In brief
On Tuesday, the FDA announced it will evaluate butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a preservative found in many foods like chips and cereals, for safety. This review is part of a larger effort to inspect food chemicals, with BHA previously listed as a probable carcinogen. Despite its long history of use, concerns have increased, prompting advocacy groups to urge consumers to avoid products containing BHA. While the FDA notes a decline in BHA usage, it is still present in various foods available to children.
The FDA will reassess BHA, a chemical preservative in many widely eaten foods, concerning its safety. Revealed in a statement, the agency's review aims to find if BHA is safe under present conditions in food and as a food contact substance. This reassessment is part of the FDA's broader initiative to review chemical additives within the U.S. food supply, with BHA being identified as a priority for review in May.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary emphasized the importance of this action, stating it aims to ensure that chemicals in the food supply pose no harm to consumers. Originally deemed generally recognized as safe in 1958, BHA has been labeled as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen since 1991 by the National Toxicology Program.
Health groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, have continually expressed concerns over BHA, advising consumers to avoid products containing this chemical due to its potential cancer risks in animal studies. Despite a decline in BHA's presence in food products, it is still found in foods marketed toward children.
