Butylated Hydroxyanisole
The short version
A synthetic antioxidant (BHA) used in fats, oils, and packaged foods.
A synthetic antioxidant that stops fats going rancid. It works well, but it's listed as a possible human carcinogen based on animal studies — debated at the low levels used in food. That open question is why we flag it.
Safety profile
JECFA's ADI is 0–0.5 mg/kg body weight; EFSA in 2011 set a higher ADI of 1 mg/kg body weight. Classified by the IARC as 'possibly carcinogenic to humans' (Group 2B) based on rodent studies showing forestomach tumors at high doses. The relevance to humans is debated since humans lack a forestomach. Some jurisdictions are progressively reducing permitted levels.
Sources
- JECFA — Butylated hydroxyanisole (INS 320), evaluation 1988 — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1988. JECFA ADI 0–0.5 mg/kg bw
- EFSA FEEDAP — Safety and efficacy of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as a feed additive for all animal species (2018), citing EFSA's 2011 food-additive re-evaluation — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Journal 2018;16(3):5215), 2018. EFSA ADI of 1 mg/kg bw; forestomach tumours not considered relevant to humans
- IARC — Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–123 (2019 list) — International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2019. IARC Group 2B (classified 1987)
- FDA — FDA Launches Assessment of BHA, a Common Food Chemical Preservative (10 February 2026) — US Food and Drug Administration, 2026. US status: GRAS/approved, under FDA re-assessment since 2026
Checked against these sources on .
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