In brief
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated a reassessment of Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), a preservative commonly found in products like potato chips and cereals, due to health concerns regarding its safety. First recognized as generally safe in 1958, BHA has more recently been classified as a probable human carcinogen. Health advocacy groups urge consumers to avoid BHA-containing products, prompting the FDA's decision to gather new information on its usage.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Tuesday a comprehensive review of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a chemical preservative commonly found in processed foods, including snacks and cereals. The FDA's examination aims to evaluate the safety of BHA under its present usage conditions in food products.
This initiative forms part of a broader effort to scrutinize chemical additives in the American food supply. In May, the agency identified BHA as a priority for safety reassessment, highlighting growing health concerns.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated, We are taking decisive action to ensure that chemicals in our food supply are not causing harm. Initially classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) since 1958, BHA was approved as a food additive in 1961. However, concerns escalated when the National Toxicology Program classified it as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen in 1991.
Several health advocacy organizations, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, have long urged consumers to avoid BHA due to studies indicating a potential carcinogenic effect in animals. Additionally, California's Proposition 65 has listed BHA as a known carcinogen since 1990.
Although data suggests a decline in BHA usage, it remains prevalent in various consumer products, including those aimed at children. As the FDA reviews BHA's safety, consumers will likely be curious about the future of food additives in their diets.
