Gatorade says that they are reformulating their drinks to exclude an ingredient, called brominated vegetable oil, which has reportedly been patented in Europe as a flame retardant. The owner of Gatorade, PepsiCo Inc., says the company has been thinking about the reformulation for over a year and wasn't in response to a recent online petition asking for the ban of the ingredient.
The petition was started online after some consumers discovered the ingredient has been banned in Japan and the European Union. This startling discovery propelled 200,000 people to support the online petition. Although the company stands behind the safety of their product, many feel that if an ingredient is used as a flame retardant, it could be a dangerous product for consumption. The petition also cites an article claiming the ingredient can build up in the human body, resulting in reproductive and behavioral issues.
The company has also said that it will not recall their Gatorade product, but will phase in products with an alternative ingredient in the coming months. This type of potentially dangerous product situation highlights an issue with the way products are manufactured and delivered to customers. Sometimes, consumers aren't aware of the ingredients used in every product and can't possibly research every ingredient in every product they own. That is why it is so important for manufacturers to ensure their products and ingredients are safe.
Although the government might not ban all dangerous ingredients, companies could do research on their ingredients and help better protect consumers from dangerous products. People who feel they have been injured or their health put at risk because of a dangerous product might be wise to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Source: Los Angeles Times, "Gatorade pulls ingredient linked to flame retardant," Tiffany Hsu, Jan. 25, 2013.
-Our law firm handles many areas of personal injury including dangerous product cases. Please visit our website to learn more.
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