Ingredient · E320, E319

BHA & TBHQ

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Source
Not animal-derived
Allergen
No
Role in food
These ingredients are added to foods to keep fats and oils from going bad, …

What it is

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) and TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) are man-made chemical compounds. They are a type of preservative called antioxidants, which help prevent food from spoiling.

Why it's used

These ingredients are added to foods to keep fats and oils from going bad, a process called rancidity, which can make food taste and smell unpleasant. You can find them in products like snack foods, cereals, fats, oils, and some processed foods to extend their shelf life.

Health notes

Both BHA and TBHQ are approved by the FDA as direct food additives. JECFA has evaluated both BHA and TBHQ and has set acceptable daily intakes for each. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies BHA as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on some animal studies, though its relevance to human health at typical intake levels is a topic of ongoing discussion. For TBHQ, some studies in animals have raised questions about potential effects at very high doses, but these findings are not consistently shown to be relevant to human consumption.

Allergen info

Neither BHA nor TBHQ is derived from any of the nine major food allergens.

Products containing BHA & TBHQ

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Instant Noodle Soup, Tomato Tradition Foods Instant Noodle Soup, Tomato Other Soups High in sodium — 39% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving 446kcal 9.2Protein 21.5Fat 55.4Carbs Tradition Foods Instant Noodle Soup, Imitation Chicken Other Soups High in sodium — 32% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving 446kcal 9.2Protein 21.5Fat 56.9Carbs Moran Foods, LLC Orange Drink, Orange Other Drinks 36kcal 0Protein 0Fat 9.4Carbs Instant Noodle Soup, Vegetable Tradition Foods Instant Noodle Soup, Vegetable Other Soups High in sodium — 48% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving 446kcal 9.2Protein 20Fat 55.4Carbs Instant Noodle Soup, Chicken Tradition Foods Instant Noodle Soup, Chicken Other Soups High in sodium — 42% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving 446kcal 9.2Protein 21.5Fat 55.4Carbs Instant Noodle Soup, Beef Tradition Foods Instant Noodle Soup, Beef Other Soups High in sodium — 54% DV per serving High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving 446kcal 9.2Protein 20Fat 55.4Carbs
Potassium Carbonate (5 products) Garlic (5 products) Reduced Iron (5 products) Thiamine Mononitrate (5 products) Riboflavin (5 products) Folic Acid (5 products) Anti-oxidant Agent (5 products) Anti-caking Agent (5 products) Guar Gum (5 products) Sodium Carbonate (5 products)

Last updated: September 28, 2026

Note: This site presents label data from USDA FoodData Central for general information. It is not medical advice. Check the package label; formulations change.