Then they can literally write "Soda additive BVO linked..." and the headline has the same meaning. Everyone who knows what BVO is can decide for themselves if they're interested, everyone who didn't can still click to find out what this mysterious "BVO" is.

There room for 3 characters and a space in that headline. The only reason not to do that is to get clicks from people who wouldn't click if they knew what the article was actually about. It's clickbait.

Doubly so because it's not like BVO is the only dodgy chemical in soft drinks. Aspartame even is suspected of being related to thyroid wierdness.