Butylated hydroxytoluene
E321
E321, BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene, hidroxitolueno butilado, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol
What it is
BHT (E321) is a synthetic antioxidant added to foods containing fats and oils to slow oxidation and stop them from going rancid.
Why BOTIA flags it
BHT prevents fats from going rancid, like BHA, but it is a different compound and behaves differently. At high doses in animals it affected the liver and thyroid, and in some laboratory tests it can weakly mimic or block estrogen signals — a finding worth watching, not proof that eating BHT disrupts hormones in people. IARC classifies BHT in Group 3 because the evidence was not enough to classify its carcinogenicity; that does not mean it was shown to be harmless. JECFA set an acceptable daily intake of 0–0.3 mg/kg body weight per day.
BOTIA CAN
- Detect E321, BHT and its declared chemical names in the ingredient list.
- Show the animal and laboratory findings, IARC's Group 3 classification and JECFA's acceptable daily intake of 0–0.3 mg/kg body weight per day.
BOTIA CANNOT
- Determine how much BHT is present in a particular product when the amount is not declared.
- Treat laboratory hormonal activity or animal findings as proof that BHT causes the same effects in a person eating a particular food.