PepsiCo Inc. is removing an ingredient called brominated vegetable oil (BVO) from its Gatorade drinks.

The ingredient is a synthetic material that is bonded to the element Bromine. However, the National Fire Protection Association deems the elements flammability as a 0 (no fire hazard).  According the WebMD, BVO’s side affects include depression, memory loss and hallucinations. Small quantities are found in citrus drinks.  The ingredient is considered “flame-retardant,” which means it is resistant to catching fire.  The Gatorade drinks containing this ingredient are the orange and lemon flavors.

“It is pretty shocking knowing that there is an ingredient like that in there,” sophomore Javaun Burgess said.  “But I would still drink it because it is so refreshing after sports.”

Mississippi teenager Sarah Kavanagh, 15, started an online petition to remove the ingredient from Gatorade.  She had over 200,000 signatures and claims to be the reason Gatorade is changing their ingredient.  However, removing BVO from Gatorade has been a working progress for awhile.

“I do not think removing it is necessary,” junior Ali Wortuba said. ” I’ve never heard of anyone getting hurt or dying from drinking Gatorade before.”

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, BVO is “poorly tested and possibly dangerous to additive and there is no reason to use it in Gatorade or other soft drinks.”

Within a couple of months, Gatorade will make BVO-free versions of those drinks containing the ingredient.