to drink gatorade they can, but its not really good for you.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:42 am | Reply
    • Hannah

      I think it's good for her to stand up for what she believes in. She should be proud! I stopped drinking Gatorade a long time ago because it was making me sick to my stomach. Schools if they do sell Gatorade should take it off the shelves until Gatorade fixes the problem.

      February 1, 2013 at 12:47 pm | Reply
  37. Carsten

    I think that they should get rid of that in gatorade. I think they should because it is a bad drink for you. That is why we should get rid of that.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:41 am | Reply
  38. Josie

    Well, I totally agree with the company agreeing to remove the preservative BVO. But that girl should know that Gatorade is only for people who do a lot of working out and sweat a lot. When you sweat a lot, you lose the electrolytes, and sodium, etc. who need to replenish those things. I think that girl just wanted attention. She even said so in her video. But, totally agree with her, But DRINK WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    February 1, 2013 at 11:41 am | Reply
  39. Zachary

    Gatorade is good for you if you are active. It is not good for you if you drink it and not do anything. So i think they should change some ingredients so that it is good for you when you are ether active or not.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:40 am | Reply
  40. Josephine

    I think she's a genius for what she did. And all the people who are making fun of her size should stop she didn't do anything to you. she's a teenager and doesn't need all of you people to bullie her. Give her a brake!!!

    February 1, 2013 at 11:40 am | Reply
  41. Isaiah

    I drink a lot of Gatorade I hope it don't mess up the taste. Gatorade is a cool energy drank. I love the taste of Gatorade.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:40 am | Reply
    • Fred Tate

      Me and my dad make models of clipper ships.
      I like clipper ships because they are fast.
      Clipper ships sail the ocean.
      Clipper ships never sail on rivers or lakes.
      Clipper ships have lots of sails and are made out of wood.

      February 9, 2013 at 11:24 am | Reply
  42. Dylan

    I really don't think it is a big deal that BVO in Gatorade because people are still going to drink it If it's in there or not.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:40 am | Reply
  43. Seth

    Before the Gatorade company removed the ingredient, Gatorade made a lot of people gain a few pounds, even when they weren't in sports.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:37 am | Reply
  44. skylar

    I never really tasted the BVO before, but it isn't really that healthy for kids, teens, and adults. In my opinion, they should remove it from Gatorade.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:33 am | Reply
  45. Kennedy

    I think that they should fix the gatorade problem. I think that people that arent up and active should just drink water than gatorade!

    February 1, 2013 at 11:32 am | Reply
  46. Michael

    I think it is good that they will remove this preservation stuff. That just means they need to keep it cold so it doesn't go bad. I hope the new, healthier Gatorade tastes the same or even better.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:05 am | Reply
  47. skylar

    If it is not bad for you they should leave it. It does not do any harm to us. Besides it tast good so they should leave it.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:04 am | Reply
  48. Mikayla

    gatorade is not bad for you. and it is a good source of electrolytes. if it keeps the flavors from separating than i do not see any problem with it. now if you sit on the couch all day and drink gatorade than it is not necessarily good for you but if you stay active than yes, it is.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:04 am | Reply
  49. Kinley

    I agree that it is a good thing because, they said that it can cause health issues for those that drink it a lot. So hopefully that the new kind will be great.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:04 am | Reply
  50. Shyann

    I think that Gatorade should only be drank by people who are active.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:04 am | Reply
  51. Nolan

    If it causes change in a person then they should take it away, but it sounds like it only causes change in animals so they shouldnt cause it has no effect on us.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:04 am | Reply
  52. Elly

    I don't think they should go away with Gatorade because it's a good drink. I also don't think they should go away with this drink because it's a good sport drinks for teens and kids that are in sports... so no I don't think they should take away Gatorade.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:02 am | Reply
  53. isiah

    if you just drink water it's more healthy than drinking all the sugar in gatorade.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:02 am | Reply
  54. Ethan

    I think the Gatorade company should try to fix this problem so people stop fusing about it.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:02 am | Reply
  55. Keaten

    I think that Gatorade should only be drank by people who are playing sports. I think that people who drink Gatorade and not go out for sports and run around are lazy.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:01 am | Reply
    • Sarah

      I think you need to learn how to write. Instead of taking shots at this kid who's doing something for the good of us all, look at your own disability in writing and learn how to use the correct form of the infinitive " to drink." You could also just keep your ignorance to youself.

      February 10, 2013 at 7:01 pm | Reply
  56. Mikal

    I don't think there is no problem with it. It hasn't caused no harm to anyone in tell now when she had to make a big fuse about it.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:01 am | Reply
  57. Michael

    I think it is a good thing that they are removing it because like they said it can cause health issues for the ones who drink it a lot and professionals drink it quite often. That just means they need to keep it cold so it doesn't go bad. I hope the new, healthier Gatorade tastes the same or even better.

    February 1, 2013 at 11:01 am | Reply
  58. Michael

    I think it is a good thing that they are removing it because like they said it can cause health issues for the ones who drink it a lot and professionals.

    February 1, 2013 at 10:56 am | Reply
  59. Alex Nibling

    It makes no real difference. The only slight difference in the Gatorade is preference. The people who like pure water drink pure water, and the people who like mineral water drink mineral water. The behavioral alternance is purely coincidental. For humans, our mien is mostly on what we have experienced, not on what we eat. While that is a contributing factor, It's not enough to make people burst out into fights, or go into a depression randomly.

    February 1, 2013 at 9:26 am | Reply
    • other views

      It probably does ... to varying degrees depending upon the concentration of these chemicals in the human body. Iodine, fluoride, chloride and bromide will take over – in varying degrees depending on consumption – but iodine is what is natural to the human body.
      If you get a sudden increase on top of the buildup that is already saturated with the non-iodine molecules – all hell can break lose inside the body/mind – which may cause harmful affects. The imbalance caused by fluoride, chloride, or bromide displacing the iodine in can cause major damage to health.
      Iodine is found in fish, sea weed, and presumably ionized salt. In the article below – it suggests consuming large amount of iodine to flush the other salts out – and then maintaining iodine intake while reducing the other three in a normal diet to stay more in balance and feeling well.
      This sounds logical and does makes sense to me. What do you think?

      February 1, 2013 at 11:00 am | Reply
  60. Couldn't hurt

    "...to prevent the ... flavors from separating. " Have they ever TASTED Gatorade? Separating the flavor from that stuff is the best thing that could happen to it.

    February 1, 2013 at 8:59 am | Reply
  61. More Facts

    1. "Methyl bromide makes our fields fruitful; it will soon be banned, however, not because it's toxic and it's very toxic but because it attacks the ozone layer" – By Jeff Wheelwright, Smithsonian magazine, December 1996
    smithsonianmag. com/ science-nature/ methyl-abstract. h t m l

    Strawberries are big business in California: the state grows 80 percent of the country's crop. Farmers have the soil fumigant methyl bromide to thank for such bountiful harvests. Before fields in California were fumigated, an average acre yielded 1 to 5 tons of strawberries. Now, average yields are 20 to 25 tons and more. More than a hundred U.S. crops are abetted by the fumigant from California strawberries, to Florida tomatoes, to Tennessee tobacco.

    A highly toxic gas, methyl bromide is injected into the soil before planting, wiping out nearly everything alive. It can also kill people but is safer than other fumigants in some respects because it leaves no toxic residue in the soil. Instead, it escapes the soil and rises into the atmosphere. Paradoxically, that property has become its downfall. Methyl bromide, it turns out, is an ozone depleting substance.

    Production of the gas scheduled to be banned in the United States as of January 1, 2001 has already been frozen at 1991 levels. A global phaseout is to be completed ten years later, with exemptions for its use in developing countries. What that means, say farmers, is that America will be at a distinct disadvantage in the global marketplace unless the ban is lifted or an alternative to methyl bromide is found. The clash over methyl bromide, suggests author Jeff Wheelwright, is a high-stakes battle between agribusiness, environmentalists and health officials, involving politicians to the level of President Clinton. When the smoke clears, either methyl bromide or the ozone layer is bound to get a reprieve.

    2. Clinical Environmental Health and Toxic Exposures
    John Burke Sullivan, Gary R. Krieger
    Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Jun 1, 2001

    "Chronic intoxication with bromides historically has resulted from medicinal use of bromides but not from environmental or occupational exposure; depression, hallucinosis, and schizophreniform psychosis can be seen in the absence of other signs of intoxication (32).

    Intoxication with arsenic, thallium, bismuth, inorganic tin, aluminum, gold, and zinc usually produce widespread systemic signs in addition to central nervous system disturbances, making the diagnosis of an organic mental disorder readily apparent (33-35). Toxic exposure to methyl bromide used as a fumigant can result in psychosis, suicidal ideation, and homicidal thoughts.

    February 1, 2013 at 7:02 am | Reply
    • ...

      3. Too Much Fluoride/Bromide/Chlorine & Not Enough Iodine
      Posted By: GnoseBob
      Date: Sunday, 3-May-2009

      rumormillnews. (seperator) com/ (seperator) cgi-bin/ (seperator) archive.cgi?noframes;read=146203
      ..."
      A low salt diet may increase bromine concentrations. Good salt (Himalayan, Celtic, Redmonds) helps with excretion of bromine. Taking Sole' made from any good salt might be a good idea:

      Excess bromine acts as a depressant and narcotic, particularly to the brain and nervous system. Bromine lessens the sensitiveness of the nerves and their conductivity, and are also powerful depressants on the heart and sex organs, often causing loss of sex power.

      Chlorine blocks zinc, another important mineral. "Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine." – U.S. Council of Environmental Quality.

      Halogen Imbalance Syndrome (HIS) (From Curezone. com)

      HIS is a real phenomenon, which deals not only with whether we are short in Iodine (which most are), but rather with a more holistic view that the body is more healthy when there is a proper balance of iodine, bromine, chlorine and fluoride in the body.

      People believe they're well informed and sometimes even hung up on calcium, magnesium, potassium supplements, etc. as relieving them from leg cramps, insomnia, etc., yet they completely ignore the four halogens in their lives, which reside on the other side of the periodic table. The main reason for this is that most people are programmed how to think by the Big Media moguls, who control what is printed and broadcast.

      Ca, Mg & cet. are all electropositive elements, whereas the halogens Fluorine (F), Bromine (Br), Chlorine (Cl), Iodine ( I ) are all electronegative, with fluorine being the most electronegative, and most reactive of all elements in the periodic table. Every day people drink tons of fluoride, bromide, and chloride in this country and globally. Yet, there is an iodine shortage. And chlorine, bromine, and fluorine can all take up residence in body tissues where iodine is normally supposed to be, because they are in the same element family in the periodic table, and have identical outer electron structures.

      To ignore the electronegative elements and focus only on the electropositive may be a huge mistake.

      Consuming elevated quantities of iodine in the short term may flush out excesses of fluorides, bromide, and chloride that are present in many body tissues. It can in many cases be desirable to eliminate the overpopulation of undesirable halogens, and put back the iodine where it needs to be. Once this is done, one only needs avoid excessive amounts of fluoride and bromides, and continue on maintenance amounts of iodine.”

      note: just consolidating info here in reference to many comments about these chemicals in this article and posts to understand better. Cannot vouch for accuracy of information. Do more research for yourself to understand for yourself and others instead of taking this info as other than what it is ... information to make better choices and decisions for yourself and others.

      February 1, 2013 at 7:41 am | Reply
      • ...

        4. Iodine Definciency – Wikipedia

        Iodine is an essential trace element; the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine contain iodine. In areas where there is little iodine in the diet—typically remote inland areas where no marine foods are eaten—iodine deficiency gives rise to goiter (so-called endemic goiter), as well as cretinism, which results in developmental delays and other health problems.

        While noting recent progress, The Lancet noted, "According to WHO, in 2007, nearly 2 billion individuals had insufficient iodine intake, a third being of school age. ... Thus iodine deficiency, as the single greatest preventable cause of mental retardation, is an important public-health problem."[1]

        In some such areas, this is now combated by the addition of small amounts of iodine to table salt in form of sodium iodide, sodium iodate, potassium iodide, and/or potassium iodate—this product is known as iodized salt. Iodine compounds have also been added to other foodstuffs, such as flour, water and milk in areas of deficiency.[2] Seafood is also a well known source of iodine.[3] Thus, iodine deficiency is more common in mountainous regions of the world where food is grown in soil poor in iodine.

        February 1, 2013 at 7:54 am | Reply
  62. thoughts

    Just thinking:

    If bromide paper is a type of photographic image paper – then if consuming bromide – and trauma occurs at same type – then could this trauma be imprinted in much more dense-type manner than would be normal or expected – and therefore make the consumer more susceptible to other ailments like PTSD, or anxiety, depression etc. – especially – like if the bromide caused a behavior shift which then incurs wrath or trauma – that incident would more likley cause PTSD perhaps because of the imprint qualities of the bromide – then just experiencing the wrath or trauma on its own.

    It does seem logical. Much like how you can remember clearly what orange soda tastes like – by just looking at it or thinking about it.

    February 1, 2013 at 4:35 am | Reply
    • Geogal

      No, it doesn't seem logical.

      Enough with the conspiracy theories and pretending to be a doctor/biologist/psychologist.

      February 2, 2013 at 4:03 pm | Reply
      • why not?

        I’m not pretending to be anything – what is up with people having a problem with someone trying to figure things out – and sort of getting it – like people are supposed to be stupid unless you are sheeple to the brim or something.

        Anyway, why isn't it logical – do you have a valid argument or only rude criticism?

        February 2, 2013 at 4:24 pm | Reply
      • Did You Know That...

        There is a comet called Lemmon that is described by people who know more about it than me in the spaceweather.com news right now? This comet has a green tail which is caused by:

        "Lemmon's green color comes from the gases that make up its coma. Jets spewing from the comet's nucleus contain cyanogen (CN: a poisonous gas found in many comets) and diatomic carbon (C2). Both substances glow green when illuminated by sunlight in the near-vacuum of space. "

        I am still reading about cyanogen – and when you place cyanogen in wiki search bar it will give you suggested search terms including cyanogen bromide, cyanogen iodide, cyanogen fluoride, and cyanogen chloride.

        The earth might travel through the tail of this comet sometime next year. There are other interesting things to learn as well with this event.

        Which one burns green of the four in the vacuum of outer space – or is it just pure cyanogen that is referred to? And how would this affect earth and its inhabitants? This is what I'm trying to understand now. Do you know anything about that – and how it might affect earth? Do you have a hypothesis about what might happen?

        February 2, 2013 at 6:31 pm | Reply
        • My First Hypothesis

          Is this:

          I was recently pondering what the comet was made of that is the rock in the Dome of the Rock – or Temple Mount.
          I was casually informed that the rock might be a comet – that there was a prophet who had a spiritual experience tied to the rocks appearance – in the form of a vision – and thought that the rock might have caused psychosis – as in psychic vision. The story goes on, but again – more that I would have to read.

          So my first hypothesis is that if the rock in Dome of the Rock is a comet – it might contain bromide that caused psychosis in mankind, or it could be iodine due to other reasoning I will not mention here at this time. My second hypothesis relating to Comet Lemon is that it is made of iodine – because it burns yellow – or turns yellowish, brownish over time on earth. But, again, I still have much to read and learn – and that is just my current hypothesis based on color and other things not related to color – ideas that I am still formulating in my mind.

          But … I have a lot to read.

          February 2, 2013 at 7:22 pm |
  63. KaiT

    For some reason I don't believe she plays volleyball or any other sport. Sure she didn't drink chocolate milk instead of Gatorade?

    February 1, 2013 at 1:36 am | Reply
    • Editor

      You're correct, it was an editing oversight... the word "player" was inadvertently left in the first sentence of the second paragraph.

      February 1, 2013 at 8:56 am | Reply
  64. thoughts

    If these companies are serious about helping people who like their products – but do not want to be made ill by the current ingredients – then they will produce products that are safer for consumption – like with real sugar and non-fluoride and no msg – nor food colors, preservatives, or other random additives to trick the consumers brains into craving their ill-begotten products. Like Pepsi – looking at the ingredients – i have no idea – because I’m not a chemist and have not taken time to learn this chemistry on my own on-line yet. I did have one thought though in reading the comments below – when talking about sucrose – fructose – and glucose (???) – You would have to have sugar and high fructose corn syrup together in order for the body to digest it right with how the enzymes work I guessed – and yes – Pepsi has both sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Yet, water supply – does that make a difference in what other chemicals get added to the mix? And how does it work with the plastic bottles. Soft drinks used to all be sold in glass bottles – now only a few are – mostly like root beer. Why is that?

    January 31, 2013 at 4:48 pm | Reply
  65. Doug Wilson

    It never ceases to amaze me how people can overreact about something they know nothing about. It seems that the vast majority of people didn't even read the article before posting.

    January 31, 2013 at 3:44 pm | Reply
  66. Man

    She will be diabetic before she hits 20.

    January 31, 2013 at 3:28 pm | Reply
    • Smithee

      I honestly find it funny that she flips out about that but doesn't seem to care about drinking high fructose corn syrup masqueraded as a healthy drink. If you are running a marathon or training for one you need it. A junior varsity overweight prediabetic 15 year old "athlete" should not be drinking regular gatorade (ever heard of gatorade zero girl? how about water?).

      January 31, 2013 at 4:52 pm | Reply
  67. Daniel

    I think she should take run a few laps. She has more chins than China.

    January 31, 2013 at 3:25 pm | Reply
    • Ugh

      Yeah, buddy, show her how it's done! ....Oh, wait...you're sitting in front of a computer typing this....

      January 31, 2013 at 6:24 pm | Reply
      • Gabrielle

        yeah mountain dew uses bvo too i think but what is the use in using it obody wants bvo in their drink it is just wronchy and nasty................... am i right

        February 1, 2013 at 10:42 am | Reply
  68. Jorge

    Homemade Supergatorade-1/2 gallon of non-concentrate orange juice, 1/2 gallon of club soda, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of honey heated in microwave. Mix, store in tightly sealable bottle and chill. There, stuff much better for you during a basketball game on a hot day or while doing spring gardening in the sun. No chemicals. Good for you. Cheap.

    January 31, 2013 at 3:09 pm | Reply
    • Ugh

      ...except for the fact that most store bought honey has been found to contain a bunch of chemicals. So yeah, much healthier!

      If you want healthy, try some fresh, purified water.

      January 31, 2013 at 6:19 pm | Reply
      • Geogal

        Purified plain water works if you're not working out a lot and sweating a lot. When you sweat and exercise, H2O isn't the only thing you lose, thus the suggested recipe.

        February 2, 2013 at 8:56 pm | Reply
  69. desertlighttherapiesarizona

    How do we know we can actually trust them. All they have to do is change the name. I am off gatorade forever after being poisoned for so long. Shame on you.

    January 31, 2013 at 2:06 pm | Reply
  70. Robyn

    Homer: Ummmmmmmmm . . . . bromine, even better than the ammonia in my burger.

    January 31, 2013 at 1:05 pm | Reply
  71. lorax1284

    "Extensive Sensory Testing" is code for "it has to look and taste good because most Americans don't care about health they only care about the sensory experience, and don't mind if they're slowly getting poisoned".

    So, Pepsi: even if that IS true, here's some advice: DON'T POISON PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY DON'T MIND. Words to live by.

    January 31, 2013 at 12:46 pm | Reply
  72. William

    Mountain Dew uses BVO doesn't it?

    January 31, 2013 at 10:27 am | Reply
  73. danielwalldammit

    Job well done!

    January 31, 2013 at 7:46 am | Reply
  74. Arya

    I just checked my bottle and the can of powder and its not on there.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:28 pm | Reply
  75. Jason

    I don't drink all this artificial, sugar garbage. I drink beer instead! 100% natural!

    January 30, 2013 at 6:12 pm | Reply
  76. ALICE BOWIE

    The United States Food and Drug Administration considers BVO to be safe for use as a food additive,[6] but there are case reports of excessive consumption that has been associated with adverse health effects. In one case, a man who drank eight liters of Ruby-Red Squirt daily had a reaction that caused his skin color to turn red and produced lesions diagnosed as bromoderma. The excessive quantities together with the fact that the man had a higher than normal sensitivity to bromine made this an unusual case.[13] A similar case reported that a man who consumed two to four liters of a cola containing BVO on a daily basis experienced memory loss, tremors, fatigue, loss of muscle coordination, headache, and ptosis of the right eyelid, as well as elevated serum chloride.[14] In the two months it took to correctly diagnose the problem, the patient also lost the ability to walk. Eventually, bromism was diagnosed and hemodialysis was prescribed which resulted in a reversal of the disorder.[15]

    January 30, 2013 at 3:17 pm | Reply
  77. Brad

    FDA, just another bloated government organization that has become completely usless to the well being of American Citizens. Check your food lables people and look up some of the garbage that is disguised with names that make no sense to average consumers. The Food business is poisoning America. Why the hell do we need Aluminum and Propolene Glycol in our food. Might as well get your drinks from your radiator. This crap is causing diseases that Doctors have no answer for. It's no wonder why people go crazy and do stupid things. Some of this stuff cannot be proccessed by the organs of the body and builds up over time. My 76 year old mother writes letters and emails to the food corporations asking why they put this stuff in food and they will not respond to her. How does the FDA approve food ingredients that have not been tested yet when it comes to medicines that treat the diseases this stuff causes they make the drug companies wait years for approval if it gets approved at all. FDA along with numerous other Gov entities needs to go. They are not protecting anybody.

    January 30, 2013 at 1:13 pm | Reply
    • thoughts

      The reason it takes so long to approve meds is another whole political corruption industry onto itself.
      Another reason probably (from just picking up info in the responses to this article) is that the medicines proposed for the cures contain some or similar ingredients / reactions that caused the illness to begin with – and to make the meds just perfect – they have to develop them so that they cause another illness – so that they can sell meds for that ailment as well. This type of criminal neglect (since it causes deaths, etc.) needs to stop ASAP – especially since such a focus on mental health right now – which will end up everyone in another cycle magnified in the children of the nation if not addressed and changed NOW.
      Tell your mom thank you for trying – perhaps CNN can give more info on how to get these issues addressed and taken seriously by the Sandy Hook commission and the president, as many of these additives cause mental illnesses and therefore are on the agenda since the president does not want to let Sandy Hook events go by without taking immediate action before people forget.
      Perhaps CNN would set up a public forum to air these issues to the Sandy Hook commission – or maybe the commission will set something up. Anyway, sad day if the commission comes back with a report that does not demand these issues be addressed and taken care of immediately and for the common health good – not for the corporations only again. The president will lose a lot of respect and trust in his entire health care intiatives if he doesn't have this done right for 'we the people' and not just for the one percent.

      January 30, 2013 at 2:08 pm | Reply
    • gatorade drinker not fat

      I bet she doesn't care what's in a big mac

      January 30, 2013 at 3:11 pm | Reply
    • JENNY

      God you all are a bunch of p*ssies who gives a shit. You all sound like a bunch of pansey asses. worry about sh!t worth worrying about. Take a chance or don't drink the crap. i wish my life was so uneventful that i could spend all day getting petitions to take out an imaginary danger in a soft drink.

      January 30, 2013 at 3:19 pm | Reply
      • not jenny

        Some people care enough to care – that is all.
        Some people know what this stuff can do that is harmful – so they speak out – for everyone.
        You might not be affected by the additives or poison – but the ones who are know enough from the experiences they have with the additives or poison to want to try to understand why – and make sure that others don't suffer the same.
        If you cared about someone who suffered from them – and had your entire life dominated by trying to take care of the issues that ensue – you might well be the one to complain about these additives and poisons as well.

        January 30, 2013 at 4:05 pm | Reply
  78. Stephen

    Yeah, she looks like she's wholly and completely obsessed with what she puts in her body.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:52 pm | Reply
    • Ugh

      (rolls eyes) Because clearly every overweight person eats only hamburgers and french fries.

      January 31, 2013 at 6:18 pm | Reply
  79. Dude

    Water is a flame retardent. Water has also caused numerous deaths in high concentrations – exactly like this product. Why isn't she upset about that?

    January 30, 2013 at 12:45 pm | Reply
    • Scott

      Seriously. I'll be honest, I didn't read the study. But BVO sounds like vegetable oil (an organic) that's had bromine ATOMS bonded to it. In much the same way that sodium chloride is NOT the same as chlorine gas, neither is brominated vegetable oil the same as bromine.

      January 30, 2013 at 1:06 pm | Reply
      • Gus in CA

        I have no position on whether Brominated vegetable oil in small quantities is harmful, but your understanding of the issue reflects some lack of knowledge. Salt, sodium chloride, is indeed a substance made from two of natures most dangerous chemicals. But quantities and form does count. Salt is broken down in your body, and sodium ions, and chloride ions float around totally separately. They are in fact necessary for life forces and you would die without them. Bromide ions are not necessary to life and are not found in significant quantities in the blood. I am not even sure if any make it from the gut to the blood stream, but if they did, your kidneys and liver should make short work of them. There is no similarity between the chlorine in salt and the Bromine in my Mountain Dew. Other than there position on the Periodic Table and all that goes with that.

        January 30, 2013 at 3:27 pm | Reply
  80. nameless37

    I'm an active cyclist and I need sports drinks during long rides. I never drink Gatorade if I can help it. One of the reasons is that it contains massive amounts of color additives and they are a pain to get out of the bottle afterwards (not sure why, but they seem to stick to bicycle bottle walls much more than they stick to the walls of the original bottle.) Besides, why would I want all that paint in my body? I try to buy stuff like HEED, which has no color additives and happens to be cheaper per calorie, to boot.

    Having additives like BVO in there is a consequence of having all other junk, not just a problem in itself.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:45 pm | Reply
    • nameless37

      And I think that the ironic part is that I'm one of the few people who SHOULD be drinking this stuff. Sports drinks are intended for people who engage in active aerobic exercise for more than 2 hours at a time. (I'm not sure if high school volleyball qualifies.) Gatorade did a very good job capturing a market that is 100% outside of the original intended target of its product.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:52 pm | Reply
    • thoughts

      I have always wondered about the affect of food dyes on how one feels – especially noticing negative affect when drinking orange drinks and clear citrus drinks – and have never been able to take more than a sip of gateorade without being totally repulsed by it – the taste to me is awful to begin with – and only drank what needed at time to quench thirst. The orange sodas were the worst though – because I would be really thirsty – and probably craving vitamin c – so attracted to the orange – but you have to drink it funny – like hmmmm this is refreshing – and cold and i am so thirsty – to – what is this taste in my mouth – why does it feel gummy in there – where's the water .... quick!!! (course there would be no water – because it was the reason why you were drinking the soda in the first place – and getting water than became an imperitive – i remember that ... ). It's been awhile – but i still look at orange sodas sometimes and think – oh – how refreshing – an orange drink – and then you can taste it just looking at it – and then i remember. You have to drink it really fast to enjoy it ... like with some candies – you have to crunch them up to enjoy them – like lemon drops.
      I like lemon drops if you crunch them up real fast – but I never buy them

      January 31, 2013 at 4:25 am | Reply
  81. Chad

    She needs many, many, many victory laps. And some victory sit-ups, victory jumping jacks, victory...she needs a full victory workout.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:36 pm | Reply
    • bellumnews

      i shouldn't have laughed...but i did. i suck.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:43 pm | Reply
    • Dana

      Cruel, but seriously, the sugar content of these drinks is a far greater threat to the health and longevity than any micro-ingredient. FACT: Sugary drinks are the number one source of calories in the U.S.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:46 pm | Reply
    • Dude

      Sport drinks should only be consumed by people participating actively in...sports.

      Otherwise they make you fat. Case in point...see above.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:52 pm | Reply
    • RichG

      I'm glad you said it!

      January 30, 2013 at 12:58 pm | Reply
  82. Alex

    Just drink tap water - same effect.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:33 pm | Reply
  83. palintwit

    I like it in the bum.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:31 pm | Reply
    • palintwit

      Not the real palintwit ^

      January 30, 2013 at 12:33 pm | Reply
    • trigtwit palin... America's favorite tard baby

      Slooorrppp ? Ppfssftttt blook !

      *drool*

      January 30, 2013 at 12:37 pm | Reply
  84. SoCal Reggae

    January 30, 2013 at 12:29 pm | Reply
  85. Russell-OKC

    We are in compliance. Really? Trusting in the government does not make me feel good about that statement.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:13 pm | Reply
  86. Jordan

    Just drink water. Do people honestly believe they aren't killing themselves with this synthetic drinks?

    January 30, 2013 at 12:05 pm | Reply
    • Jasonn

      Overstating the case, if you drank the same amount of g-ade as you should water, you could do some reparable damage to yourself. "Killing?" Unlikely.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:14 pm | Reply
  87. Swits

    If it was so bad , why wasn't this removed years earlier ? I've been drinking gatorade for years and trusted it was safe because FDA has to regulate it. Just a middle school girl looking for her 15min of fame.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:05 pm | Reply
  88. lmew

    I don't like gatorade, but I drink it sometimes because it really helps relieve my restless leg syndrome. RLS can be so uncomfortable sometimes.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:00 pm | Reply
  89. wardlucas

    You should never be just drinking a gatorade at home.

    January 30, 2013 at 11:53 am | Reply
  90. Quang Phamdo

    Good for her........ a middle school girl can get a popular drink to remove a poisonous Ingredient but millions of Pro Athletes sponsored by Gatorade dont say one word about it.....

    January 30, 2013 at 11:33 am | Reply
    • wardlucas

      Because it's not that big a deal. She should be more worried about the excessive sugar and salt in the drink.

      January 30, 2013 at 11:55 am | Reply
      • Scott

        BVO is also in Moutain Dew among other products. You say it's no big deal. But BVO ccauses phycosis.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:09 pm | Reply
  91. mrsmass

    if you don't want to ingest the ingredients, don't drink it. everyone knows gatorade is not good for you. drink water instead.

    January 30, 2013 at 11:30 am | Reply
    • Joe

      You mean bottled water because everyone knows tap water is fluoridated right?

      January 30, 2013 at 11:52 am | Reply
      • Brad

        You ain't got no teeth lieutenant Dan.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:14 pm | Reply
    • alan s

      Mrs. Mass: You wrote "everyone knows that Gatorade is not good for you". I don't know that. I'm a long distance runner, and I've been drinking Gatorade in the summers, during and after workouts, for decades. It hydrates better than water, the electrolytes help replace what I lose in perspiration, and the sugar not only tastes good but offsets some of my carbohydrate consumption.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:44 pm | Reply
  92. John G.

    These are all drinks with BVO

    Mountain Dew
    Gatorade (some)
    Powerade
    Pineapple Fanta
    Orange Fanta
    Orange Crush
    Sun Drop
    Squirt
    Fresca

    AND GUESS WHAT ELSE HAS BVO AS AND INGREDIENT? Saccharin and Aspartame or as it is commonly called in America "Sweet N' Low" & "Equal and NutraSweet" all have sulfonyl chlorides made from BVO. So how many hundreds of food products are made with Saccharin and Aspartame. Pretty much every diet soda made and candies, cookies, medicines, and toothpaste. Look around and don't just blame Gatorade.

    Don't go and think Splenda is the only Sugar substitute without BVO. No it doesn't have and BVO product in it Splenda started off as an insecticide to kill roaches. It will still kill roaches but is FDA safe for humans as a sugar substitute. I neither for or against food additives but don't single out one company.

    January 30, 2013 at 11:26 am | Reply
    • i didn't know that

      If what you are saying is as pervasive as the problem is – then this is certainly one of the main reasons so many are getting so sick – and stay that way – regardless of what they change – or what pills they take.

      I am guessing all the anti-depressants have this in them – as well as the anti-psychotics – and Ritalin, etc.
      The anti-psychotics probably have something in them just as pervasive that causes depression – and the Ritalin something that causes allergies or something...

      They are like potato chips – you can't take just one – you have to have a whole smorgasbord of them (the pills ... they are designed that way apparently).

      This is criminal – how do 'we the people' confront all these issues quickly?

      How do we make our voices known to the Sandy Hook commission who is currently studying these issues?

      These triggers for mental illness and continued deterioration of health and rights that all in society are suffering at the hands of need to go. They should not be a choice – especially for the kids, disabled, and elderly who have less of a decision or voice in their choices sometimes – how evil

      January 30, 2013 at 11:50 am | Reply
    • cool head

      Your statement about Splenda is absolutely untrue. Please check your sources before repeating something. http://www.snopes.com/humor/iftrue/antpoison.asp

      January 30, 2013 at 12:16 pm | Reply
      • John G.

        I did my research.

        It was first made in 1976 by two chemists while trying to formulate a new insecticide for industrial application that could sprayed on crops that wasn't as poisonous as DDT. Sucralose was discovered in 1976 by scientists from Tate & Lyle, working with researchers Leslie Hough and Shashikant Phadnis at Queen Elizabeth College (now part of King's College London).[3] While researching ways to use sucrose and its synthetic derivatives for industrial applications, Phadnis was told to test a chlorinated sugar compound. Phadnis thought Hough asked him to 'taste' it, so he did.[6] He found the compound to be exceptionally sweet.
        Tate & Lyle patented the substance in 1976; as of 2008, the only remaining patents concern specific manufacturing processes.[7]
        Sucralose was first approved for use in Canada in 1991. Subsequent approvals came in Australia in 1993, in New Zealand in 1996, in the United States in 1998, and in the European Union in 2004. By 2008, it had been approved in over 80 countries, including Mexico, Brazil, China, India and Japan.[8] In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration amended the regulations for foods to include sucralose as a non-nutritive sweetener in food.[9] In May 2008, Fusion Nutraceuticals launched a generic product to the market, using Tate & Lyle patents.

        According to the Splenda International Patent A23L001-236 and PEP Review #90-1-4 (July 1991), Sucralose is synthesized by this five-step process: 3

        1. sucrose is tritylated with trityl chloride in the presence of dimethylformamide and 4-methylmorpholine and the tritylated sucrose is then acetylated with acetic anhydride,

        2. the resulting TRISPA (6,1',6'-tri-O-trityl-penta-O-acetylsucrose) is chlorinated with hydrogen chloride in the presence of toluene,

        3. the resulting 4-PAS (sucrose 2,3,4,3',4'-pentaacetate) is heated in the presence of methyl isobutyl ketone and acetic acid,

        4. the resulting 6-PAS (sucrose 2,3,6,3',4'-pentaacetate) is chlorinated with thionyl chloride in the presence of toluene and benzyltriethylammoniumchloride, and

        5. the resulting TOSPA (sucralose pentaacetate) is treated with methanol (wood alcohol, a poison) in the presence of sodium methoxide to produce sucralose.

        ***There you go Splenda and what it was for and how it's made. Makes me want to just use plain natural Sugar Cane sweetner.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:56 pm | Reply
        • thoughts

          so what do they do – make a large batch – and say this half is insecticide – and this other half is for human consumption (since it will be in the rest of the foods sprayed with the insecticide anyway)?

          January 30, 2013 at 4:15 pm |
    • dan

      to John G.....don't single out a company? Really? And how exactly do you go about making change? Seems to me the way to do it is to single out a company and start a campaign and hit them where it hurts – their pocketbooks. Once the word spreads, it will go beyond that single company, but, it's a place to start. So settle down.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:26 pm | Reply
    • Malkntnt

      (quoted from: boards (DOT) straightdope (DOT) com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=606782)

      "Here's a comparison of Sucrose, Sucralose, and DDT (in that order):

      C12H22O11
      C12H19Cl3O8
      C14H9Cl5

      Sugar and Splenda have the same number of carbon atoms. The number of hydrogen atoms in Splenda is closer to the number of hydrogen atoms in sugar than it is to the number of hydrogen atoms in DDT. Sucralose and DDT to both have Chlorine atoms, which are not in sugar. But DDT doesn't have oxygen. Also, the number of oxygen atoms plus the number of chlorine atoms in sucralose is the same as the number of oxygen atoms in sucrose."

      Now I'm no expert, but Facebook is not a credible source. I see things like what you posted floating around FB all the time. It's misinformation. The FDA is known to take bribes, er, side with the corporations. BVO is BAD BAD BAD – don't eat it or drink it people. Let's try not to smear other products when we really don't know anything about it, M'Kay?

      January 30, 2013 at 12:28 pm | Reply
    • Chad

      I've got my spine
      I've got my Orange Crush

      January 30, 2013 at 12:43 pm | Reply
  93. GimmieAbreak

    Congratulations, your hard work and dedication to a pointless endeavor has "convinced" a company to do something they were already planning in the first place. So courageous...

    January 30, 2013 at 11:22 am | Reply
    • BreakALeg

      Way to be a huge ass. She's a freaking teenager. I hope you aren't an educator.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:07 pm | Reply
    • ER

      I would like to know if a product I made was harming people ... what is wrong with bringing up an issue and having us all become healthier and more aware because of it?

      January 30, 2013 at 12:19 pm | Reply
      • Chad

        She should have gone to the company first. Then she would have found out they were already doing something about it. She just wanted her 15m of fame.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:44 pm | Reply
      • bluegillonthefly

        The thing is, so far as anyone can tell, it's not harming people. The state of testing seems to be that no one has proven it isn't harmful (ignoring for the moment that little problem about the difficulty of proving a negative; that is, you can't) but that no one has proven it's harmful, either. Some animals saw some effects at very high doses, but the doses that are used in tests like that are typically at levels that could not by physically achieved by consuming the product. So, from a testing standpoint, the jury is out. It's fine to err on the side of caution if you want, and I often do so myself, but that's not evidence-based decision making. Let's not call it that.

        This reminds me of the fluoridated water kooks. They go around saying how bad for you it is, yet all available evidence establishes that it has led to a net health improvement and is recommended by both pediatricians and dentists. Did you know that pediatricians also recommend Gatorade for young children who have diarrhea?

        That said, I'm all for consuming natural food with no unnecessary additives, and in my home we make (and grow) as much of our own food as we reasonably can, and we grow it mostly organically, with compost from our own composter. However, most what's out there saying "This is bad for you" or "That is bad for you" is not at all evidence-based; worse, it is often based on someone making money by saying it's bad for you – so take all that stuff with a big grain of salt (which, of course, must be bad for you :p).

        It's too bad that the state of information about health is like this, since it makes it hard to sort the good information from the lies for many people, but the state of health information most certainly is like this; there's a ton of bull out there, and most of it's not coming from product vendors (but some is).

        January 30, 2013 at 1:00 pm | Reply
    • Your a piece of crap

      You are a loser who does nothing. Someone should crack your forehead with their fists...

      January 30, 2013 at 12:48 pm | Reply
      • Director of Effectivity

        Your post would have been more effective had you used correct English. Next time you feel the urge to post a message, use your first language.

        January 30, 2013 at 1:03 pm | Reply
  94. Steve

    "Gatorade said in a statement, "While our products are safe, we are making this change because we know that some consumers have a negative perception of BVO in Gatorade, despite being permitted for use in North American and Latin American countries.""

    So in other words...it is banned in the rest of the world, but if it is good enough for mexico, it is good enough for us...right?

    Jebus...this makes me want to tell gatorade to f**k off.

    January 30, 2013 at 11:11 am | Reply
  95. JMK

    Now can we talk about monosodium glutamate? The brominated vegetable oil never made me feel immediately bad, but if I eat MSG I am noticeably irritable and drowsy for a couple hours.

    January 30, 2013 at 11:11 am | Reply
    • Jackson

      Why do you need the government to do your work for you?

      If you know this additive causes you problems, then STOP eating it! Labels are clearly marked with it. If you see it on the list of ingredients, don't buy the product!!!

      It's just that simple, Einstein!!!!

      January 30, 2013 at 11:29 am | Reply
      • palintwit

        And if it wasn't for the government those labels would not be clearly marked. Einstein !!!!

        January 30, 2013 at 11:33 am | Reply
        • Kat

          Hahaha, true.

          January 30, 2013 at 11:47 am |
      • pghmom

        The ingredient is NOT always clearly marked. It goes by other names, including anything with glutamate, "hydrolyzed" anything, yeast extract, etc. You have to really read up on the subject to avoid MSG. I am sensitive to MSG – I get heart palpitations and flushing. Fortunately, I know what to look for on labels. Why can't it be actually clearly marked given that people can have severe reactions to it?

        January 30, 2013 at 11:42 am | Reply
        • didn't know that

          hmmm ... that is why i can't eat at certain all you can eat places that reek of yeast dough rolls (to fill you up so you won't eat too much i guess). I stopped eating the rolls – and still got sick from the smell (or the food – whatever) – so now don't ever go to places like that.

          January 30, 2013 at 1:03 pm |
      • Chad

        Anything that is poison should be labeled poison. Inconsistency only serves to cause confusion.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:49 pm | Reply
    • Canada

      Same Here.

      January 30, 2013 at 11:31 am | Reply
  96. thoughts

    I think the thing that gets me the most about these additives that cause changes in mental, emotional, behavioral or psychical responses from the norm – are that you rarely ever see these issues mentioned as something that needs to be addressed immediately for kids health by the professionals whom have control over these issues.

    You read these articles on major corporate backed news syndicates – like CNN – written by mental professionals – and all they have to say is they see an increase and need for kids mental health resources because it hasn't been well studied (re: it wasn't that common before maybe? – But now – great need. Really? Or is it that you can get research money from them now???) No mention of the diet drinks mandated to be placed in all gov. schools – which has also been shown to cause mental health issues and diabetes – which is truly sad – since so do the meds they were being given without testing for the last (how many years now?) which also cause mental health issues and diabetes. Double whammy ... how sad ... picturing the kid (or anyone) downing the antipsychotic with a diet drink – and then groping for their diabetic regime – since they are going blind – and nobody has bothered to give them an eye test in how long now – and then searching for the heart meds that go with mix of other pills waiting on the plate.

    Good job for accomplishing this step in making a change in the better for all of us – Thank you.

    Will you do one for diet drinks too please – if you can – or let us know here or at CNN how we can all get things changed like this – quickly – since it seems to be a priority these days.

    Thank you from all of us (ignore the others who are being mean – they probably just downed a diet orange Gatorade type drink or something similar ... you'll have to forgive them if you can).

    January 30, 2013 at 11:02 am | Reply
  97. Cted

    We live in a country that allows fluoride in the water, are we surprised what is in our drinks? Medicate the entire population, yeah that's freedom.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:59 am | Reply
    • mike

      I'll bet you're anti-vaccine, too.

      January 30, 2013 at 11:33 am | Reply
      • Joe

        I bet mike is pro steroids.

        January 30, 2013 at 11:54 am | Reply
    • don

      He's probably also against dihydrogen monoxide

      January 30, 2013 at 11:53 am | Reply
  98. palintwit

    Those Tea Party Patriots and birthers who live south of the Mason-Dixon Line would rather drink Everclear while watching nascar, not this stuff. It's why their teeth are always rotted.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:53 am | Reply
    • Obamaphone

      Hey homie, heard you got your new Obamaphone and got a new big screen TV with your EBT. No need to work anymore with Obama in office! Best welfare prez EVA! Oh and congrads on your 12th child! Holler at a playa.

      January 30, 2013 at 11:02 am | Reply
      • palintwit

        Here's ^ another lost little zombie now that Fake News finally broomed Sarah Palin. Doomed to wander aimlessly around his trailer park without guidance.

        January 30, 2013 at 11:07 am | Reply
  99. Andrew

    I've been saying it for years about this stuff to others. BVO is not and should not be a consumable food product and yet, mega corporations for years fed this crap to us. Time to take your own responsibility folks. Eat clean because you are truly what you eat!!!

    January 30, 2013 at 10:46 am | Reply
  100. Andrew

    I hear that water is a flame retardant as well, so I've started a campaign to have it removed from beverages.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:41 am | Reply
    • Penny Boppie

      Andrew,
      This is exactly the response of a conservative idiot that loves to troll. LMAO...

      January 30, 2013 at 11:27 am | Reply
      • Jasonn

        Plus it's already been posted. I hate Summer reruns.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:05 pm | Reply
  101. mrpoops

    Private companies dislike the government but when the government says its okay to use poison in food well then they're just all for it.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:41 am | Reply
  102. MG

    Gatorade is garbage and is not used by serious athletes. The fact that it contains unsafe chemicals does not surprise me. You are what you eat/drink.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:41 am | Reply
  103. Brad

    Who drinks that crap anyway? And who really believes they are just going to up and stop using an ingredient? Come on people. I know you're fat, lazy and stupid, but come on....

    January 30, 2013 at 10:14 am | Reply
    • Jdizzle McHammerpants ♫♫

      It was the Nectar Of The Gods when I was hungover a lot in my early twenties....

      January 30, 2013 at 10:26 am | Reply
  104. COGowan

    Yeah, the bromine is the problem, not the fact taht sports drinks being consumed by people who aren't actually participating in sports = uncontrolled obesity.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:11 am | Reply
    • Jdizzle McHammerpants ♫♫

      And aports drinks were the last thing I wanted during halftime. Water was the ticket. Gatorade, etc, was too sweet and I felt more thirsty afterward – not intentional by the producer, I'm sure.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:28 am | Reply
      • NNNN

        I know you're lying about that, unless your sport was checkers. Why don't you learn something about the history of the drink. Do ya think the Gator- part might have something to do with Florida, and do you think Florida might have something to do with heat, and do you think pre-season football practice in extreme heat might be a serious health risk, and do you think they never heard of water there??? You're a typical p u n k loud-mouth commenter.

        January 30, 2013 at 11:18 am | Reply
        • Jdizzle McHammerpants ♫♫

          I know the history of the drink. And lay down the booze. It's not even noon. And I also know exactly what I did not like. Gatorade instead of water.

          January 30, 2013 at 11:27 am |
        • Jdizzle McHammerpants ♫♫

          Or is that water instead of tea? Now I'm all confused.

          January 30, 2013 at 11:27 am |
        • COGowan

          What the heck is that little hissy fit about? Do you own some stock in sports drinks or something?

          January 30, 2013 at 12:32 pm |
    • Brad

      Nice! Sugar sugar sugar!!! Give us more!!

      January 30, 2013 at 10:30 am | Reply
  105. John G.

    Looks like she needs to worry more about doing a little exercising and pushing away from the food table instead of harassing a company about a food additive. Most people drink Gatorade while or after a good workout. The only thing this girl is working out of is her pant size to a bigger one. Gatorade didn't pack on those pounds, FOOD & SODA did.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:05 am | Reply
    • Tbez

      I certainly think that Gatorade helped 'pack on those pounds' as you put it. A bottle of original Gatorade G has 80 calories and 21 grams of carbs PER SERVING. There are TWO and a HALF servings in that bottle. I'm pretty sure that she (and most others that drink this stuff) down the entire bottle in one sitting.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:27 am | Reply
      • Jdizzle McHammerpants ♫♫

        That reminds me.....I haven't had chicken nuggets in a while.

        January 30, 2013 at 10:29 am | Reply
    • NNNN

      I think you're right about that. Look at that slovenly little chub. What's she doing even drinking Gatorade?

      January 30, 2013 at 11:22 am | Reply
    • DM

      Stay Classy JohnG. Way to attack a teenage girls weight for absolutely no reason. She started a petition to get a private company to remove a potentially harmful ingredient that they don't use in other markets because its banned. The private company complied. What is your problem with that? What does her weight have to do with any of this?

      January 30, 2013 at 11:22 am | Reply
      • Chad

        That's easy. She complains about something being harmful to your body yet has no trouble whatsoever causing bodily harm to herself.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:38 pm | Reply
  106. brian

    Why do we still allow dihydrogen monoxide in many of our household cleaning products and foods (including Gatorade, read the label)? It kills more than most chemicals that get banned.

    January 30, 2013 at 10:03 am | Reply
    • Lisa

      100% of people who ingest dihydrogen monoxide die. Why isn't this in the news?

      January 30, 2013 at 10:12 am | Reply
      • cmorcat

        They die because it's a retard-ent. You and your friends obviously haven't had enough yet.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:34 pm | Reply
    • easchner

      I disagree. The FDA has shown that in controlled amounts, not only is not lethal, but that it may actually be good for you.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:20 am | Reply
      • brian

        How could a "flame retardant" be good for you!?! Did you read the article. ;-)

        January 30, 2013 at 10:24 am | Reply
        • easchner

          I've heard that it can be used as a flame retardant. Apparently they also frequently spray it on crops to help their growth. Never the less, I wouldn't expect the FDA to lie to me.

          January 30, 2013 at 10:45 am |
        • easchner

          Hmm... According to Google it's also the main ingredient in acid rain. My independent, non-government sanctioned research is starting to worry me.

          January 30, 2013 at 10:49 am |
        • zappity doo

          did you read the comment? It wasn't about BVO it was about another substance. You're an intelligence retardant.

          January 30, 2013 at 10:52 am |
        • GimmieAbreak

          "Flame retardant" is such a nasty sounding word. To those with IQs less than 100, such a word associated with a food item must be pretty scary. However, those in the over 100 IQ crowd know that the absolute most effective and commonly used flame retardant is the compound H2O. That's right, by very definition, tap water is a flame retardant. Guess what else; if you drink 8 liters of tap water (even without chlorine or fluoride) it is just as likely to kill you as Gatorade, or even beer! Now you know. Whether or not you accept reality is entirely up to you.

          January 30, 2013 at 11:19 am |
    • brian

      I heard that the government has even learned how to weaponize the stuff, used by local fire departments and patrons of Toys'R'Us.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:22 am | Reply
    • Maggot

      DMHO (dihyrogen monoxide) is two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen – most people know it as H2O or "WATER".

      January 30, 2013 at 10:24 am | Reply
      • easchner

        Wow. Nothing gets by you, does it?

        January 30, 2013 at 10:39 am | Reply
  107. ted

    Gatorade hasn't made Gatorade in years, just some nasty colored liquid in a bottle with a Big "G" on it. Even Gatorade doesn't dare to actually call it Gatorade anymore. Gatorade used to quench your thirst and did not have corn sweetener in it.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:57 am | Reply
  108. Tbez

    The high-level issue is, the vast majority of the food in this country is chemical laden (approved, safe, or unknown). Consumption of overly processed food plays a large part in the increased incidence of cancer, allergies, and obesity. The problem is, try to find food that isn't loaded with this crap.

    As for the girl that started this online petition, she should be more much more concerned with the number of calories and sugar she is consuming by being a 'gatorade lover'. It doesn't look that that is doing her much good. And let's not forget about all the chemical leeching out of that plastic bottle.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:47 am | Reply
  109. Four Two

    The company's response to these issues always gives me a good laugh. "Oh, yes.....we knew all along what was happening.....many scientific tests ourselves....blah blah.....we knew what we were doing.......money.......blah.....buy our product". Good for this girl, awesome move, and yet again this over-sized company has proved that companies have little regard for anything until they get caught.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:42 am | Reply
  110. DS

    Awesome! Now if we can get more companies to stop using chemicals and GMO products our world would be healthier and we would have less health problems and more money in the consumer's pocket! I had a similar conversation with PepsiCO about NAKED products. It has been proven that most apple juices are over the healthy limit (there shouldn't be a limit with this substance. It should be banned!) of arsenic. Their juices list apple juice as its first ingredient. I spoke to many high level employees yet none would turn over their shipping logs so I could see where they were getting the apples or if it was juice. Of course, they assumed me that they do their best to obtain the best possible product. Yeah, right. We are talking about a SODA POP company! Extremely sad when money is held as a deity instead of our souls.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:21 am | Reply
    • Arsenic

      The arsenic comes from the apple seeds. It is naturally found in most seeds and crushing the seeds during the juice extraction releases it in the apple juice. If you want apple juice without arsenic, you can make your own by first cutting and cleaning the seeds from the apple and then juicing.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:05 am | Reply
    • brian

      Arsenic is a naturally occurring element. It's impossible to completely eliminate it. Did you realize that you actually consume extremely small amounts of gold and silver in your food and drinking water?

      January 30, 2013 at 10:08 am | Reply
  111. OBOZO ADE

    I am sorry for my comment. It was unwarranted and has no place in this article. Such rhetoric from people like me are the reason extremeists are keeping constructive criticism from either party to be taken seriously. I forgot that hate begets hate and I want to apologize again.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:11 am | Reply
  112. Conrad Shull

    Dose makes the poison. A lot of people can't or won't take this into account.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:07 am | Reply
  113. High Way

    Usually the FDA approves products that does not kill you like cigarettes. Not in the short term for sure. The same goes for many products they approve. The FDA does not factor in health issues that arrives in the long term when approving the products. Its a major flaw in their decision making process and a corrupt one at that.

    January 30, 2013 at 9:05 am | Reply
    • Nikki

      Agreed. Just because the FDA says it's safe, does not mean that it is. They don't care about US citizens. My rule of thumb is, "if the European Union or other countries to the east of us ban it, then I don't eat, drink, or use it." They do far more studies on the US because they care about their health and their citizens. The FDA is on the side of the corporations. High Fructose Corn Syrup also needs to be banned. I could not get pg. My doctors told me I would need hormone therapy to do so. I cut out anything with HFCS and began to eat healthy and organic. I was pg on my own in less that 6 months. If I eat or drink anything with HFCS in it I gain lbs in a matter of days. If I stop eating or drinking that product, I lose the weight with out having to exercise. People need to stop eating what the FDA feeds you. It's crap.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:57 am | Reply
  114. Amanda

    What about TBHQ, which is a form of butane which is also known as lighter fluid? It's in almost everything from crackers to soup. It's even banned in Japan. This FDA uses only safe limits of it in food but would you still feed your family food with lighter fluid in the ingredients? Didn't think so. Educate yourselves.

    January 30, 2013 at 8:55 am | Reply
    • What?

      What about cobalt? Would you knowingly consume anything that contained cobalt? What if you were told it was "essential"? Would you change your mind then? (But don't take my word for it, because after all, "I" am just an 'internet troll' who doesn't know anything.)

      Butane does not equal Tertiary Butylated Hydroxy Quinone . . . just like Bromine does not equal Brominated Vegetable Oil. The sodium ion is essential for proper body functioning, but pure elemental sodium burns when exposed to any moisture at all. Phosphates are widely considered to be one of the worst water pollutants, but without one certain phosphate compound, YOU COULD NOT MOVE A SINGLE MUSCLE IN YOUR BODY – this means your heart wouldn't beat, you couldn't breathe, you couldn't even blink your eyes.

      "Compounds" – as it has been stated here multiple times already – frequently have ENTIRELY different physical and chemical properties than their constituents. You should start by educating yourself.

      "Ignorance can be overcome with education, but there's no cure for stupidity."

      January 30, 2013 at 9:31 am | Reply
  115. High Way

    Remember. FDA approved is not necessarily a safe product. In Washington there are many lobbyists with alot of clout and cash to get virtually anything approved by the FDA to make money.

    January 30, 2013 at 8:52 am | Reply
    • dave

      Also remember that foods with no preservatives cause more deaths than foods with preservatives. And the "all natural" and "free range" foods are the worst.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:09 am | Reply
  116. theBUFORD

    From the looks of it...BVO is the last thing this girl needs to worry about being in her drinks. It's hilarious to hear people complain about making PROCESSED foods and drinks safer. Really!? I'm all for people making their own choices. You wanna kill yourself and be fat from eating fried chicken and drinking sodas...by all means. Enjoy. Just don't make a fool out of yourself with petitions on taking chemicals out of something with little nutritional value.

    January 30, 2013 at 8:51 am | Reply
    • barlowc

      Don't be miserable! It is not her job to eliminate processed food. What have you done other than sit on your ass and post patronising comments?

      January 30, 2013 at 9:16 am | Reply
    • Nikki

      Exactly! She has many characteristics of having or being on the verge of having PCOS! She should be more concerned about the sugar and corn syrups that are most likely the top 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ingredients. Sugar and corn syrups spike your insulin. You then have weight gain, hormone imbalances, heart disease, and possibly cancer.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:20 am | Reply
    • Archibald

      So because she is overweight she can't ALSO be concerned about possibly harmful chemicals being in her food/drink? It's not really an "either/or" proposition.

      January 30, 2013 at 11:00 am | Reply
  117. mdaneker

    If we just took chemicals out of food, healthier society, lower health care cost. Lets also remove all the processed corn and gluten that exist as stabilizers and cheap sweeteners but make us fat and sick.

    January 30, 2013 at 8:36 am | Reply
    • dave

      Are you certifiably insane? Preservatives make food safer to eat. Learn some facts before posting your ignorant drivel.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:11 am | Reply
      • Rashad

        They don't make foods any safer to eat. They prolong their shelf life before they must be discarded. HUGE difference!!!!

        January 30, 2013 at 9:26 am | Reply
        • What?

          Then look at why nitrates/nitrites are used in cured meats – particularly the unrefrigerated ones. That goes for smoked fish, too.

          January 30, 2013 at 12:18 pm |
    • don

      You realize humans have managed to survived eating gluten for over 10,000 years, right?

      January 30, 2013 at 9:50 am | Reply
      • gsnlou

        If you never had gluten in your life, you could prolong your lifespan to...err...an additional 5 month, give or take two weeks or so, if you live till 76 of age. So, ya...it is the matter of "life and death" for some people!!

        January 30, 2013 at 10:44 am | Reply
  118. Jane

    Just having a read through some of the responses here, I think it's sad that some of you accept the current situation where the onus is on the FDA to prove an ingredient is unsafe, rather than on the food manufacturers to prove that it is safe.

    January 30, 2013 at 8:25 am | Reply
    • Rashad

      Perfectly stated Jane!!! FDA is s joke, but the real evil is the manufacturer that uses them as a scape goat. If they told them to stop using it in one country, why not just stop using it everywhere.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:28 am | Reply
    • Ben

      After reading your response I think it is sad that you do not understand how science works. You take a hypothesis and perform experiments to prove it is not right. You can never totally prove something is safe to eat, but you can prove that items are unsafe to eat. That is why they onus is on the FDA to prove an item is unsafe. Look into the scientific method and then try to understand why things are the way they are.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:49 am | Reply
      • Jane

        What I'm saying is that artificial ingredients should be tested a lot better before allowed into the food supply. I know nothing is ever "proven" in science, but there needs to be a lot more research supporting the safety of these ingredients before they're allowed in food.

        January 30, 2013 at 11:55 am | Reply
    • TRH

      Prove to me ANYTHING is safe. Go ahead. I'll wait.

      What? You can't? It's easier to just make assumptions and wear a tinfoil hat? Yup. I thought so.

      January 30, 2013 at 11:16 am | Reply
  119. I_Hate_You_ALL

    I all boils down to greed as with so many things. I dont trust a corporation that claims somthing is safe because they have no incentive to tell the truth. Corporations have only one driving factor and that is profit. If a chemical can help make the product chaper to manufature and has no imediatly identifiable risk then they will use it. Some less scrupulous companies will even doctor thier research to make some chemicals look safer than they really are. Im not trying to assert that it is a consiracy, but If there is not strong enough regulations and it is profitable to do so corporations are almost mandated to do it. Corporate entites are beholden to thier investors who as a general rule covet profit above all else, these faceless investors arent involed with the day to day of the comapny all they care about is dividends and stock price, so as a CEO your primary concer becomes how do we make as much profit as possible, not is the method we are using to attain it ethical. Now thats not to say all companies are unethical, ruthless profit machines but there are alot of them. And as this article demonstrates the most powerful weapon we have agianst brutal capitalism is how and where we spend our money. By purchasing a product you are essentially endorsing everything in it and how it was made. Until we no longer have the freedom of choice to purchase one product over the other we have the power to dictate what we do and dont want in our food. So simply put if you dont want to consume HFCS or any other chemical you belive is harmfull then dont buy products that contain them. If a company cant sell it because it contains X chemical or ingredient then they WILL change it to remain profitable. We have the power we just dont realize it and dont know how to use it.

    January 30, 2013 at 8:16 am | Reply
    • albus

      But you trust your government more? There is no self-correcting mechanism in government to right a wrong the way there is in a free enterprise system. Corporations are forced to change their approaches when markets decline. The government has the power of the sword to enforce any policy.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:41 am | Reply
    • Penny Boppie

      Absolutely SPOT ON! And it's easy to pick out the bad stuff if you're not sure. Go get a neat little iPad app that's free and called Fooducate. It's a bar-code scanner you can use on your iPhone while shopping and reads what is REALLY in the stuff you are buying. Fooducate "rates" it and also gives you healthier alternatives. Give it a try. You will feel much better if you get OFF the drug called "High Fructose Corn Sweetener". .....it's the cause of our obesity epidemic and should be outlawed too!!!

      January 30, 2013 at 11:43 am | Reply
    • B.

      This is absolutely true, just look back to the Cigarette fiasco concerning the lies put forth to the public from the Tobacco companies concerning hazards of smoking!
      Corporations have been proven Not to be trusted to be forthright until confronted with undeniable proof of wrong doing.

      It confirms the ongoing requirement for oversight of products and services byFederal law.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:00 pm | Reply
  120. Jane

    Does she think all the other ingredients ARE safe? It's like the marketing of BPA-free plastic bottles, they're still full of a host of other unhealthy plastics.

    This is only a small victory, she would be better off ditching the Gatorade altogether.

    January 30, 2013 at 8:14 am | Reply
    • texasgoat

      I stopped using Gateraid after reading that a bottle contained 150 calories per 8 oz.

      January 30, 2013 at 8:21 am | Reply
  121. akis vassilleiou

    but this is the trap. because all those chemicals are not lethal in small doses that does not mean that they are not harmful. and if you eat a combination of chemical enhanced foods the cumulative effect is destructive. so eating a variety of chemical enhanced foods/drinks over a long period of time will affect (adversely) your health 100%.
    and you cannot put the burden on the individual. you cannot expect a person who woeks double shifts to have the luxury to research of what is good to eat. so food industry must provide the healthiest possible products. even if that wil hurt their profitability.

    January 30, 2013 at 7:26 am | Reply
    • I_Hate_You_ALL

      Personal responsibility. No other person cares about your well being more than you do. If you do not take the time to know what you are eating and make informed choices you are either lazy or stupid. On the other hand if a company asserts claims that a product is safe and it is later found that it is dangerous, then i firmly belive we as a people should do nothing less than bankrupt the company and if it is found that any person working for the company knew of the dangers that they should be held criminaly liable and punished harshly.

      January 30, 2013 at 8:26 am | Reply
      • High Way

        Sorry to say but you are so naïve. We a have a democracy which we elect people to watch over our interest but it has been a miserable faillure on their part. As individuals we could do only so much. If we decide to buy only biological foods, you are also in for a surprise. Its free from chemicals but its still contaminated by chemicals that air bourne in the environment.

        January 30, 2013 at 9:18 am | Reply
      • thoughts

        I agree with you about personal responsibility.

        There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY ANY DOCTOR WOULD PRESCRIBE PROZAC UNLESS CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT! Prozac is a crime to humanity.

        All those involved with personal responsibility for leading and perpetuating the lies about and surrounding Prozac are criminally negligent.

        How can a doctor prescribe something without knowing the effect on the body by what prescribing? I think it is actually criminal isn't it – for them to intentionally do harm – which they are doing by default in not standing against this stuff in the first place? Don't they have a voice in what goes on – why isn't theirs the voice of non-harmful reason as they are lawfully held to provide in professional service to any – so why do they lead these crimes by default of not stopping them? Never trust a doctor who would prescribe you Prozac without blinking an eye.

        I wondered why you kept saying I Hate You All – now I know – after researching the topics more. Don't love them – then you won't hate them. Eat iodine – and reduce flouride, chloride, and bromide – replace the toxic with the natural – that is a cure to start with perhaps ... but i'm not a doc – just a victim of we the peoplehood.

        Just wondering about the sentiment – knowing enough to know you might have good reason for it.

        February 2, 2013 at 1:46 am | Reply
  122. Trevor

    Of course it's legal in the USA and Latin Americas. We are trying in every way possible to become the worlds newest third world. The FDA would allow saw dust as an ingredient just as long as no one noticed. The FDA can't even regulate tobacco, how much salt food manufacturers use, or even all this bs "herbal supplements" that do not require any testing before being sold to the public. They can cure anything from baldness to uneven tire wear and they are not related. The are the new snake oil.

    January 30, 2013 at 7:21 am | Reply
    • Anthony

      @Trevor – you'd be the first M0ron on here to complain when the US decided to try to regulate salt and tobacco (more than they already wrt the latter). Here's a news flash: You're not a victim. This is the best country in the world – and I've been to most of them. If you feel differently, take action and move to another that better suits you. But stop constantly complaining as though you're somehow wronged by the US. What you don't realize is that you and people like you are the problem. You cast yourself as the victim, society as evil, the government as lazy (or oppressive, depending on your agenda), but never look inwardly. If you don't like salt, tobacco, or some ingredient in Gatorade – don't consume them. This is the US – you actually have the ability to make that decision.

      January 30, 2013 at 8:01 am | Reply
  123. Thenextstep

    Oh boy, the Pioneer Girl that CHANGED Gatorade.......... Let me put this on the Calender for a reminder.

    January 30, 2013 at 7:17 am | Reply
    • wildbunny

      you seem jealous of this young lady and her astuteness

      January 30, 2013 at 8:58 am | Reply
  124. gager

    When thirsty, she should drink water. Where are her parents.

    January 30, 2013 at 4:16 am | Reply
    • the rooster

      Point taken... but... after extended periods of strenuous exercise water does become dangerous and you have to replace salts/electrolytes/carbs that your body sweats out.

      January 30, 2013 at 7:02 am | Reply
      • Jasonn

        At what point would that be? She doesn't look like she exercises strenuously enough to even drink Gatorade.

        January 30, 2013 at 7:20 am | Reply
      • Thenextstep

        Looks like her excercise is Googling and Facebook......... She probably puts ALOT of strain on the finger tips. Don't you know.

        January 30, 2013 at 7:39 am | Reply
      • humanbean

        That's such BS. When I was in College I played basketball for at least 2 hours on most weeknights. Always drank nothing but water. Never needed anything else.

        January 30, 2013 at 8:03 am | Reply
        • the rooster

          OK. Go run a marathon strictly on water and see how that goes for you.

          January 30, 2013 at 11:09 am |
        • humanbean

          You are quite the drama child, aren't you?

          January 30, 2013 at 1:04 pm |
  125. Rick

    Another example of public ignorance. Or at the very least, bad reporting.

    Yes, many flame retardants are brominated. They're called Polybrominated Diphenyls Ethers (PBDEs). However, if you have no knowledge of chemistry, simply having the element bromine in a molecule does NOT give the molecule the same properties. Having bromine in a compound also doesn't make it a flame retardant. In fact, flame retardants have no relevance to this issue whatsoever.

    Example: Carbon Monoxide is made of 1 carbon and 1 oxygen. It's very deadly if inhaled over time, even in small concentrations. However, carbon and oxygen are not harmful by themselves. And Carbon Dioxide, which we all breathe out, has completely different properties, which we don't classify as being harmful.

    Same thing with water (H2O) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This woman's petition just shows how dumb people are.

    January 30, 2013 at 4:03 am | Reply
    • Vic

      To understand your reasoning one does not need to know advanced chemistry. But to understand her reasoning for not wanting to drink Getorade obviously your advanced understanding of chemistry is not sufficient.

      January 30, 2013 at 8:32 am | Reply
    • Phil

      Thanks for your post. Saved me the trouble. Clearly an example of over-reaction based on a lack of understanding. Bromine is not the culprit – Chlorine and Sodium are both toxic in their elemental form, and as my first Chemistry teacher taught us . . . put 'em together and you sprinkle them on your salad.

      If BVO is bad and banned, it isn't because Bromine makes it similar to a flame retardant. Guess what – powdered glass is an effective flame retardant when compounded into plastics, and you drink water (or Gatorade) from glass every day.

      The world around us contains real hazards, as long as we waste our time with imagined terrors, we deserve the world we get.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:36 am | Reply
  126. remoteDef

    Yay, they got BVO out of Gatorade. Now if they could just remove the ounce of sugar, it might not be diabeetus in a bottle.

    January 30, 2013 at 3:42 am | Reply
    • me

      Is that you Wilford?

      January 30, 2013 at 8:22 am | Reply
    • Phil

      Good point. And I'll bet that orange color isn't natural either . . .

      January 30, 2013 at 9:37 am | Reply
  127. AlphaMaryYankee

    Add to that azodicarbonimide, sodium citrate, sodiom benzoate, aspartame, and a host of other nasty chemicals that have already been banned in places like New Zealand, Japan, the UK, and Australia. It's about time our companies did the same.

    January 30, 2013 at 2:28 am | Reply
  128. chemistry_student

    As a chemistry major I can honestly say that this is way too much of an over-reaction. I appreciate her concern for "non-harmful" ingredients, but she may want to take a few organic chemistry courses before dumping out her gatorade over brominated vegetable oil...bromine does not equal brominated, This method America has adopted of making a huge fuss before doing proper and extensive research is a bit alarming. I've honestly found chemicals I've used to make explosives (for educational demonstrative purposes in small scale) in everyday food. It depends on what you're mixing an element with and how it's bonding and what environment it's exposed to that makes it dangerous, not just the name. Sure, you shouldn't drink a bunch of bromine, and you shouldn't drink a bunch of brominated vegetable oil, but you shouldn't be drinking a bunch of vegetable oil, either. Anything partially hydrogenated is worse for you than BVO. Moral of the story: please learn what you're talking about before you make a big deal about it. Pass it on.

    January 30, 2013 at 2:17 am | Reply
    • biochemistry_nerd

      Exactly! I always tell people that things like this are very comparable to how the chloride in sodium chloride (table salt, for those who are not chemistry_students) has nothing to do with chlorine gas.

      In addition to what you said, there is also an alarming tendency to assume that because a large amount of something is said to be bad for you that trace amounts will have all the same awful effects. This is simply not true in most cases (excepting some very rare cases with extremely toxic chemicals that you wouldn't find in any food anywhere).

      Many people who make alarmist claims about the formaldehyde in diet coke, for example, would be quite shocked to learn that 1.5 times that amount is found in an apple and 44 times that amount is found in *one* jelly bean. The reason we can drink diet coke, eat apples, or eat a handful of jelly beans without problems is that the level of formaldehyde in any of those products is so incredibly small that there simply isn't enough around to start a reaction and do anything harmful.

      Not to mention that in that particular case our body actually has enzymes to deal with small amounts of formaldehyde, as formaldehyde is actually a byproduct of some reactions that go on in the body, but that's besides the point. (and also a small part of an explanation why products that claim to "detox" your body are not only not necessary, but often damage the body's natural "detoxifiers")

      January 30, 2013 at 2:54 am | Reply
      • AleeD®

        You are a breath of fresh air.

        January 30, 2013 at 6:58 am | Reply
      • curious

        Do you know what happens when the chemicals in apples mix with pesticides or the waxy stuff they put on the outside.
        Seriously have to get organic apples to even eat them
        Do you think the mix of pesticides on some products makes them much more toxic than they would normally be from just the pesticide itself – i mean the chemical reactions?
        If these other countries have already banned these additives – and you naturally get sick from these products – I would personally recommend not ingesting them or giving them to others whom you have control over whether they ingest them or not either – like in gov. paid schools for example. Just because you can handle them – doesn't mean someone else can – especially for kids who can't choose as freely what they eat – or others in similar positions.
        This type of hypocrisy in the USA is deadly and causes so much avoidable, costly, and unnecessary harm – it is where the corruption and need for change really shines through.

        January 30, 2013 at 9:53 am | Reply
      • stretchgooscientist

        I often am baffeled as well at the over alarming things people say about different chemicals found in their foods/drinks. I had an argument with someone about preservatives in general, and essentially people think that you can achieve ease and convenience as in going to the store and picking up w/e you want easily without having anything in the products to allow that ease and convenience. Also, people up in arms about aspartame is laughable. Yes it is a carcinogen although you use things every day that are far greater carcinogens. However, they site studies where mice developed cancer given 100 times the normal dosage a human would or possibly could consume. As you and the other few people with science background have stated one concentration plays a huge part in toxicity, two how the components of a compound interact and are bonded is another part, and three the environment in which it is used plays a large factor as well. People without any science knowledge using google and reading sensationalist articles that make it sound like the sky is falling is laughable. One last thing I like to bring up in situations such as this, is that your body needs minerals such as zinc tin magnesium iron etc etc to function correctly; however, in large quantities these minerals can cause toxicity and potentially kill. Moral of the story arm yourself with more than one news article worth of fact, and use anything in moderation.
        Oh and one side note just because other countries ban something does not mean its necessarily harmful. I recall a famous organic chemistry story that involves chirality of a molecule where in europe this drug was used as morning sickness remedy; however, because of it being the wrong enantomer it caused birth defects or misscarriages. IT was banned in the US far before it was banned in europe where it was developed. Also, I know im rambling a bit, but the US is still the leader in chemistry research and knowledge. Our journals our research is accepted world wide where as the reverse is not true. So, I have much more faith in our chemistry development than I do of many european countries(although i have a decent amount of faith in germany england and frances research).

        January 30, 2013 at 10:04 am | Reply
        • thoughts

          I am sorry to say this – and i mean it sincerely – but you are wrong.

          I actually do not need a study or something to know that it makes me sick – yet it helps me greatly to know what it is that is making me sick so that I can make wise choices. The BS that has literally been shoved down the USA's throats for the past few decades because of the massive corruption in these industries makes most sick – literally – as much as the poisons. How much BS does the USA people who push these poisons with their continued attempts at deceiving the USA population think we the people can take? They definitely are not listening to them until they make whatever money goals they had in mind – and then still not listening ... I mean STILL!!!

          Yeah right. only need to get sick once and have your entire life ruined – so you can feed the rest of the system...

          That is how it works – you know that – so why do you continue to patronize those who see and know the truth – through experience – and say BS because the experiences truly suck?

          January 30, 2013 at 12:31 pm |
        • JayS

          @Thought: Because their sample size is too small to make generalizable conclusions.

          If you get sick every time you eat a certain food item, you can conclude that *you* shouldn't eat that item any longer. Without a larger study, it isn't valid to conclude that *no one* should eat that item, or that a particular ingredient of the item is the cause of your illness, or even that item would always make *you* sick (it might be related to other aspects of your current lifestyle/diet/environment).

          On a personal level, it's fine to use experience to err on the side of caution (heck, that's what our inbuilt "disgusted" reflexes are for). When making public policy, however, individual experience is too prone to error in interpretation and individual variation.

          January 30, 2013 at 2:02 pm |
        • thoughts

          that is stupid and you know it – more patronization – how original
          that is always the excuse
          more people have died from these poisons than you would obviously care to admit
          you must be a shill – not working for me – sorry
          I avoid a lot – believe you me – and so do a lot of people
          when you are talking about the president taking constitutional rights away from USA citizens AND making it imperative to get mental health 'fixed' – you are a criminally neglectful shill for continuing the deadly charade.

          January 30, 2013 at 4:24 pm |
        • thoughts

          my first post in response might have got lost in translation ...
          if not ... i will just add that you obviously do not know what you are talking about since other countries have banned the stuff – just not the USA
          bush and co. and pharma and co. s hills are the worst

          January 30, 2013 at 4:32 pm |
        • JayS

          @thoughts: Hey now, I'm not saying that these chemicals are safe. I'm merely responding to your statement that you "actually do not need a study or something to know that it makes me sick." Food consumption is a complicated enough process that it is important to study what is making people sick. If there's a chance that at additive is dangerous it should either be banned (if it is dangerous to everyone at low levels), or have warning labels and doctor awareness (if its only somewhat dangerous to some people, or only dangerous when abused).

          I haven't read the studies on BVOs (and I'm sure there are some), but by and large when someone (including myself) says "I know what's making me sick", we really mean "I have a suspicion". On an individual level, that's not enough of a basis for public policy. If lots of individuals say the same thing that may be enough evidence to err on the side of caution in public policy, but its still not quality evidence. For that we need studies (which may uncover other underlying factors which would better help the afflicted!) In a perfect world these sorts of studies would be conducted *before* processed substances are introduced to the public (just like drug testing).

          January 30, 2013 at 6:15 pm |
        • thoughts

          you still don't know what you are talking about.
          you are a s hill type like i said.
          the reason it pisses me off so bad is that for decades now people have been screaming about this stuff because of the harm it does – and all they got was the same type patronizing bs you give here – if that. TOTAL BS. So many died and were and are made deadly sick from these poisons – and all they got was – well – i'm not sick ... TOTAL BS.
          I shouldn't have to argue with you or anyone else about it – especially because there is already scientific proof – and it has already been banned by many.
          s hill

          January 30, 2013 at 6:31 pm |
        • thoughts

          when you say their sample size was too small to come to conclusion that says two things:
          1. they didn't even try to test it – or they would have gotten a larger sample size – or they are lying since they threw all the negative reactions out before they submitted the test results.
          or
          2. the money they have made does not equal what they expect or want or think they can make yet

          January 30, 2013 at 6:52 pm |
    • Daniela Mitrovic

      If you think BVO is safe, I suggest you google the terms "bromism" and "bromoderma". These are both maladies caused by this additive. One can lead to psychosis and the other can lead to bad skin problems.

      I suppose you're going to sit there and tell me MSG is a safe additive too.

      January 30, 2013 at 6:59 am | Reply
      • JayS

        So far, it looks like BVO consumption only contributes to these conditions in the small proportion of the population with natural sensitivity AND abusive consumption (several liters of BVO-containing drinks per day). Abusive consumption of pretty much any food item will have similar effects.

        That doesn't mean that BVOs are necessarily completely safe, but believing they are unsafe just because the molecules contain Bromide is a fallacy, as is worrying about minor conditions that only occur from massive overconsumption. Peanuts are much more dangerous!

        January 30, 2013 at 7:21 am | Reply
      • Anthony

        @Daniela – Boy – you got them there!! You took on two chemistry majors with your extensive Google Search, and won!! I'm betting that you're sarcasm meter may be a little rusty, so I'm letting you know now that THIS IS SARCASM.

        January 30, 2013 at 8:07 am | Reply
    • John the devine

      @chemistry_student & biochemistry_nerd, your comments are way too long for a CNN rebuttal. There was no mention of race nor income distribution. Using scientific terms and proper English is only confusing us.
      Please withdraw your comments and resort to monosyllable words. Hint use "Bieber said", and you get more interest!

      January 30, 2013 at 7:05 am | Reply
    • hughbraley5678

      Perhaps there is little chemistry in a bottle of Gatorade that is truly harmful but the question is how do these chemicals react in the greater environment. We generally consume food and beverages in combination. Perhaps the rise of food related allergies has do do with how the myriad of substances we ingest interact. Perhaps it isn't necessary to create all these chemical cocktails for basic consumption.

      January 30, 2013 at 7:08 am | Reply
      • JayS

        It's possible, but most severe food allergies/intolerances tend to be to natural food substances (gluten, peanut oil, etc.). Synthetic food additives that clearly cause dangerous reactions are usually more strongly regulated by the FDA than natural substances.

        January 30, 2013 at 7:41 am | Reply
    • richard

      May you go on to earn a PhD in your field. Sounds like you have your head screwed on correctly.

      January 30, 2013 at 8:01 am | Reply
    • humanbean

      Well, she is from Mississippi. You know, the state that likes to keep its people in perpetual ignorance...for God and all.

      January 30, 2013 at 8:06 am | Reply
      • just4liberty

        Just a friendly reminder: your stereotypes of the people of Mississippi are no better than the stereotypes held by many of the people of Mississippi in the past.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:13 pm | Reply
        • humanbean

          Sorry to bust your bubble buddy, but stereotypes exist for a reason. Mississippi is still burning. Still at the bottom in education. Still racist in that there are towns that have a feeder system for the jails that starts in the schools where children have no due process. I could go on and on, but hopefully you get my drift by now.

          January 30, 2013 at 1:02 pm |
  129. Imjesayin

    Oh no it's "flame retardant"! So is water. Are they going to take that out too?

    January 30, 2013 at 2:09 am | Reply
    • Rick

      Actually, it's not flame retardant. The reporter's logic that Bromine = flame retardant is incorrect. Just because you treat vegetable oil or any other substance with bromine, doesn't make it a flame retardant.

      January 30, 2013 at 4:05 am | Reply
      • AleeD®

        EEEeeoooo. Did you see that? No? That was Imjesayin's comment going right over your head.

        January 30, 2013 at 7:01 am | Reply
  130. bill

    why is the FDA coming out and making a statement in support of the company. this is messed up.

    January 30, 2013 at 1:50 am | Reply
  131. chan

    ....soooo as a sheep dear Media what am I supposed to get out of this story? I mean isnt this kinda a joke considering what else is in it thats even worse? Not to mention most the store crud we buy anyway. We point fingers for decades at other countries yet the entire time we used stuff the ENTIRE world has banned...
    Like most these idiotic Gov agencies why do we even have an FDA? I mean isnt it run by Mansantos people now? Hmmm

    January 30, 2013 at 12:51 am | Reply
    • Kat Kinsman

      Baaaa. Sheep media here. I think it's significant to note that a large corporation actually took notice of the wishes of a large portion of its consumers. We are not without power – whether it's through making a fuss or taking our cash elsewhere. That's my takeaway.

      January 30, 2013 at 1:05 am | Reply
      • biochemistry_nerd

        My takeaway is that you don't know a thing about the science beyond their claims.

        Totally fine in and of itself, but not when you're making accusations.

        January 30, 2013 at 2:55 am | Reply
  132. ZombieSymmetry

    Gatorade has what plants crave. It has electrolytes.

    January 30, 2013 at 12:48 am | Reply
    • Uhmerica

      I like money.

      January 30, 2013 at 2:14 am | Reply
    • Tony

      Go Away, bating!!!

      January 30, 2013 at 7:40 am | Reply
    • JJMaddy

      Hahahahaha Such a funny movie!

      January 30, 2013 at 10:21 am | Reply
  133. krozar

    People know little about chemistry. Since diamonds are carbon, that must mean graphite, or even us, are also diamonds... same element, right?

    January 29, 2013 at 11:23 pm | Reply
    • Le

      lol We are all diamonds in the rough! lol

      January 30, 2013 at 1:15 am | Reply
    • BeerBrewerDan

      ...we are billion year old carbon.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:03 am | Reply
    • carbon in the rough

      i thought we were made out of stardust – shows how much i know.
      no wonder the carbonization in soft drinks makes people feel all shiny, bright, and polished for a few seconds after consumption – just polishing the carbon – smoothing out the edges ...
      got it.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:12 am | Reply
  134. Brady

    This artical failed to tell the readers that all of these bottled drink manufactures are leaving in the most deadly of all chemicals even though it is the major ingredient!!!! Dihydrogen Monoxide!!!!. Talk about a "flame retardant"! Arm yourselves with knowledge!! This chemical is killing people everyday!!!!

    January 29, 2013 at 11:14 pm | Reply
    • Adam

      I was shocked to find that my hometown had tons of dihydrogen monoxide in our water supply. When you learn about all the people who have been killed by dihydrogen monoxide, it's shocking that more isn't done to prevent people from being exposed to it.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:29 pm | Reply
      • km6xu

        True! And did you know that our government supports a huge distribution network for DHMO? And note that it is a factor in almost every drowning!

        January 30, 2013 at 1:11 am | Reply
      • FlaEMT

        Is that even a proper chemical name? As I remember (although it was many more years ago than I care to admit) We were taught in Chemistry that when a hydrogen atom bonds with an oxygen atom in a molecule, they pair together to form a hydroxide, making the proper name for the molecule you're discussing hydrogen hydroxide, not DHMO. Like I said, many years ago, so maybe naming conventions have changed since then or maybe the memory is getting a bit foggy, but I swear that's what we were taught back then.

        January 30, 2013 at 2:37 am | Reply
        • FlaEMT

          "Back then", of course meaning the stone age. ;-)

          January 30, 2013 at 2:44 am |
    • mmi16

      :)

      January 30, 2013 at 1:49 am | Reply
    • biochemistry_nerd

      A woman once poisoned herself drinking it, unaware of its toxic, lung-damaging effects. Time to ban DHMO!

      January 30, 2013 at 2:59 am | Reply
    • Smartest Guy in the room

      Are you guys acting stupid or you are just plain stupid people? Dihydrogen Monoxide = h20 = WATER, how exactly is it killing people? I bet all of you dropped out of school.

      January 30, 2013 at 9:38 am | Reply
      • kevin

        i'm not sure if you're genuinely dumb and can't see a joke when you see one or if you're deliberately being dumb to draw out comments like this one

        January 30, 2013 at 10:37 am | Reply
        • kevin

          errr... can't tell a joke when you see one

          January 30, 2013 at 10:38 am |
    • Anon

      I also heard that dihydrogen monoxide is also the main component of acid rain.

      January 30, 2013 at 10:21 am | Reply
  135. JO

    Other ingrediant they can o without HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. In the old days they used SUGAR.

    January 29, 2013 at 11:13 pm | Reply
    • Flos Sy

      Your body cannot tell the difference. Sugar is sugar.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:22 pm | Reply
      • Contradictingfalsehoods

        No; fructose, glucose, and sucrose are three different things. Otherwise, they wouldn't be fructose, glucose, and sucrose. "A Princeton University research team has demonstrated that all sweeteners are not equal". Perform a Google search of that sentence to find the article, on Princeton University's web site.

        January 29, 2013 at 11:44 pm | Reply
      • Dave

        I'm sure the corn industry is happy that you believe their commercials. They need gullible people to keep purchasing their products.

        January 29, 2013 at 11:48 pm | Reply
      • Uhhhh

        Really!? Well then, eat plenty of it. Please.

        January 29, 2013 at 11:50 pm | Reply
      • Barclay

        Ha, you have no idea what you are talking about. I am a type 1 diabetic and I can guarantee your body can recognize different types of sugars...wow, unbelievable what people think

        January 29, 2013 at 11:50 pm | Reply
      • openminded

        Tell that to a homebrewer or folks in the brewing industry. It makes a BIG difference in the fermentation process and flavor, depending on what 'sugar' you use. Professionals and chemists know the difference.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:04 am | Reply
        • biochemistry_nerd

          That's because to smaller organisms like yeast and in smaller-scale operations (the types of reactions scientists work with), the difference between the two is much more significant. To humans, due to how complex our digestion process is as a whole, as long as it's the same ratio of glucose to fructose there really is not a significant difference in how they are ultimately digested.

          And of course they taste a little different – the conversion doesn't happen until after you swallow it, so your tongue 'notices' the difference in molecular makeup.

          January 30, 2013 at 3:14 am |
      • biochemistry_nerd

        Yes, fructose is worse than glucose, but the ratio of fructose to glucose in most forms of HFCS and sucrose (table sugar) is nearly identical. HFCS is a misnomer in some ways – it is only called HFCS because it has more fructose than regular corn syrup, which is mostly glucose. And believe it or not the king of organic HFCS replacements, agave nectar, has more fructose than any of them. It is actually very close to pure fructose, comparatively speaking.

        Table sugar isn't any 'better' for you than HFCS, sorry to say. Studies have supported this. (Also a type 1 diabetic, btw : P)

        January 30, 2013 at 3:04 am | Reply
      • pugh7755

        You're an idiot. High fructose corn syrup is a highly concentrated form of sugar. That doesn't mean it is the same. Gram per gram carbohydrate count between the two are drastically different. If it was the same as sugar then why not use sugar? Because it is cheaper. And as such, it is not fit for human consumption. HFCS is one of the main cause of the obesity epidemic in America today, and is quickly spreading world wide.

        January 30, 2013 at 5:19 am | Reply
        • AleeD®

          That Kool-aid you keep drinking contains HFCS. Jim Jones is waiting for you.

          January 30, 2013 at 7:06 am |
        • What?

          "Gram per gram carbohydrate count between the two are drastically different."

          Uh . . . no.

          On a "dry matter" basis – assuming both table sugar and dried HFCS are pure sugar – the caloric content is considered to be exactly the same. Simple carbohydrates are all given a caloric value of 4kcal/g. If you consider that HFCS is actually a 'syrup', and you compare gram-for-gram on "as is" formulation, then the caloric content of HFCS is actually lower because of the water content.

          January 30, 2013 at 8:40 am |
        • George Carlin

          Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

          January 30, 2013 at 9:52 am |
    • Kyle

      First: Table sugar has more fructose in it than high fructose corn syrup. It's actually 60-80% glucose. the reason it can't just be glucose (The main sugar our body uses for energy) is because fructose is about 2.5x sweeter and needed for it to taste sweet. Second: It seems much more unnatural to extract stuff from plants in the southern hemisphere and burn a bunch of diesel to ship it over here, while corn grows all over most industrialized nations. Third: Natural things are generally much less safe. Why do you think the natural human life expectancy is about 25 years, while it is currently closer to 70 years? In the old days you had to worry about rickets and beri beri, but now people add vitamins from unnatural sources to avoid those conditions. Chemicals and research are very expensive. Do you really think a big company will spend a bunch of money just to make the label a bit longer and confusing?

      January 29, 2013 at 11:43 pm | Reply
      • Contradictingfalsehoods

        This isn't correct at all; common table sugar is sucrose, ordinarily having been "bleached" by phosphoric acid or other chemicals. It doesn't contain fructose. "Granulated fructose" is also available in stores, if you look for it.

        January 29, 2013 at 11:52 pm | Reply
        • joel almas

          Actually no, the original poster is correct. Sucrose is a disaccharide, in other words, its a glucose molecule bonded to a fructose molecule. Fructose is a monosaccharide

          January 30, 2013 at 12:01 am |
        • yeah right

          Sucrose is a molecule that has one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose links together. Your body has an enzyme that cleave them into glucose and fructose after you consume it.

          January 30, 2013 at 12:07 am |
      • SP

        Wrong.

        January 30, 2013 at 1:00 am | Reply
        • Edith Ann

          Oh ok. Then you MUST be right, so we'll all line up behind you because you made your case so effectively, d0uchnozzle (nods to Tazer).

          January 30, 2013 at 7:08 am |
  136. Pete

    Hard to trust anything produced by a large company. Too many random chemicals added and not enough natural ingredients.

    January 29, 2013 at 11:01 pm | Reply
  137. Kyle

    Chlorine is in essentially every thing you have ever eaten. It's chemically a more reactive element, with similar properties to bromine. Though, without it you would be dead. Everyone, please do a little research before trying something so drastic. I could put just as negative of a spin on anything.

    January 29, 2013 at 10:47 pm | Reply
    • Kyle

      What, you want more food to think about? Every banana you have ever eaten is radioactive. Part of all potassium in the world is radioactive. Though, potassium is what makes your heart beat and nerves work.

      January 29, 2013 at 10:57 pm | Reply
      • giz

        "Part of all potassium in the world is radioactive. " What? No part of any of that statement made any sense, dude.

        January 30, 2013 at 12:10 am | Reply
  138. allen

    shes obese! holy crap the last thing she needs to worry about ingesting is BVO

    January 29, 2013 at 10:37 pm | Reply
  139. Bill F

    The drink has been FDA approved at the low BVO levels in the drink. That assumes it's safe at 1 serving per day. Right? So what about the people drinking 6 Mountain Dews or 3 Gatorades a day? Are those levels closer to the other study where the animal behaviors were changed? Is Pepico/Coke actively telling consumers to limit their consumption to 1 per day?

    January 29, 2013 at 10:33 pm | Reply
    • What?

      Of course. The FDA always "assumes" that nobody – nobody – ever consumes more than 1 serving of anything like this a day. I hear they also bought the Brooklyn Bridge last week.

      January 29, 2013 at 10:56 pm | Reply
      • Bill F

        The problem with you "assuming" that the FDA has indeed considered X multiple beverage consumptions per day doesn't conclude that the product was approved to to be consumed multiple times per day. As someone who has worked on fast food accounts, you will never see an ad for McDonald's that directs the consumer to eat McD more than once per day. It's a health risk. Same with medications although they are required to give usage directions. So where does the FDA draw the line for approval. 1 serving? 10 servings? 20? So I contest that my point is fair and that your sarcasm is turdish.

        January 29, 2013 at 11:27 pm | Reply
        • SallyO_Gasm

          Turkish?

          January 30, 2013 at 12:13 am |
    • Star-Spangled Bullsh!t

      Hell, Bill -you just know that they're telling 'em to suck it down by the gallon.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:01 pm | Reply
  140. Carlos

    I gave up my diet Mountain Dew because of BVO. BVO is in most clear flavored soft drinks

    January 29, 2013 at 10:04 pm | Reply
    • Star-Spangled Bullsh!t

      "Diet" sodas are formeldehyde bombs. Utter crap. Do yourself a big favor and give them up altogether.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:04 pm | Reply
    • truly

      I decided earlier today that I needed something to stick into drinks that you get at fast food drive-ins and restuarants so I can tell immediately if someone is being a jerk and giving me a diet drink because I specifically asked for NON-diet. It truly pisses me off when that happens – because I know that the diet makes me instantly sick – so I need a non-diet drink test strip or have to stop buying my preferred soft drinks when can't tell if it is actually what I want – maybe I will have to just start saying 'i'll get it' – trusting the soda machine filler person to have not put diet in the non-diet dispenser.

      I have never been able to drink orange drinks, or those other clear drinks mentioned without feeling sick. Always thought it was the red dye in the orange – but then fruit punch didn't make me feel the same ... now i know why.

      Bush and co. need punitive action for pushing the non-sugar additives on kids ... like diet drinks are pushed in school to cure obesity??? It causes major changes in mental functioning – so they can feed pharma and co. by pushing more into the mental health system. It feels like a war crime of sorts – a war on humanities well-being.
      How do you do an on-line petition like hers that works? We need one done for the non-sugar additives before more are made sick from it. And we need a non-diet test strip.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:51 pm | Reply
      • Penny Boppie

        My solution to your problem is to not drink ANY soda drinks. YOU DO NOT NEED THEM. Just drink some nice purified water instead. There is nothing quite so stupid as "drinking calories". Look what has happened to our people after the advent of High Fructose Corn Syrup that is put into EVERYTHING these days. America has become the obese nation on the planet.
        There is a YouTube video on the late 1960's Haight Ashbury scene in San Francisco. It's just a video a couple of guys made with 8mm movie cameras of the day. They are just shooting all the people walking by up and down the streets. It's 12 minutes or so long. You know what? THERE ARE ZERO OBESE PEOPLE in that video!!! NONE! I found it amazing. Then shortly after the companies started their HFCS campaign and the rest is history. Look at a video of people on the streets today. You'll be hard pressed to find any that are NOT obese! Good luck folks.....it's your money, and your health. Wise up...

        January 30, 2013 at 12:03 pm | Reply
        • carbonated wonder

          I actually need the carbonation when i eat – or at least my brain thinks i do.
          But ... you are right of course – it is a hard habit to break.
          I have already decided not to buy soda 'out' anymore.
          I have decided to buy my own and take it with me if need be.
          That way i know for sure, (sort of), what i'm inflicting upon myself.

          January 30, 2013 at 1:21 pm |
  141. MessaLOVEfoodz

    I disagree.There was nothing wrong with the chemicals.It tasted so good.It made the drink good.

    Plus,why is this chubby fat-girl drinking gatarade as a casual drink?She's no athlete lolololol.I doubt she is inspired by the commercials.I bt she gets exhaustred by just WATCHING the TV LOLOLoloLOloLoLolOLOlOLOL

    January 29, 2013 at 9:37 pm | Reply
    • ToldUso

      How long have you been mentally challenged?

      January 29, 2013 at 9:52 pm | Reply
    • WaitWhat?

      Does your mommy know you're on the internet again?
      Your insulting comments were not necessary to state your position on the issue.
      In fact your insults took away any credibility you might have had.
      This girl had an opinion and took productive action... and apparently many others agreed.
      What have you done lately that mommy would be proud of?

      January 29, 2013 at 10:15 pm | Reply
      • allen

        youre fat huh

        January 29, 2013 at 10:38 pm | Reply
        • runner305

          I guess their point went right over your dull brain.

          January 29, 2013 at 10:45 pm |
      • Jo

        She did an awesome thing noticing the ingredient and petitioning to have it removed. However, I was surprised to see the pic of shamu.

        January 29, 2013 at 10:47 pm | Reply
  142. Persimmon

    There are so many poisonous compounds in our food supply, it's best to eat or drink nothing that's processed, and only organic. It may cost a bit more, but we only get issued one body- no warranties, no return policy! We have to maintain it as perfectly as possible to avoid disease.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:35 pm | Reply
    • Sulpher dioxide

      It takes a little work and a lot of trial and error but it is well worth it.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:59 pm | Reply
  143. kneesus

    Gatorade does absolutely jack squat for you and rehydration. It's like drinking a flat coke. If you're serious about hydration drink half pedialyte and half water. That's what ultrat-honners drink to stay hydrated. I watched my friend run 100 miles drinking that mix.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:32 pm | Reply
    • Charles

      Or drink what the Bangladeshi drink: Half-liter water, pinch salt, handful sugar. This mix saves thousands a year from cholera.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:58 pm | Reply
    • Adam

      All gatorade is, is synthetic, flavored sweat. it replenishes what your body loses, same as those other mixtures you mentioned do. Gatorade is just mass produced by a major company.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:31 pm | Reply
  144. Sulpher dioxide

    One has to remember that many people never tasted food that spoils when aged or is handled improperly.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:27 pm | Reply
  145. thinkinglogically

    This is literally the most pointless article I have ever seen. CNN shouldn't waste their time covering this stuff yet the reporter gets everyone nervous about the sodas to the right of the gatorades, even after just stating the levels of BVO is legal and labeled. Congrats to the girl though, maybe she can take away all good tasting drinks that are perfectly fine.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:24 pm | Reply
    • TheSadTruth

      Some day, if not already, our food will be chocked full of chemicals designed to lower the birth rate as well as slowly sicken all that eat it. Monsanto is the leader in taking over food in general, and is controlled by the ultra rich who want a 75 – 90% reduction in world population. Drink up, oh internet troll!

      January 29, 2013 at 10:15 pm | Reply
      • Matthew

        Food with chemicals specifically designed to lower birth rate? Global food schemes and plots? Shadowy international conspiracies? Holy brominated oil, Batman! You're completely free tto stop drinking Gatorade because of the BVO if you like, but that doesn't mean you have to switch to Crazy Juice instead!

        January 29, 2013 at 10:56 pm | Reply
      • rebaH

        If they really wanted to lower the population they could (under the guise of trying to protect the environment) shutdown all the chemical plants that make ammonia.

        January 30, 2013 at 2:14 am | Reply
  146. yankeenot

    Well, for years I have gotten headaches from drinking orange and citrus, so I would never drink them. I have just drank grape.This may explain why now.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:17 pm | Reply
    • thinkinglogically

      what's true for you may not be the same for someone else. Your favorite song must be by me myself and I by De La Soul.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:25 pm | Reply
  147. David Nelson

    I heard this stuff has water in it. Like the same stuff that is in a toilet.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:08 pm | Reply
    • kneesus

      IT'S WHAT PLANTS CRAVE!

      January 29, 2013 at 9:37 pm | Reply
    • Cris

      I heard it was used in Nuclear Power Plants.....

      January 29, 2013 at 9:37 pm | Reply
      • What?

        It is "allegedly" the major cause of floods, too.

        January 29, 2013 at 10:10 pm | Reply
  148. bankrupt1

    See if you can get them to drop the high fructose corn syrup too. Inflammation.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:06 pm | Reply
    • Matthew

      They should get rid of the water too. Accidental drownings.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:00 pm | Reply
  149. Sulpher dioxide

    It is not necessary for everything to have a two year shelf life.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:05 pm | Reply
  150. Sulpher dioxide

    If it does not kill you right away it must be ok.

    January 29, 2013 at 9:02 pm | Reply
  151. CodeBlitz

    FDA approved, means nothing. In fact, having FDA approval is just double speak for "you can not sue us." The FDA does not do their own research. They are a paperwork processor. They receive the research, that was paid for my the petitioner, and determine if it looks OK. Then they file it away and find the same conclusions as the research. Of course, no one submits research to the FDA that shows their product is harmful, so it should not be a big surprise. It takes independant research 5 or 10 years later to find a harmful link to a substance. After that, they have moved on to a new chemical, or renamed the old one. "Nice work FDA" sarcasm...

    January 29, 2013 at 8:45 pm | Reply
    • Matthew

      The FDA does not do research? This will probably come as a huge surprise to the thousands of staff scientists the FDA employs!

      January 29, 2013 at 11:03 pm | Reply
      • kevin

        To be fair, I'm not sure how the FDA operates, but I wouldn't be surprised if the FDA required companies seeking FDA approval to do their own research and submit their own studies, which the FDA would then evaluate – and with so many companies in the united states, I can definitely see why they would need literally thousands of scientifically trained people on staff.

        I am happier though if the burden of proof is on the company to show that their product is safe as opposed to being on the FDA to prove that it isn't.

        January 30, 2013 at 10:45 am | Reply
  152. whitney

    Just like companies to tell us how safe food may be but the real problem is do we really know what is in the food and drinks we consume on a daily? Are they really telling us the truth? For all i know I could be consuming poison on a regular basis

    January 29, 2013 at 8:23 pm | Reply
    • Sulpher dioxide

      Unless you are growing and preparing it yourself you are.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:18 pm | Reply
    • Persimmon

      I agree with the other post. Unless you eat only organic foods, naturally raised meats, wild caught seafood, and no processed foods, you're eating poison all the time. Maybe most people don't care, but it's pretty sad. There is little poisoning each item, but the cumulative effect of eating all your food with weird additives and pesticides and herbicides could well be very risky behavior.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:39 pm | Reply
  153. Wow

    Really people..? How about not eating or drinking anything at all, maybe all the retards will die off!

    January 29, 2013 at 8:13 pm | Reply
    • eric

      no kidding. this is rediculous. I'm a food chemist and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with BVO.....unless you drink 10 2 liter bottles a day, you will have NO BAD SIDE EFFECTS....countless chemicals are now said to be poison and scaremongers profit off it.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:58 pm | Reply
      • reader

        Why keep putting additives in food and drinks that's not necessary, especially if other countries don't see it as necessary! Lets keep poisoning our youth. I would rather shake my drink than drink another chemical. Like Naked drinks state "separation is natural"

        January 29, 2013 at 9:10 pm | Reply
      • Sulpher dioxide

        Fools rush in...

        India had the one of the lowest rates of cancer in the world.
        They deregulated their food supply and now have one of the highest.

        January 29, 2013 at 9:20 pm | Reply
  154. thetruth

    there goes someone's free lapdances and c ocaine

    January 29, 2013 at 8:10 pm | Reply
  155. A chemist

    As a practicing chemist I am always amazed that you lay people can state pure fabricated BS and talk like you understand it or know what you're talking about. I would never dream of thinking that I could be an accountant, airline pilot, musician, etc. But all of you have no problem talking about bromine, sugars, etc. You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about and have no more knowledge of science than a caveman from 50,000 years ago. Ignorance is truly bliss.

    January 29, 2013 at 8:04 pm | Reply
    • Syndrome Zed

      Ignorance seems more like unfocused anger, from what I've seen.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:07 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      Then please do enlighten us.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:20 pm | Reply
    • Dr. JellyFinger

      Just curious if you, Mr. Chemist (who seems to have a deep superiority complex), if you would drink a product that contains BVO? You have the platform to help enlighten yet you choose to berate. I'm sure your're not well liked in the lab, despite being a rockstar chemist.
      Besides being an MD, I was once a musician as well, and I never flew off the handle when someone started talking about the subject matter and called them names like "cave monkeys", except of course if they were talking about the band "The Monkeys". Then I'd bash their knuckling dragging heads.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:32 pm | Reply
    • MandoZink

      A chemist:
      Apparently their ignorance also leads them to think you are uppity or pro-BVO. I completely understand. I also cringe when people comment on serious issues with half-baked knowledge they absorbed (or completely misunderstood) from some website they found somewhere.

      That's how we end up with "chemtrail" conspiracies and "the Mayan calendar say the world's gonna end" ideas. Sheeesh!

      January 29, 2013 at 9:15 pm | Reply
    • Sulpher dioxide

      See what happens when you hang around chemicals all day?

      January 29, 2013 at 9:34 pm | Reply
    • Sulpher dioxide

      We should be more sympathetic to these poor misunderstood chemists who think they experts in all aspects of biology when defending chemicals designed to kill microscopic life while we are comprised of microscopic life.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:38 pm | Reply
      • What?

        No . . . actually we are comprised of "chemicals". The "microscopic life" is just along for the ride.

        January 29, 2013 at 10:18 pm | Reply
    • Sulpher dioxide

      As a practicing chemist...

      You make it sound like a religion. That is about right.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:41 pm | Reply
  156. Mike

    Now Lance Armstrong will never admit to drinking Gatorade.

    January 29, 2013 at 7:39 pm | Reply
  157. oih

    I dont know what people are so concerned about, according to PepsiCo who bases safety purely on legality the product is only dangerous to europeans and the japanese, for americans its perfectly fine.

    January 29, 2013 at 7:16 pm | Reply
    • CodeBlitz

      Good point. It is only dangerous to them because they are already so unhealthy anything else might put them over the edge. Here in America we are very healthy and therefore a little BVO is no risk to our health. Nothing to see here... move along.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:50 pm | Reply
    • thoughts

      Are you saying that the negative effects which would require limitation of these type chemicals affect Europeans and Japanese heredity people worse than other genetically structured individuals?

      I read in some definitions of the terms used to name some of the negative side-effects of some of the chemicals mentioned here – and saw that some of the maladies from adverse reactions were actually said to be more prevalent in Celtic persons.

      I personally have thought this was the cause of some of the worst of the corruption in pharma and co. pushed drugs with a lot of these same type chemicals because of the testing not centered specifically to differing genetic make-ups. Like – some (well probably a lot) of the meds were tested on lower income persons – and many of these naturally at the time they were tested – or even now – were probably (not being racist) tested on some of the race categories whom have naturally populated the lower income groups – or are not found in as high of concentrations in the people who were tested with the products. Different blood types, different diets, different metabolism, different allergies, etc... – All factors – yet are they even truly considered in most of the tests that were used to get FDA approval? I do not think they were nor are now.

      The worst thing about all this is that you can be absolutely correct for yourself – yet get patronized and ignored for decades – and have to be saddened and perhaps even traumatized – just watching the corruption, deaths, and illness and side-effects continued – and watch the corruption ruining the nation and all people in it – and them taking it to the world – and YOU KNOW they are wrong to begin with – and no one will listen – and when they do – it's a big deal – and people STILL won't accommodate the needs for a healthier system for all – because perhaps they were one of the ones whom had a positive effect because their basic make-up just happened to match those whom the tests erroneously said were safe for all, but mostely because of money and ignorance. Really bad sciences there – especially because in USA – all types are represented at higher concentrations – then say Japanese in Europe – or Europeans in Japan.

      I can't believe it has been decades and this stuff is just now having any attention given to it – after so many have been dying and getting sick and complaining about these issues for years – and you still get ridiculed and not taken seriously about these issues – because it means money to others .

      So with the corruption blocking their minds to see reality beyond greed – nor a need to even see reality beyond their greed and lies ... it has to become such a huge fight to even be healthy sometimes – and when you are talking about mental health – how truly fair is that considering the stigmatization, discrimination and prejudice someone with a mental illness has to endure – and you can’t even get help in the mental health field – because they are as – or more – brainwashed – (they have a license for it) then the general public – because that is how they were trained – and that is how they make money and politics and have power over others.

      Don’t you think it is HUGELY hypocritical for any doctor to prescribe any of these meds that contain these poisons – and say they are even concerned in the slightest about anyone getting harmed in any way – especially not the patient.
      .

      January 31, 2013 at 8:35 am | Reply
      • morethoughts

        The prescription of these highly dangerous medications (to all of society) needs to be regulated as much or more than the guns perhaps. These meds can be prescribed by any doctor – and they may know more about them in terms of body – especially because they may be more aware of the biology of the reactions in their patients – and they may not have as much stake in the politics of the pharma. and co. that is riff in the field of mental health. Pharma. and co. (re: gov and one percent) controls mental health – whereas there is still room to actually be a human being in the medical fields at the present time.

        Not all of course, but some of the mental systems contain persons who have no real training – and therefore do not keep up with current knowledge and changes as well as others – including perhaps even the doctors over the psychiatrist – or vice versa – but also psychologist, nurses, technicians, advertisements, the education system – private and public – that trains these professionals – yet are dominated and controlled by the gov. re: pharma and co. resources and directives and politics ... the list goes on. Ask any one of those people if they would want to be a mental health patient themselves – or have someone they know be one – and subject to the entire system as it is now – or even be a kid in the schools as they are run now. I am sure most would say No – even if they are doing their best – and want to do their best – and see the best – they know – the pharma. and co. – re: gov. – has deadly control.

        January 31, 2013 at 9:51 am | Reply
        • so are you trying to say

          that you think the following?:

          1. The widespread use of poisons in the foods, medicines, candies, beverages, and products that USA consumes is a deliberate pursuit of illness and unhappiness in the general and specific USA populace (and the world perhaps).

          2. Many people are aware of this now – and becoming more aware as politics and communications and education allow.

          3. The purpose is the elimination in quicker or shorter time periods for a few or for many and for specific reasons or not, or so it would seem from the seeming root of the problem – which is the same for many problems – money, power, and control ... and politics. Many would say what? – And others would ask why? – But others it seems have said – why not.

          4. All want change – but not all want change for the betterment of all – which can just as easily be the reality – if not for the reality of the politics of money, greed, power, corruption, and control of that which causes the fate pondering in 3. above.

          5. How can it be an individual solution by choice alone, when one alone cannot chose to not be part of 3. above – as not all have equal say in the fate pondering of 3. above unless indeed – all have a true reasoned say and are not just heard but also heeded? I mean – why would anybody want to embrace the nihilistic theory – and that too becomes relevant only to perspective.

          6. These poisons play a key role in some of the fate pondered in 3. above.

          ???

          January 31, 2013 at 11:24 am |
        • morethoughts

          The more I think about it I would say yes – maybe not in so many words – but that says a lot about the way things are.

          I again wondered why Europeans and Japan? Current thought is that Europe owns a large majority of pharmaceutical companies – and Japan has??? Money – power – will – hmmm – they are USA protected... seriously do not know.

          So – if push more into illness and sickness then 'they' have more control if they are not made sick as well.

          Many in USA would still be patriotic oriented – and now they keep making people mad at mental illness – and want to push for more 'treatment' and more cops at the schools where these kids can more easily be directed into the system – and take aways protections – and all they have to do is feed them all a diet drink – to go with their crackers, soup, applesauce and jello based desert treat at a constant rate to perhaps get them going into the mental non-health system and/or privatized penal system, or ...

          So – yeah – I agree to some degree – except it may be even wider in scope and even more sinister than you first thought ... perhaps.

          Then again it could be that Europe and Japan got fed up had more push back then the USA to get things changed.

          January 31, 2013 at 12:55 pm |
  158. Susan

    Maybe she should also do some research on sucrose syrup and glucose-sucrose syrup.. Those are not good either.. Anything ending in ose is formulated in a lab and not recognized by the human body.. The reason it is used is because it's cheaper than real sugar.. It contributed to obesity, fibromyalgia, and many other illnesses.. Do your research people!!!!!!

    January 29, 2013 at 7:14 pm | Reply
    • Bacon

      Interesting point, considering that sugar is "sucrose". One can hardly avoid things ending in "ose" and yet eat sugar.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:31 pm | Reply
      • Puckles

        And processed "sugar" is also TOXIC for humans. It causes cancer. DO YOUR RESEARCH.

        January 29, 2013 at 7:43 pm | Reply
        • Syndrome Zed

          Some dee-deh-dee conspiracy theory you read on Teh Intarweb then decided was true does NOT count as doing your research, so you'd be advised to try doing some REAL research yourself. Repeatedly, in controlled studies, processed sugar (sugar extracted and purified from cane or beets) is no more toxic than unprocessed/raw sugar – which is to say that you can't just down tablespoonfuls and not expect your pancreas to cry "uncle", but it's not going to give you cancer any more than eating a sugar beet would.

          January 29, 2013 at 8:06 pm |
        • Brian

          @Puckle, Everything you eat is made of chemicals. Some of those chemicals go by non-scientific names, and some by scientific names. Water is a chemical. All vitamins, whatever their source, are chemicals. Some chemicals are good and some are bad. All proteins, all fats and all carbohydrates (whether you call them starch or sugar, glycogen or sucrose) are chemicals.The fact that the name of some chemicals end in -ose is just a spelling convention. Get over it.

          People who have done real research know that what you are spouting is nonsense.

          January 29, 2013 at 8:50 pm |
    • Jeremey

      All types of sugars end in -ose. Fructose, glucose, sucrose, and the other types are all commonly found in nature, not just laboratories. The naming convention we use puts an "-ose" on the end of all the tpes.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:33 pm | Reply
    • Puckles

      I know! There are so many other terrible ingredients that are in these drinks. People shouldn't drink any of them.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:42 pm | Reply
    • Keary

      Actually,as anyone with a basic college science education should be able to tell you, the suffix -ose simply indicates that the substance is chemically a sugar. Sugars can range from simple sugars, like fructose (the sugar found in fruit) to disaccharides such as lactose (milk sugar) to complex polysaccharides such as amylose (starch), all of which are quite natural, are recognized and processed by our bodies (some more easily than others, as anyone who is lactose intolerant can tell you), and all ending in -ose. Indeed, one sugar that ends in -ose, glucose, is not only natural, but is the basic fuel of our cellular metabolism.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:42 pm | Reply
    • Jim

      Glucose is the building block sugar that our body utilizes for energy. However, since it ends in ose, we should not eat any carbohydrates and therefore die off as a species. You my friend are amazingly dumb and please don't respond to things that require an IQ above 5.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:27 pm | Reply
    • Carlo

      Really? Even Glucose? I guess all those biology professors were lying to me.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:39 pm | Reply
    • CodeBlitz

      I agree Susan, but we need to take this one step at a time. First we needed food labeling, then we need to organic labeling laws, then we can avoid artificial chemicals and finally we will begin avoiding refined compounds. As you can see, we are still just getting a handle on avoiding artificial compounds. I will take what I can get...

      January 29, 2013 at 8:54 pm | Reply
  159. Fiona

    It should be noted that bromine is used to sanitize swimming pools, as a "safer" alternative to chlorine.

    January 29, 2013 at 6:57 pm | Reply
    • Ian

      It should also be noted that bromine is not the same as brominated vegetable oil.

      January 29, 2013 at 6:59 pm | Reply
    • Citrus

      Speaking of chlorine derivatives, we really need to ban sodium chloride from use in drinks. I mean, it's part chlorine, right? Says so right there in the label. Sodium is also a terrible and dangerous substance.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:22 pm | Reply
      • Jeremey

        Sodium is an essential part of a human diet. Sodium deficiency, called hyponatremia, results in tiredness, disorientation, headache, muscle cramps, and nausea. Severe hyponatremia can lead to seizures and coma.

        Too much sodium is also bad, and easy to fall victim to being that it's present in so much of our salty American foods. However, no sodium in a diet will kill you as well.

        January 29, 2013 at 7:37 pm | Reply
        • Dave

          You obviously don't get sarcasm.

          January 29, 2013 at 7:48 pm |
        • Jeremey

          Re: Dave: In my defense, I will invoke Poe's Law. :P

          January 29, 2013 at 8:13 pm |
      • Maya

        Sodium is an essential nutrient. You're probably one of those nuts who thought that an all-fruit diet was a good idea.

        January 29, 2013 at 7:38 pm | Reply
        • Syndrome Zed

          I'm just going to be nice here and say Maya, sodium chloride = salt. It's chemist humor.

          January 29, 2013 at 10:22 pm |
      • Syndrome Zed

        You evil person! I need my chloride for my body's chloride channels, not to mention my sodium for my sodium channels so my brain keeps working.

        Plus, both of those chemicals together taste good on my popcorn....

        January 29, 2013 at 8:09 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      And hydrogen is explosive... but it's used to make pool water too. In fact, it's in your drinking water too. In fact, all water is 2/3 hydrogen. The point is that molecules don't behave as their atomic parts do. Chlorine is often used to disinfect pool water. In high concentrations, it's quite poisonous. But it's also half of sodium chloride which is table salt. Oh, and the other half of your table salt, sodium, is nasty stuff in its atomic form too.

      This whole article is just luddism plain and simple. There is no other word for it.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:52 pm | Reply
  160. Fiona

    A better - and more sane - reason to avoid BVO is that it is tested on animals "in much higher doses" - i.e., at tooxic levels. So you, Sarah, can have a disgusting sports drink with a pretty color.

    Drink plAIN water. You'll live longer, and maybe a few innocent lab animals will be spared a miserable death.

    January 29, 2013 at 6:55 pm | Reply
    • Jamie

      Well plain water is great, but it doesn't replenish all the salts you lose. Coconut water is a great natural "sports drink" or (if you can stomach it) have a small potassium packed snack during long work outs or games, bananas etc.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:29 pm | Reply
  161. Ian

    I think a key takeaway from this story should be this: While the chemical is most likely not hazardous in the low concentrations that Gatorade has, PepsiCo recognized that it would be much easier to reformulate than fight against it. My guess is that there are other oils that can do the same job, probably for a slightly higher cost.

    So, on one hand, it was smart of PepsiCo to avoid making a big deal about it. However, the issue of understanding chemicals is avoided, which doesn't help us later down the road. I'm curious to see what they replaced BVO with.

    January 29, 2013 at 6:48 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      The key takeaway on this article is that Luddites are everywhere.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:55 pm | Reply
    • Matthew

      Ian – very good question. The replacements for brominated vegetable oil have already been announced, actually. In the USA, BVO will be replaced by a different additive called SAIB (sucrose acetate isobutyrate). What's funny is that *that* name sounds much more "chemical" (and therefore "scary" to the uneducated, I guess) than "brominated vegetable oil." I can't wait to hear the uproar when people learn the name of the new chemical, because, to the masses, incomprehensible and unknown = bad, evil, conspiracy, etc.
      In Europe, where they don't use BVO to make Gatorade, the BVO was replaced with one of two additives. The first is "gum arabic," which I suppose people will be up in arms about when they discover that it is a key chemical used in the ink and paint industry. The second option is "glyceryl abietate," which also sounds science-y and chemical-y and is also therefore evil.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:58 am | Reply
  162. D

    This stuff is in so many drinks it's not funny! I don't see any proof it's hurting anyone except one insecure teen that wants to get famous...

    January 29, 2013 at 6:42 pm | Reply
    • Bob

      One insecure teen, huh. Well D., you are welcome to continue to consume any chemical you choose. Nobody is stopping you... you secure, scientist sports drinker.

      January 29, 2013 at 6:52 pm | Reply
  163. DB

    What will BVO do to me if I have a Gatorade once a week?

    Simple question. I couldn't help noticing there's no answer to it to be found in the article. It seems all the outrage is based entirely on perception and not at all on science. Sola dosis facit venenum!

    January 29, 2013 at 6:21 pm | Reply
    • mique

      Think I'll try and find the article in Scientific American that she says she read. Can't be that hard to find.

      January 29, 2013 at 6:54 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      You are exactly correct. All this is is fear mongering and Luddism. Bloomberg should be ashamed to have published such tripe.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:05 pm | Reply
      • ORChuck

        Oppsie, this is CNN, not Bloomberg. No wonder it's full of tripe.

        January 29, 2013 at 9:02 pm | Reply
  164. Biff

    That Mississippi Girl needs to cut out the soft drinks altogether and exercise! Unless she is doing her best chipmunk imitation...

    January 29, 2013 at 6:17 pm | Reply
  165. James Johnston

    How about drinking water. Duh. She shouldn't be drinking Gatorade anyways. She's too fat.

    January 29, 2013 at 6:13 pm | Reply
    • dantheman

      i completely agree with u she should not be drinking it she is way two fat did u see her double chin... just gross

      January 29, 2013 at 7:37 pm | Reply
      • MessaLOVEfoodz

        She has more chins then a Chinese phone-book

        January 29, 2013 at 9:40 pm | Reply
  166. MomWiz

    Excellent work from this young lady! Now if we could just get manufacturers to eliminate the propylene glycol (antifreeze) and unlabeled sulfites the world might be even safer. . .

    January 29, 2013 at 6:12 pm | Reply
  167. Coffeeclue

    "Starbucks stopped using ground up bug powder for coloring". So, are they using red#40 instead? Ground up bug powder is pure protein. However disgusting it may sound, there is absolutely nothing dangerous in it. Red #40 on the other hand is pure chemical that some claim affects behaviour.

    January 29, 2013 at 6:07 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      The "ground up bug powder" in question has been used as a red food coloring since antiquity. It's been researched and found to be quite safe. And yet some people don't like the sound of it and object to it. That's just silly.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:07 pm | Reply
  168. Gigg

    I guess 56 grams of sugar is OK.

    January 29, 2013 at 5:46 pm | Reply
    • ManWithThe1000PoundBrain

      Yes, it is. While anyone should monitor their overall sugar consumption, getting the sugar (carbohydrates) in Gatorade is the main point behind consuming the product in the first place. It's also helps restore electrolytes and the sugar content is still less than what is found is fruit juices or soda.

      January 29, 2013 at 6:19 pm | Reply
      • ManWithThe1000PoundBrain

        Although, depending on which Gatorade product, it may have as little as 14 grams of carbs...Regular orange has 14 in the 8 OZ bottle.

        January 29, 2013 at 6:26 pm | Reply
  169. HenryMiller

    "BVO caused a behavior change – although the test was done at much higher doses."

    Too high a dose of just about anything can be harmful. Too much water can screw up your electrlyte balance and kill you.

    CSPI is mostly a bunch of fanatics.

    January 29, 2013 at 5:37 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      And you missed the part about "in one test." The so-called "Center for Science in the Public Interest" needs to remove the word science from their name. Scientists don't rush to conclusions based on one test.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:09 pm | Reply
  170. Djinn

    It's got Electrolytes!!! It's got what plants crave!!!

    January 29, 2013 at 5:31 pm | Reply
    • Biff

      Eatocracy!

      January 29, 2013 at 6:16 pm | Reply
    • Clumsatron

      Yes!!! Because water is from the toilet.... (I love idiocracy!)

      January 29, 2013 at 6:20 pm | Reply
    • David

      Idiocracy is the best movie to quote for something like this. She should worry about the amount of calories she is in taking along with the sugar that is potentially giving her diabetes "since she is a Gatorade lover" and as such probably drinks large amounts.

      January 29, 2013 at 6:22 pm | Reply
      • Ian

        Exactly. It'd be a shame for FDA-approved chemicals to steal the attention from bigger problems, solely on account of it sounding too "chemical-ish."

        January 29, 2013 at 6:36 pm | Reply
  171. Petey

    STOP testing products on animals!!!!

    Test on the prison system. Lots of serial killers, rapists and child molesters dying to help out!!!

    January 29, 2013 at 5:24 pm | Reply
    • laughingreat

      !!!Brilliant!!!

      January 29, 2013 at 5:33 pm | Reply
    • steve

      so instead test on humans? regardless of what they did to end up in prison they are still human like you and i. What if that was your loved one? F- that. Animals are animals. Not humans. The fact we domesticated some doesn't transform them into humans. Much better to test on animals than humans.

      January 29, 2013 at 5:38 pm | Reply
    • BostonSteve

      You have got to be a liberal Democrat.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:19 pm | Reply
    • Maya

      Who cares if they are human? Judging an organism's worthiness by their species is irrational.

      January 29, 2013 at 7:41 pm | Reply
  172. freshnewblog

    That is wonderful. I am glad that she did that. Thank you. Sunny -D does it too. I stopped buying it years ago.

    January 29, 2013 at 5:19 pm | Reply
    • aubrie

      I did the same thing. NO Sunny D

      January 29, 2013 at 5:55 pm | Reply
      • freshnewblog

        Thank you for telling me that. I had not heard of anyone with the same story that I have.

        January 30, 2013 at 9:19 am | Reply
  173. Marc Authier

    "Soft' drinks have nothing soft. On biochemical and physiological basis soft drinks should be seen for what they are: weapons of mass destruction and bio terrorism. I am not kidding. Companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola and all these crap have killed more people indirectly than even Philip Morris or Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse Dong.

    January 29, 2013 at 5:16 pm | Reply
    • Coffeeclue

      Any supporting data for this?

      January 29, 2013 at 5:44 pm | Reply
      • NotTheMother

        Tip: Don't ask for logic and reason when conversing with someone using emotion as the basis for their argument.

        Corollary: offering logic and reason is also ill advised. Their world isn't likely to implode under the weight of truth, because it's too well constructed to withstand facts and reality.

        January 29, 2013 at 6:01 pm | Reply
    • DB

      You may not be kidding, but you're still a joke.

      January 29, 2013 at 6:23 pm | Reply
  174. JustGreat

    The ingredients of salt can outright kill you.
    The girl could do to drink more water anyways.

    January 29, 2013 at 5:12 pm | Reply
    • laughingreat

      Separately they can kill, but together they become an essential part of our lives.

      January 29, 2013 at 5:35 pm | Reply
      • Dionysius

        JustMediocre: You need to study Anatomy, Biology, Physiology... in other words, come back when you grow up, kid...

        January 29, 2013 at 6:13 pm | Reply
    • Ian

      Too few people understand this concept, especially when it comes to compounds that contain mercury.

      January 29, 2013 at 6:40 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      Exactly. Molecules do not behave as their component atoms do separately. This is basic.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:12 pm | Reply
  175. Chris

    This is what happens when children read and inquire about the world. Kids and their brains, always causing trouble.

    January 29, 2013 at 5:08 pm | Reply
    • bruce

      And they would have got away with it too if it wernt for those meddling kids.

      January 29, 2013 at 5:36 pm | Reply
      • Juanito

        Lol!

        January 29, 2013 at 6:50 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      This is what happens when children read and inquire without guidance. Unfortunately, these days, reading and inquiring is all to easy. But children are not getting good guidance. They're not learning basic critical thinking much less basic science.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:13 pm | Reply
  176. my thoughts

    I personally thing the stuff taste like crap any way. Use scratch lab or 1st endurance and your OWN water to have a better all around electrolyte product

    January 29, 2013 at 4:52 pm | Reply
  177. Bob

    What does this child know?? Nothing, thats what. "Michael Jacobson at the Center for Science in the Public Interest said he thinks the substance shouldn’t be used in food. He said in one test on animals, BVO caused a behavior change – although the test was done at much higher doses." – yeah, what we did was take a couple of gallons of the stuff and squirted it straight into the eye of this animal, right, and guess what? The animal didnt like it – thats behavioral change right there....

    January 29, 2013 at 4:47 pm | Reply
    • conrad

      Truly bizzare comment ...

      January 29, 2013 at 5:23 pm | Reply
  178. TexasStrong

    What they don't tell you is that Bromide displaces iodine and iodine is needed for thyroid function. Some time ago bread makers also quite using iodine and started using bromide for dough conditioning. Look for bread and flour w/o bromide.

    January 29, 2013 at 4:37 pm | Reply
  179. Beria

    "bromine is cited in chemical company patents as a flame retardant."

    So is water...

    January 29, 2013 at 4:30 pm | Reply
    • Joe

      Good one! Laughed out loud.

      January 29, 2013 at 4:50 pm | Reply
    • Homie

      @ Carl,
      I used to work in a Bromine plant. Bromine, is nasty stuff. When I was being trained, my trainer, told me, that if I heard the Bromine leak siren, that I was already dead.

      January 29, 2013 at 4:53 pm | Reply
      • Carlos

        Chlorine gas (another halogen like bromine) is also extremely toxic and can kill you. Yet we swim in chlorinated pools and drink chlorinated water without significant detriment to our health (arguably). Your anecdote has nothing to do with BVO's safety or lack thereof.

        January 29, 2013 at 5:14 pm | Reply
      • jon

        good to know, sounds like we shouldn't be ingesting it.

        January 29, 2013 at 5:26 pm | Reply
    • ORChuck

      Yes, and a lot of people are wishing that there had been a touch of brominated fire retardant in the insulation foam in a certain nightclub in Brazil last Sunday. Bromine and brominated fire retardants are not bad; they save lives every day.

      January 29, 2013 at 8:18 pm | Reply
  180. Chris

    gatorade is very tasty yes... especially after a workout... but it is so bad for you. If you drink the stuff after doing cardio trying to lose weight, there was no point in doing the cardio.. Stick with water as much as possible. All these drinks are horrible for us... its not a rocket science.

    January 29, 2013 at 4:27 pm | Reply
    • deep blue

      calories right after a good workout can help with recovery. It is salty sugar water. For endurance athletes, replacing lost electrolytes to prevent your blood from becoming hypotonic is a must. Pickle juice works well, perhaps better than gatorade, but some kind of salty rehydration is needed. For casual athletes just trying to lose weight, perhaps water is sufficient, but after a 12 mile run, I'm reaching for the gatorade, not the water, 'cause it works.

      January 29, 2013 at 5:17 pm | Reply
      • intervalroutines

        Protein calories yes, sugar calories no. Anything beneficial in Gatorade could be found in pickle juice or coconut water, without all the nasty additives, food colorings, funky chemicals, corn syrup, and sugar.

        January 29, 2013 at 5:54 pm | Reply
        • aubrie

          I agree. coconut water has the proper ph balance and combination of electrolites. It very similar to human blood. Great for a hangover too.

          January 29, 2013 at 5:59 pm |
        • Biff

          Sooo... Is human blood is beneficial to drink after a long run? Ethics aside – strictly biologically speaking, of course. (Ack! Sunlight!)

          January 29, 2013 at 6:27 pm |
  181. Kt

    Good for her.

    January 29, 2013 at 4:12 pm | Reply
    • Mary Carter

      Right ! And we need to do more of this. A lot of this junk is what is making people ill, mentally and physically. Also ditch the airplane de-icer in pet food. There is no earthly reason that we need this garbage in things we eat and drink.

      January 29, 2013 at 4:24 pm | Reply
      • Maggie May

        Amen! Wish more folks would read labels and pay attention.

        January 29, 2013 at 4:27 pm | Reply
      • Daremonai

        Right! We need to blindly ban more stuff because it sounds scary, or because it bares a partial chemical resemblance to something scary, or is dangerous when you give small creatures a thousand times the dose. Who needs science when we have fear!

        January 29, 2013 at 4:43 pm | Reply
        • intervalroutines

          Right. Cause chemical build strong bodies. Who needs fruits and vegetables when factories can make "food."

          January 29, 2013 at 5:55 pm |
        • Ian

          @intervalroutines

          Chemicals actually do make a strong body. Heck, they make EVERYTHING. Water, air, oils... everything is made of chemicals. If you're going to try and rid your food of "chemicals," you're gonna have a bad time. Always be sure of what chemicals you're talking about, and don't let anyone use "chemical" as a scary word.

          January 29, 2013 at 6:54 pm |
  182. RC Roeder

    hmm..
    water, sugar, table salt, carbohydrates, electrolytes (110 mg sodium, 30 mg potassium, 93 mg chloride), high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, glucose, fructose, and sugar

    Way too much sugars

    January 29, 2013 at 3:56 pm | Reply
    • MDD4203

      Where on ANY Gatorade product do you see High Fructose Corn Syrup? It sure is not in any Gatorade products anymore...

      Secondly, why would you say there is WAY too much sugar, do you know why it's in there? It was never made to be used by someone sitting on their couch, hence Sports FUEL. Your body runs off carbohydrates and sugar, ahh yes, as basic a carbohydrate as carbohydrates are. Also why a zero calorie sports drink doesn't make sense. It's just a hydration beverage such as water, it does not provide any type of fueling.

      So if the product is used how its intended, no, it's not too much carbohydrate. You will actually need to find an additional source to obtain more to continue fueling your body.

      January 29, 2013 at 4:49 pm | Reply
      • my thoughts

        When you look at what it takes the body to convert those "sugars" to usable energy, a person is better off with H2O

        January 29, 2013 at 4:57 pm | Reply
        • deep blue

          endurance athletes need the salt. Marathoners have died because they rehydrated with water without the salt, causing their blood to become hypotonic (this is extremely rare, but it does happen).

          January 29, 2013 at 5:22 pm |
        • my thoughts

          Deep blue, I agree but sugar is not electrolyte. When you look at the studies of what the body can absorb on a cellular level even the the most efficient body can only process something like 20oz per hour. I have seen studies, but can not remember the numbers on cell up take of mineral and element components. Pretty surprising on how much of this stuff just gets passed through if the individual is not mixing and depending on a pre-bottled product.

          January 29, 2013 at 6:40 pm |
    • bankrupt1

      gatorade will make you sick. people that drink it on long bike rides dilute to quarter strength. but its still loaded with hfcs and crap that nobody wants in their body.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:08 pm | Reply
  183. Obama Flavor

    They should make a flavor for Obama. Call it Sweaty Monkey Balls.

    January 29, 2013 at 3:23 pm | Reply
    • RC Roeder

      I see you have been sniffing the glue again

      January 29, 2013 at 3:46 pm | Reply
    • Herbygee

      They should make a flavor for you: call Ignorant Bigot Brew.

      January 29, 2013 at 4:19 pm | Reply
      • tbone

        i like sweaty monkey balls much better thanks

        January 29, 2013 at 4:56 pm | Reply
        • JOhncompton88

          do you suck on them; or just lick them?

          January 29, 2013 at 6:22 pm |
    • Nightwriter

      I'm not sure if you're just a troll trying to get attention, or if you're actually a racist idiot ... but you're pathetic either way (sorry for the big word – if you don't understand it, look it up in the dictionary – it starts with 'p'.)

      January 29, 2013 at 4:21 pm | Reply
      • tbone

        listen you! I like the balls comment... you gotta problem BRA!

        January 29, 2013 at 4:53 pm | Reply
      • Lee

        how was any part of his statement "racist"? oh because he said something negative about a minority its automaticly racist. i forgot that for a second,,

        January 29, 2013 at 6:17 pm | Reply
    • OBOZO AGREED

      Or they can call it Welfare Splash. And make all the working class people pay for it, but yet give it to all the lazy blacks on welfare that leach off the gov't and have 20 kids while they wont work at all. Seems perfectly logical now doesn't it?

      January 29, 2013 at 4:44 pm | Reply
      • OBOZO AGREED

        I redact my statement. I am sorry for my comment.

        January 30, 2013 at 9:14 am | Reply
  184. tonymanx

    "The Food and Drug Administration reiterated that it considers BVO safe..." This is why the the FDA is not trusted.

    January 29, 2013 at 5:43 am | Reply
    • Ryan

      Ya, because scientists and researchers can't be trusted hey? I guess you'd just rather trust your "gut" feeling on this and assume you know better than them.

      January 29, 2013 at 4:31 pm | Reply
      • Mercury32

        Sorry Ryan, but they have proven they can't be trusted. Brominated Vegetable oil is nasty stuff, but even worse is aspartame. They didn't want to approve it but bowed to political pressue.

        Your statment seems to assume that just because there are scientists involved, they will always make their decisions based on scientific methods. You forget that politics plays a large role in this as well. An organization can have many good people and still make bad choices/policy.

        January 29, 2013 at 5:26 pm | Reply
        • Ian

          Unfortunately true in some cases. So where does that leave us?

          January 29, 2013 at 6:58 pm |
      • intervalroutines

        That's funny. Just cause scientists and researchers are involved you think they publishing their true findings? That's funny. Why do you think there are so many scientific studies that conflict with other studies? You have to follow the money to see how paid for the research. In the FDA's case, its the food manufacturers. So of course you have to take their recommendations with a grain of salt.

        January 29, 2013 at 6:06 pm | Reply
  185. Hi There

    In many different places food you think are the same have been changed because of local laws or local customs.

    It took me forever to figure out why soda pop in Asia tastes different to me. They don't use high fructose corn syrup. They use glucose ("grape sugar")... and yes, it changes the taste. I disliked Coca-Cola when I lived in the U.S., but bottled made with a different sugar makes me REALLY go YUCK!

    When I lived in the U.S. I knew people who complained about corn syrup and hated soda pop with it... They would go to Mexico to get soda pop made with cane sugar. I thought they were crazy. Well, I take it back. It sure makes a big difference on the flavor what sugars they use. I wonder which one is healthier?

    January 29, 2013 at 5:27 am | Reply
    • babaelf

      Neither is HEALTHY – but high fructos corn sugar0-syrup is a GMO product that is especially bad and will lead to far more increased diabetes than the current epidemic is witnessing. MANY EVERYDAY CEREALS ARE NOW BEING COATED WITH HFCS-corn sugar! ALL FRUCTOSE AND corn sweeteners are very bad for you. WE HAVE TWO EPIDEMICS IN THE US WHAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO FRUCTOSE CONSUMPTION: OBESITY AND DIABETES. THE LARGEST SOURCE OF CALORIES IN THE USA IS FROM FRUCTOSE.

      January 29, 2013 at 11:53 am | Reply
      • RC Roeder

        I mus agree, in additon hfcs contain an enzime that suppress the hormone that makes you feel full. So you will eat more. If i have a choice, i will take ane suger over most.

        January 29, 2013 at 3:50 pm | Reply
      • Maggie May

        If a bill comes up that requires the labeling of all GMO ingredients in a food, read the list of the companies opposing said bill. Scary that most of them are in charge of feeding us. Best defense is grow some of your own food as you can, support local folks who grow GMO-free, chemical-free, and vote with your dollars. It will be a beautiful day when Montsanto and their ilk go out of business because we boycott them to financial death.

        January 29, 2013 at 4:32 pm | Reply
  186. TheGreenMan

    No doubt she will be the first to cry when sediments form inside the bottle? (now that the trace anti-sedimentation ingredient has been removed)

    January 29, 2013 at 4:50 am | Reply
    • RC Roeder

      should i assume your name is derived from too much green gatorade?

      January 29, 2013 at 3:51 pm | Reply
    • conrad

      Plenty of drinks these days have sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Not a big deal at all ...

      January 29, 2013 at 5:28 pm | Reply
    • Iconoclast

      Maybe we can just shake the bottle, or is that too much effort?

      January 29, 2013 at 6:22 pm | Reply
      • Ian

        Sadly, you know enough people would be upset enough to dent Pepsi's profit because of it.

        January 29, 2013 at 7:02 pm | Reply
  187. tim

    Statistically 88% of people who drink manufactured "fruit" drinks are overweight.

    Let me tell you something" Ever wondered why some drinks are labelled with "contains 0.02% real fruit".

    Ever wondered why it's 0.02% and not say 0.5%? Well it's because 0.02% is the smallest increment that is detectable in randomized trace tests. If they are fruit drinks legally they are required to have fruit in them and the company obviously puts the least amount (they can measure!) in it as fruit is more expensive then chemicals. They literally poison you for a margin of cents.

    That's why people in Europe are not obese compared to the fat Americans. In Europe there is no Nomex or whatever flame retardant (wtf) in soft drinks.

    It surprises me how much freedom AMericans give to their own companies to poison them.

    January 29, 2013 at 4:11 am | Reply
    • laurab68

      I agree Tim,
      With the exception of ginger ale when I have an upset stomach, I don't drink soda. There is virtually nothing in soda that is actually good for you. All it does it rot you teeth, elevate your blood sugar levels, and increase your waistline and make you the bullseye for diabetes. It robs your body of calcium which can also lead to a host of other issues.
      Everytime I go grocery shopping, I don't see milk in people's carts I see bottle after bottle or case after case of soda. It's sad!
      Now I'm not completely condemning soda. A treat every now and again is ok, but soda is no longer a treat. it's an every day occurence in the average household. Everything in moderation.

      January 29, 2013 at 4:31 pm | Reply
    • Bill

      Statistically, 100% of overweight Americans breathe.

      All together now: Correlation is not causation.

      January 29, 2013 at 5:50 pm | Reply
      • Biff

        War on Air! Who's with me!?

        January 29, 2013 at 6:20 pm | Reply
  188. john

    Thanks for ruining my favorite flavor arshole

    January 29, 2013 at 3:40 am | Reply
    • AleeD®

      Ruining what flavor? Is your monitor a flavor screen? Really? Where can I get one?

      January 29, 2013 at 7:14 am | Reply
  189. dotheflippin'math

    Brawndo, er'...Gatorade has electrolytes. It's what plants need. Best just to talk to the plants. Welcome to "Idiocracy." Fwiw, Gatorade is worthless as a "sports drink," as are all the others. You get plenty of electrolytes from what you eat. There is no way for your body to process or produce electrolytes during an athletic competition, even a marathon. Real athletes drink water (aka H2O, aka "di-hydrogen-oxide"). Gatorade and its copycats are all big bottles of empty calories, and competely worthless from a nutritional point of view. For these companies, your biochemical ignorance is their financial bliss. Same goes for detoxing, colon-cleansing, and just about every "fact" ever stated by a nutritionist/naturopath/chirpractor. It's a multi-trillion dollar industry which owes its existence to snake oil salesmen, misleading commercials and infomercials, and poorly schooled, ignorant people. The most susceptible are actually those who remember traces of bio and chem from high school or college. The hucksters hit on a bunch of keywords and show-off some chemical equations, and use phrases like "everyone knows this," and "you probably remember this from high school." Myth #1: acid blood – if your blood is just slightly too acidic or basic, you will become seriously ill and die if not corrected. Unless you're reading this while on life support, or in hospice, you don't have acid blood. Myth #2: Candida. There are hundreds of species of candida that live in/on the human body. Most are harmless or beneficial. If you have an overgrowth of candida in your bloodstream, you are already too ill to be reading this, and had better be on your way to the ER. The yeast in beer and bread is not the candida that causes fungal infections. Nail fungus is an external infection. The same fungus does not survive in the bloodstream. Myth #3: Docs and big pharma could cure cancer if they wanted, but there's more money in not curing you. PARANOID BS! Your chiro will NEVER cure you.

    January 28, 2013 at 10:23 pm | Reply
    • Carl

      Calories are not "competely worthless from a nutritional point of view". If you do not consume calories in the form of fat, protein, and (in this case) carbohydrates, you will die.

      January 28, 2013 at 11:30 pm | Reply
    • willknutsen

      Really interesting. Thanks.

      January 29, 2013 at 2:59 am | Reply
    • deep blue

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication
      Endurance athletes need to replenish their salt stores as they run.

      January 29, 2013 at 5:26 pm | Reply
    • Ian

      I'm sure i'm being a smart*** with this, but I think this is funny: Water is called dihydrogen monoxide. Dihydrogen oxide could be confused with dihydrogen dioxide, aka hydrogen peroxide. If you drink enough hydrogen peroxide, you can get little blisters in your mouth that has been called "black hairy tongue."

      Moral of the story: careful with your chemical nomenclature!

      January 29, 2013 at 7:31 pm | Reply
  190. yum yum eat em up

    I wonder, if they took the GATOR out of Gatorade, wouldn't that be cool?

    Cool ade? remember that...

    January 28, 2013 at 10:13 pm | Reply
    • tron

      It would make the gators happy, do you know how many gators you have to squeeze to make a batch of gatoraid? me either but the gatora ain't happy about it.

      January 29, 2013 at 9:22 am | Reply
      • RC Roeder

        Gatoraid is nothing more that some flavor, sugar and sweat.

        January 29, 2013 at 3:53 pm | Reply
      • conrad

        I have always thought the same thing. I know gators are grumpy and dangerous with big teeth, but that doesn't give us the right to put them in holding pens and let people sqeeze the crap out of them every night for a little juice. Not only that, but gator squeezing factories are some of the worst places to work. The juice only comes out at 1:00 in the morning in full moon-light and it takes a lot of hard work to get it out of such scaley leathery skin. And a lot of the workers get bitten on the job as I'm sure you can imagine. Not to mention that the poor gators get sent to retirement moats in various UK castles (not a native habitat) after as few as 4 years of juicing where they spend the rest of thier lives being humiliatingly compared to komodo dragons. Ban the use of gators for juice today!!!

        January 29, 2013 at 6:07 pm | Reply
        • laurab68

          Ok that was priceless! Love the sarcasm. Best rebuttle yet!

          January 30, 2013 at 7:58 am |
  191. Wendy Jane

    I think she should stick to water – only one ingredient there. Also has the added benefit of being zero calories.

    January 28, 2013 at 8:28 pm | Reply
    • Carl

      But water is a chemical used to put out fires! Must be bad.

      January 28, 2013 at 10:35 pm | Reply
      • willknutsen

        Dont be stupid.

        January 29, 2013 at 3:00 am | Reply
        • AleeD®

          Carl's comment wasn't stupid, it was ironic. It was funny, too. Lighten up McNuts@ck.

          January 29, 2013 at 7:13 am |
      • Bill

        Ban Dihyrdogen monooxide! People can drown in it.

        January 29, 2013 at 4:24 pm | Reply
        • sillytho

          sad part Bill, if you went around a college campus with a petition to do that. you would get a ton of signitures.

          January 29, 2013 at 5:25 pm |
      • conrad

        Weaksauce

        January 29, 2013 at 6:09 pm | Reply
      • Biff

        Gotta stop women's suffrage too. All the suffrage in the world is an outrage!

        January 29, 2013 at 6:19 pm | Reply
    • Bill

      One ingredient? Guess again. Tap water is (and should be!) filled with all kinds of salts, dissolved gases, minerals, and whatnot.

      Drinking pure H2O is actually quite dangerous.

      "The possible health consequences of low mineral content water consumption includes intestinal mucous membrane problems, decreased intake and metabolism of calcium, magnesium and other essential elements, possible increased dietary intake of toxic metals and possible increased bacterial growth." - 2004 WHO report

      January 29, 2013 at 5:53 pm | Reply
      • gager

        I'm in my seventies and have been drinking water as pure as I could find since my twenties. I'm in very good health. The report you sited is bogus. I've worked in labs where the purest water was made. 18 meg ohm water tastes great.

        January 30, 2013 at 4:18 am | Reply
      • Michael

        ROFL you are quite mad. Pure water dangerous?? Are you KIDDING? Tap water contains the worst contaminants, especially pharmaceuticals. How in the world would drinking pure water increase your intake of toxic metals? You are making no sense whatsoever.

        But in any case, any source of water that the average person is going to consume will have some of what you cite, nobody is going to be drinking absolutely pure, laboratory grade H20 on a regular basis. Myself I prefer locally bottled spring water from certified sources. Tastes much better that the sludge coming out of the tap.

        January 30, 2013 at 8:26 am | Reply
        • Scott

          I'm not sure if this is exactly what he meant, but this is the way I would assume it works, as a chemist (but not a biologist): Drinking tap water has dissolved mineral in it. Drinking deionized water, however, does not. Deionized water is quite a strong solvent, which will leech minerals from your body to get in a thermodynamically more stable state. These minerals would be leeched from anywhere the water goes until it's more or less at equilibrium. The more DI water you drink, the more ions the water leeches from your body. Your body, seeking to replenish those ions, will take in excess ions from dietary sources. Those excess ions could be lead salts or mercury salts or any other toxic salts.

          Again, I'm NOT sure if that's actually the way it works. But as a chemist, that does make sense to me.

          January 30, 2013 at 1:11 pm |
      • RichG

        Pure water is pee from God, so it's definately the purest.

        January 30, 2013 at 1:05 pm | Reply
    • Dude

      Water causes death in large quantities. Nobody should use it.

      January 30, 2013 at 12:55 pm | Reply

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