beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Butylated hydroxytoluene

CAS 128-37-0 · 70/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 17 other CAS numbers

36631-28-4 · 42615-30-5 · 50356-19-9 · 50641-99-1 · 52683-46-2 · 53571-70-3 · 58500-82-6 · 83047-16-9 · 97123-41-6 · 102962-45-8 · 259752-53-9 · 290348-23-1 · 338986-13-3 · 1394965-02-6 · 1456709-94-6 · 1847425-90-4 · 2055662-96-7

Butylated hydroxytoluene chemical structure

Concern score

70/100High concern informed by published safety evidence.

High confidence

Butylated hydroxytoluene in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “BHT”.
Also known as BHT · Butylhydroxytoluene · 2,6-Di-Tert-Butyl-4-Methylphenol · 2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYL-P-CRESOL · 2,6-DITERTIARY-BUTYL-P-CRESOL · 2,6-ditert-butyl-4-methylphenol
Show all 38 names
4-METHYL-2,6-DITERTIARY-BUTYL-PHENOL · Butylated hydroxytoluene (e 321) · Kerabit · 2,6-Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol · 2,6-Bis(tert-butyl)-4-methylphenol · 2,6-Di(tert-butyl)hydroxytoluene · 2,6-Di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol · 2,6-bis(1,1-Dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol · Antioxidant 4K · Antioxidant KB · Dbpc · Dalpac · Deenax · E-321 · Ins NO.321 · INS-321 · Impruvol · Ionol · Ionol CP · Ionole · Phenol, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl- · Polyoxyethylated Stearyl Alcohol · Stavox · Sumilizer BHT · Topanol · Topanol O · Topanol OC · Vanlube PC · Vianol · p-Cresol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl- · substituted hydroxy toluene · butylhydroxytoluenum
What it does: Used in cosmetics as an antioxidant and a fragrance ingredient. BHT is a substituted toluene.
Antioxidant
Fragrance
Preservative
Flavouring
Stabiliser
Deodorant
Is it a concern?: High concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is restricted in EU cosmetics.

Why it's flagged

Antioxidant

2,6-Di-Tert-Butyl-4-Methylphenol is restricted in cosmetic products under Annex III of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

RestrictedEU EC — restricted

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

Restrictions first, then routine listings from published regulatory sources.

Jurisdiction-dependent scrutiny
In marketed US drugs
EU Annex III — restricted
EU restricted in cosmetics
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Pharma
Food
Industrial

EUEC
Annex III of EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009: substances which cosmetic products must not contain except subject to the restrictions laid down. Product types: a) Mouthwash b) Toothpaste c) Other leave-on and rinse-off products Maximum concentration: a) 0,001 % b) 0,1 % c) 0,8 % Other conditions: From 1 July 2023 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the restrictions shall not be placed on the Union market. From 1 January 2024 cosmetic products containing that substance and not complying with the restrictions shall not be made available on the Union market.
restricted
View source →

USFDAinactive ingredient database33 entries — 8 administration routes
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: FILM, SOLUBLE; Potency: 0.06 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 14 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Potency: 0.1 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 3 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FOR SUSPENSION; Potency: 0.1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: SUPPOSITORY; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 0.13 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Maximum daily exposure: 4 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM, AUGMENTED; Potency: 0.2 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: GEL; Maximum daily exposure: 8 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: GEL, METERED; Maximum daily exposure: 4 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Maximum daily exposure: 57 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SHAMPOO; Potency: 0.1 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SOAP; Potency: 0.02 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 3 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SPRAY; Maximum daily exposure: 3 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 0.02 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: SWAB; Potency: 0.5 %w/wSource →
- Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 0.05 %w/wSource →
- Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: SUPPOSITORY; Potency: NASource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LOTION; Maximum daily exposure: 1000 mgSource →
- Route: BUCCAL; Dosage form: GUM, CHEWING; Maximum daily exposure: 5 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, LYOPHILIZED, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 0.02 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: SPRAY, METERED; Potency: 0.1 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 0.03 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, LIQUID FILLED; Potency: 0.1 mgSource →
EUEFSAEFSA opinion4 entries
- Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) for all animal species (Lanxess Deutschland GmbH) (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) for all animal species (Katyon Technologies Limited) (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety of 'Methyl Vinyl Ether-Maleic Anhydride Copolymer' (chewing gum base ingredient) as a Novel Food ingredient (EFSA NDA)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of butylated hydroxytoluene BHT (E 321) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)Source →
EUCosIngActive2 entries
- Cosmetics Regulation annex III / ref 325.Source →
- BHT is a substituted toluene that conforms to the formula: Restriction: III / 325Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-0.3 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.3 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.3 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 7055 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Home maintenance, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Stabilizing agent, Fragrance, Preservative.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 7055 composition records across product categories including Cleaning products and household care, Home maintenance, Specialty occupational products. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Stabilizing agent, Fragrance, Preservative.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1 active drug products and 7 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 1 active drug products and 7 total products.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
- Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) for all animal species (Lanxess Deutschland GmbH) (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2022 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) for all animal species (Katyon Technologies Limited) (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2022 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the safety of 'Methyl Vinyl Ether-Maleic Anhydride Copolymer' (chewing gum base ingredient) as a Novel Food ingredient (EFSA NDA)
  2013 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of butylated hydroxytoluene BHT (E 321) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)
  2012 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- JECFA evaluation record.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.3 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

The graded studies and structured signals behind this record.

13 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EU CosIng Cosmetics Regulation Annexes
regulatory · updated 2022-11-11
Open →
ECHA CHEM
regulatory · updated 2026-02-18
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated september 28, 2015
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2028-03-09
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Open →
PubMed
literature · updated 2026-03-12
Open →

Reference links (2)

Openfda substance

apps.who.int

Read →

Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Evidence snapshot

SafetyNo scored signal
1 docs / 1 studies
88%

PubMed · 2023

BHT - Butylated Hydroxytoluene.

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed updated information that has become available since their original assessment from 2002, along with updated information regarding product types, and frequency and concentrations of…

Read →

Extracted claims

Structured claim signals pulled from linked ingredient research.

tolerabilitySafety
The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed updated information that has become available since their original assessment from 2002, along with updated information regarding product types, and frequency and concentrations of use, and reaffirmed their original conclusion that BHT is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the practices of use and concentration as described in this report.
86%
Narrative review

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Butylated hydroxytoluene in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

7,055

Named organisations

Cleaning products and household careHome maintenanceSpecialty occupational productsFood and drugElectronics/small appliancesPersonal care

Typical roles

AntioxidantFragrancePreservativeFlavouringStabiliserDeodorant

See products using Butylated hydroxytoluene →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Butylated hydroxytoluene; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 1000+ →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Butylated hydroxytoluene in the catalog.