Toxic Timeout: Why The Pros Say To Avoid Preservatives BHA + BHT

We know to steer clear of suspiciously immortal pre-packaged snacks, but toxic additives live in less obvious places too. Potentially harmful chemical preservatives, BHA and BHT, are ingredients found in some seemingly benign foods - like cereal and chips - as well as many common cosmetics. Creepy? We think so.

As with most of our Toxic Timeouts, the concern here is less about the danger of one bag of chips or a single shower with a questionable shampoo and more about what happens after a lifetime of minor, but pervasive chemical exposure. Amy Ziff, founder of MADE SAFE is helping us look out for our future selves by sharing the facts on BHA and BHT...

What is it?  Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are closely related chemicals - preservatives commonly used in cosmetics, personal care products (mainly shampoos, deodorants, body lotions), and even food and food packaging. BHT is a toluene-based ingredient; toluene is part of the so-called “toxic trio” commonly found in nail polish and is linked to reproductive harm.

What’s the concern? These two chemicals are linked to a wide range of serious health problems, organ-system toxicity, skin irritation and more. BHA has been linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity. The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has listed BHA as a Category 1 endocrine disruptor, meaning there’s comprehensive evidence of endocrine disrupting effects. It’s also been identified on California’s Proposition 65 list as a possible carcinogen and in the National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” While some say that in small doses either of these two chemicals won’t cause harm, they’re found in so many products from food to personal care that it’s hard to know if your exposure is on the low or the high side. Additionally, most endocrine disrupting chemicals are active at incredibly low doses. We suggest that you err on the side of caution and skip BHT and BHA where you can.

How do we avoid it? Luckily, BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) appear on labels, so you can read ingredient lists on cosmetics, personal care and food items to avoid them. You can also look for the MADE SAFE seal on products, as neither BHA nor BHT are permitted in any of our certified products. A few brands we trust and recommend often include Annmarie Skin Care, Rejuva Minerals, S.W. Basics and True Botanicals for BHT- and BHA-free formulations.

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