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Butylated hydroxyanisole

High risk
Alternate Names:
  • bha
Info from food-info.net:
  • Description:
    • Function:
      • Anti-oxidant in fats and fatty products to prevent rancidity.
    • Origin:
      • Synthetic antioxidant
    • Side effects:
      • None known in the concentrations used, although some pseudo-allergic reactions have been reported. BHA in combination with high concentrations of vitamin C can produce free radicals, which can cause damage to the components of cells, including DNA. This has prompted the EU to restrict the use of BHA in the near future.
    Dietary restrictions:
    • E320 can normally be consumed by all religious groups, vegans and vegetarians.
    Acceptable daily intake:
    • Unknown
    Status:
    • Unknown
Info from proe.info:
  • Description:
    • Benefits:
      • Unknown
    • General:
      • Unknown
    • Harm:
      • Unknown
    • Legal:
      • Unknown
    • Use:
      • Unknown
    • Links:
      • Unknown
    Dietary restrictions:
    • Unknown
    Acceptable daily intake:
    • Unknown
    Status:
    • Unknown
ninamvseeno.org -- site no longer live
  • Description:
      • Butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) is an antioxidant obtained by the reaction of 4-methoxyphenol and isobutylene. Because it inhibits oxidation and the development of unpleasant odors, it is used as a preservative in food and its packaging, animal feed, cosmetics, rubber and petroleum products, and also in medicines. Since the middle of the last century, BHA has been added to edible oils, fats, margarines, chewing gums, candies, nuts and in general to foods that contain a lot of fat (e.g. in instant potato products and also in bakery products, because it is stable at high temperatures (eg biscuits, cakes, pastries) The US National Institutes of Health reports the substance is carcinogenic in test animals, especially in high doses, although the recommended daily dose of up to 0.5 mg/kg body weight is considered by some to be too low would reach a cancerous condition, again according to the state of California, BHA has been banned in Japan since 1958, it was recommended for withdrawal in the UK, but the fast food chain McDonald's had to stop using the additive in its products in the US in 1986. It is banned in the infant diet. It can cause an allergic reaction, hyperactivity or other reactions to hyperactive behavioral disorders in children. When combined with high levels of vitamin C, free radicals can be produced that damage cells, including DNA. All this has prompted many discussions in the EU and in the ANS Additives Committee to initiate additional studies on the harmfulness and limit the use of BHA.
    Dietary restrictions:
    • Unknown
    Acceptable daily intake:
    • 1.000 mg/kg body weight/day (EFSA, 2011)
    Status:
    • Approved in the EU.
References: