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FDA Launches Sweeping Review of Long-Used Food Preservative BHA
**WASHINGTON D.C. ** – The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated a comprehensive review of Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), a synthetic preservative widely used in packaged foods for decades. This move signals an escalated effort by the agency to re-evaluate chemicals that have been staples in the American food supply for an extended period.
On Tuesday, the FDA formally requested information regarding manufacturers’ current uses of BHA and whether contemporary scientific evidence continues to support its safety in both food and food-contact materials.
BHA functions as a synthetic antioxidant, playing a crucial role in preventing the spoilage of fats and oils across a range of products, including foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and animal feed, thereby extending their shelf life.
This review is a component of a broader FDA program, first announced in 2025, aimed at reassessing chemicals that have remained in use for several decades. Health advocates have long advocated for increased scrutiny of BHA, which the FDA identified for reassessment during its recent overhaul of its post-market chemical review processes.
“This reassessment marks the end of the ‘trust us’ era in food safety,” stated Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. He further highlighted that BHA has persisted in the market despite the National Toxicology Program listing it as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,” a determination based on animal studies.
The health regulator initially listed BHA as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) in 1958 and subsequently approved it as a food additive in 1961. The preservative is found in a variety of foods, including cereals, frozen meals, cookies, candy, ice cream, and certain meat products. While its overall usage has seen a decline, regulators note its continued prevalence in foods specifically marketed towards children.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary indicated that the agency plans to conduct similar reviews for other chemicals, including the preservative butylated hydroxytoluene and azodicarbonamide, a chemical utilized in yoga mats and as a dough conditioner.
In addition to these specific reviews, the FDA announced its ongoing efforts to strengthen its GRAS rules, aiming to enhance transparency and oversight of chemicals introduced into food without prior FDA approval.