Is Butylated Hydroxyanisole banned?
Yes. Butylated Hydroxyanisole is banned, restricted, or carries a mandatory warning label in 1 country including Japan (banned for foods containing fats and oils). The US FDA still permits it, which is why it shows up in everyday American food and beauty products.
Countries where Butylated Hydroxyanisole is banned or restricted
| Country / Region | Status |
|---|---|
| Japan (banned for foods containing fats and oils) | Banned or restricted |
Why Butylated Hydroxyanisole is flagged
IARC classifies BHA as Group 2B (possible human carcinogen) based on forestomach tumor studies in rodents at high doses. The NTP lists it as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.' EFSA's 2012 review found endocrine-disrupting potential. Japan banned it for food use. The FDA permits it at 0.02% of fat content. Concerns about estrogen-receptor interaction have been documented in animal studies. Contact dermatitis from cosmetic use is reported.
Scan your pantry for Butylated Hydroxyanisole
Get a free Safe / Caution / Avoid score on any US food or beauty barcode \u2014 with EFSA + FDA citations.
Scan a product \u2192See the full Butylated Hydroxyanisole deep-dive page for regulatory citations, products that contain it, and verified clean swaps.