Loading…
Quick answer: Chlorine-washed chicken carries the heavier risk profile. BHA is restricted in the EU and allowed in the US; Chlorine-washed chicken is banned in the EU and allowed in the US.
| Property | BHA | Chlorine-washed chicken |
|---|---|---|
| EU status | Restricted | Banned |
| US status | Allowed | Allowed |
| Risk level | high | high |
| Banned in | — | European Union |
| Restricted in | European Union | — |
| Category | processing aid | processing aid |
| Where it hides | chips, cereal, preserved meats | conventional chicken, poultry products |
BHA is a synthetic antioxidant preservative for fats and oils.
Chlorine-washed chicken is poultry rinsed in chlorine or other antimicrobials at slaughter.
BHA: Reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (US NTP); restricted in the EU and banned in some countries.
Chlorine-washed chicken: Banned in the EU, which prohibits chemical carcass washes and relies on farm-to-fork hygiene instead.
Scan a barcode and we'll flag both BHA and Chlorine-washed chicken (plus 140+ other ingredients banned overseas).
Scan free →