BHA and BHT are fat soluble synthetic antioxidants, added to foods to prevent lipids from being oxidized (turning rancid). BHA is butylated hydroxyanisole and BHT is butylated hydroxytoluene. BHA and BHT are also used to preserve fats and oils in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. They are both FDA approved.
BHA is found in butter, meats, cereals, chewing gum, baked goods, snack foods, dehydrated potatoes, beer, animal feed, food packaging, cosmetics, rubber products & petroleum products.
BHT is in many packaging materials, and in shortening, cereals, and other foods containing fats and oils.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) says BHA may be carcinogenic. The State of California has listed it as a carcinogen. Some studies show the same cancer causing possibilities for BHT.
It has been suggested that BHA and BHT serve as antioxidants in a human, same as in a product, and thus they may combat oxidative stress. Some people have trouble metabolizing BHA and BHT, affecting their health and behavior.
It has also been suggested that BHA and BHT could have antiviral and antimicrobial activities, and apparently there is research in process with regard to the efficacy of BHT for treating AIDS and Herpes simplex. I suspect that these researchers have ties to the manufacturers of the product, and until the research plays out, I would recommend that people use natural rather than synthetic antioxidants for their health. Eat berries and citrus.
As for the reason that Americans get less gastric cancer than the rest of the world, it is because we have electricity and home refrigeration. We eat more fresh meat and less salted/chemically-treated meat than the rest of the world.
An interesting school project on preservatives: http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2001/anderson/preservatives.htm
Thanks for the comment and the impetus to learn more.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
BHA and BHT
Date: 2008-06-24 11:12 pm (UTC)BHA is found in butter, meats, cereals, chewing gum, baked goods, snack foods, dehydrated potatoes, beer, animal feed, food packaging, cosmetics, rubber products & petroleum products.
BHT is in many packaging materials, and in shortening, cereals, and other foods containing fats and oils.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) says BHA may be carcinogenic. The State of California has listed it as a carcinogen. Some studies show the same cancer causing possibilities for BHT.
It has been suggested that BHA and BHT serve as antioxidants in a human, same as in a product, and thus they may combat oxidative stress. Some people have trouble metabolizing BHA and BHT, affecting their health and behavior.
It has also been suggested that BHA and BHT could have antiviral and antimicrobial activities, and apparently there is research in process with regard to the efficacy of BHT for treating AIDS and Herpes simplex. I suspect that these researchers have ties to the manufacturers of the product, and until the research plays out, I would recommend that people use natural rather than synthetic antioxidants for their health. Eat berries and citrus.
As for the reason that Americans get less gastric cancer than the rest of the world, it is because we have electricity and home refrigeration. We eat more fresh meat and less salted/chemically-treated meat than the rest of the world.
An interesting school project on preservatives: http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2001/anderson/preservatives.htm
Thanks for the comment and the impetus to learn more.