A relatively common preservative that is added to our food is Butylated hydroxyanisole, commonly known as BHA. It is a synthetically produced preservative used to keep fats and oils in food and personal care products from going rancid.
BHA will be found in potato chips, lard, butter, cereal, instant mashed potatoes, preserved meat, beer, baked goods, dry beverages, dessert mixes, chewing gum, fast food, shortening, snack foods, and other foods that contain fats or oils. It can also be found in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics such as lipstick and eyeshadow, rubber, petroleum products, and wax food packaging.
BHA was first synthesized in the late 1940’s and began being used as a food additive around 1947. It is either a white crystalline powder or a yellowish white waxy solid. It has been approved in foods up to 0.02 percent. There are exceptions; many dry goods (like cereal) will have specific limits because they often will be mixed with other ingredients such as water or liquid oils.
BHA’s purpose in food is to delay oxidation rancidity of fats and oils. It is “scavenging for free radicals” by attacking oxygen molecules. It can help food to taste better for a longer time period and may prevent the loss of activity of fat-soluble vitamins.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified BHA as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as long as the 0.02 percentage is maintained. Other organizations have not given it this classification.
- National Toxicology Program classifies it as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”. This is based on studies done on rats, mice, and hamsters where higher doses produced cancer in the fore-stomach.
- California Proposition 65 classifies it as a known carcinogen, based on it causing tumors in animals.
- European Union classifies it as an endocrine disruptor. In rat studies, it has been found that at higher doses it can lower testosterone and thyroxin, adversely affect sperm quality and the sex organs. Other rat studies have shown it may have negative effects on estrogen metabolism, decreased growth and increased mortality.
There have been other studies that suggest it may be anti-carcinogenic; the thought it is an anti-oxidant which battles oxidation.
As this preservative is found in many processed foods, there can be a cumulative effect if you consume mostly processed foods. This is where you may eat “higher” doses. Fresh foods or foods without preservatives is what the body recognizes as food therefore providing nourishment to our bodies. A great way to improve your health is to begin replacing processed foods with fresh food such as fresh fruit instead of fruit snacks. Making small changes can add up over time for improving your health.
Did you find any BHA in your food? Where did you find it?
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Heather
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