Photo by wsilver
If you asked most people about the presence of BHT in their diet they would likely tell you they’d never heard or it, and most likely had never eaten it. However, many of the same people unknowingly consume BHT on a frequent, even daily basis.
BHT stands for butylated hydroxytoluene (similar to BHA, or butylated hydroxanisole), which is an additive used to preserve a food’s color, odor, and flavor. It is commonly used in cereal and processed foods. The same chemical is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical drugs, rubber & petroleum products, jet fuels, and embalming fluids.
Concerns with BHT come from lab tests showing that it can cause cancer in animals, thus leading to the assumption that it may have the same affect in people. In addition to this there are people who believe that consumption of BHT can cause metabolism problems leading to behavior changes. Dr. Benjamin Feingold, a diet specialist in the 1970’s stated from his studies that BHT could produce hyperactivity in children.
Author and doctor Christine Hoza Farlow states in her book “Food Additives – A Shopper’s Guide to What’s Safe & What’s Not” that BHT “can cause liver and kidney damage, behavioral problems, infertility, weakened immune system, birth defects, cancer; should be avoided by infants, young children, pregnant women and those sensitive to aspirin; banned in England.” It has also been banned in Romania, Sweden, and Australia. This makes one wonder why, if a substance is questionable enough to be banned in other countries, is it still used in most major cereal companies in America?
It becomes increasingly frustrating when you are aware that there are natural products that could be used in these foods without the long list of potential side effects. Many natural and organic companies produce delicious items without toxic preservatives.
The biggest thing you can do to keep BHT and other harmful chemicals out of your body is begin reading labels. Food manufacturers can put all kinds of nutritional promises on the cover of their products, but the ingredient list is the best way to see the truth.
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Comments
BHT stands for Butylated Hydroxytoluene. It is an anti-oxidant that prevents oils from going rancid. What authority do you have to be writing this nonsense?
Thank you for the correction (butylated hydroxyanisole is abbreviated as BHA, a similar chemical.)
BHT is an antioxidant, but that certainly doesn't make it safe. Vitamin E, or mixed tocopherols, is a natural substance that works as a preservative in food the same way BHT does without the potential side effects. You seem to be upset that someone would question the safety of this chemical preservative, I'm curious as to the reason for you to be so alarmed. Many European countries have found BHT questionable enough to ban it from their food supply. If they found reason enough to be concerned, I'd hardly consider it's potential danger as "nonsense."
Just saw BHT listed as an ingredient in my son's Coco Puffs. Time to return it to Target. Thanks for writing the article.
I won't risk my family's health eating this crap.
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