Stakeholders split in feedback to FDA on BHA’s safety and use in foods

By Jared Rothstein

The FDA has begun reassessing butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a widely used antioxidant and preservative, following a recent request for information that drew sharply divided feedback from stakeholders. Consumer advocacy groups and industry organizations offered conflicting views on the substance’s safety, exposure risks and continued role in food and packaging.

The comments highlight broader tensions in how the FDA evaluates legacy food chemicals, including debates over carcinogenicity evidence, the relevance of animal studies, and the availability of viable alternatives for certain applications.

This AgencyIQ analysis examines how stakeholder feedback could shape the FDA’s reassessment of BHA and what it signals for the agency’s evolving approach to postmarket chemical review.

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