The Truth About Food Additive BHA | 食品添加物合法業者資訊網

2013年5月30日—Thefoodadditivebutylatedhydroxyanisole(BHA)isfoundinmanyfoodsandotherproducts.Butdoesitcausecancer?

Heres a question for you: What food additive does the Food and Drug Administration deem "generally recognized as safe," while the National Institutes of Health, says its "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen?"

Heres a hint: Its a preservative, and you can find it in (drum roll, please): potato chips, lard, butter, cereal, instant mashed potatoes, preserved meat[1], beer, baked goods, dry beverage and dessert mixes, chewing gum, and other foods. Oh, also: rubber, petroleum products, and, of course, wax food packaging.

The molecule in question is butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and it appears in so many products because its a potent antioxidant[2]. How can an antioxidant prevent food from going bad? It all comes down to fat.

When fats and oils (in food, fats that are liquid are room temperature are called oils) are exposed to the air, oxidation occurs – the same process that causes old cars to rust. As previous Food Fac...