Full Guidance of Food Grade BTH, What Does It Provide?

Butylated hydroxytoluene, also known as BHT, European Food Additive No. E321, is a synthetic phenolic compound that is used as an antioxidant, preservative and stabilizer in fats and oils. It is added to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage and is used primarily in cereals, shortenings, potato chips, margarine and nuts.

How is BHT made?

Commercial BHT is produced by reacting 4-methylphenol (p-cresol) with isobutylene (2-methylpropene) with a catalyst.  4-methylphenol is obtained from the sulfonation of toluene (derived from the distillation of petroleum) and afterward heated with sodium hydroxide. 2-methylpropene is also made from petroleum.

Uses of BHT

BHT, BHA and TBHQ are synthetic phenolic antioxidants that are commonly added/blended together to retard or prevent rancidity of fats and oils and loss of activity of fat-soluble vitamins in foods and cosmetics. 

BHA and BHT are often used in combination with other chemicals for synergistic antioxidant activity, such as ascorbic acid, citric acid or phosphoric acid.

The following processed foods may contain BHT.

Edible fats, fried foods, nuts, breakfast cereals, instant noodles, rice.

Two types

Food antioxidants are basically divided into two categories. 

1. Water-soluble antioxidants

Such as ascorbic acid and its sodium and calcium salts, isoascorbic acid, sodium isoascorbate, mainly used in meat, fruits and other foods to prevent discoloration. 

2. Fat-soluble antioxidants

Fat-soluble antioxidants usually refer to natural or synthetic phenolic antioxidants, which are used to preserve freshness by delaying or preventing the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in oils and fats.

Vegetable oils need antioxidants to maintain freshness; meanwhile, animal fats lack natural antioxidants and also need antioxidants to keep solids stable. 

Cosmetics

BHT is used as an antioxidant and masking agent (2) in cosmetics and personal care products. Common cosmetic and personal care products containing BHT. 

Lotions, skin care products, cosmetics, lipsticks, head oils, soaps, shampoos, body washes, perfumes, packaging. You can find more applications in ZANCHENGLIFE website.

Plastic packaging for food and cosmetics (e.g. polyethylene and polypropylene films) also use food-grade BHT as an antioxidant to prevent aging. 

Is BHT safe?

Yes, safety has been approved by authorized parties such as FDA, EFSA and JECFA. However, consumers are concerned that high doses may cause side effects. Vitamin E can be used as a substitute if people want to replace it.

BHT is generally considered safe by the FDA (GRAS) and is used as an antioxidant alone or in combination with BHA at a maximum of 0.001% to 0.02% in dry breakfast cereals.

Butylated hydroxytoluene (E321) is listed as an authorized food additive in the European Commission regulation and is classified as an "additive other than colors and sweeteners".

Due to insufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and insufficient or limited evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals, BHT is classified as "Group 3" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as "not carcinogenic to humans".