What does Butylated hydroxyanisole do?

Used in cosmetics as an antioxidant and a fragrance ingredient.

Is Butylated hydroxyanisole safe?

Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Butylated hydroxyanisole

CAS 1336-31-8 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 7 other CAS numbers

8003-24-5 · 8041-81-4 · 9009-68-1 · 37349-77-2 · 56587-66-7 · 57534-28-8 · 25013-16-5

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Butylated hydroxyanisole in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “BHA”.
Also known as BHA · Butylhydroxyanisole · (1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)-4-METHOXYPHENOL · 2(3)-TERT-BUTYL-4-HYDROXYANISOLE · 3-TERTIARY-BUTYL-4-HYDROXYANISOLE · Antioxyne b
Show all 17 names
Embanox · Phenol, (1,1-DIMETHYLETHYL)-4-METHOXY- · Tert-butyl-p-hydroxyanisole · tert-Butyl-4-methoxyphenol · 2(3)-TERT.-BUTYL-4-HYDROXY-ANISOL · E-320 · Ins NO.320 · INS-320 · Phenol, tert-butyl-4-methoxy- · terc-butil-4-metoxifenol · tert-Butyl-4-hydroxyanisole
What it does: Used in cosmetics as an antioxidant and a fragrance ingredient.
Antioxidant
Fragrance
Preservative
Flavouring
Deodorant
Antimicrobial
Is it a concern?: Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 298 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning and safety.

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

No restrictions found. Butylated hydroxyanisole appears in these published regulatory listings.

Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Pharma
Food
Industrial

USFDAinactive ingredient database24 entries — 6 administration routes
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 5 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 2.5 mg/5mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 8 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED; Potency: 0.4 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING; Maximum daily exposure: 2 mgSource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: SUPPOSITORY; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: FILM; Potency: 0.08 mgSource →
- Route: SUBLINGUAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 2 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 5.2 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: GEL; Maximum daily exposure: 7 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LOTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: 0.01 %w/wSource →
- Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 0.03 %w/wSource →
- Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: 0.02 %w/wSource →
- Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: SUPPOSITORY; Potency: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, LIQUID FILLED; Maximum daily exposure: 4 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 4 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Potency: NASource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CONCENTRATE; Potency: 0.08 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: GRANULE, FOR SUSPENSION; Potency: NASource →
EUEFSAEFSA opinion4 entries
- Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) for use in cats (FEDIAF) (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of butylated hydroxyanisole BHA (E 320) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)Source →
- Safety and efficacy of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as a feed additive for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
- Safety of butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)Source →
EUCosIngActiveBHA is a mixture of isomers of tertiary butyl-substituted 4-methoxyphenols. It consists chiefly of 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole with lesser amounts of 2-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. It conforms generally to the formula:
- BHA is a mixture of isomers of tertiary butyl-substituted 4-methoxyphenols. It consists chiefly of 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole with lesser amounts of 2-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. It conforms generally to the formula:Source →
EUEFSAEFSA statementStatement on the safety assessment of the exposure to butylated ydroxyanisole E 320 (BHA) by applying a new exposure assessment methodology (EFSA ANS)
- Statement on the safety assessment of the exposure to butylated ydroxyanisole E 320 (BHA) by applying a new exposure assessment methodology (EFSA ANS)Source →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-0.5 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.5 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-0.5 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 298 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Antioxidant, Deodorizer, Fragrance.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 298 composition records across product categories including Personal care, Laboratory supplies, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Antioxidant, Deodorizer, Fragrance.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as mixture.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as mixture.Source →
USUSDA FoodData Centralobserved in branded food ingredient statementsObserved in 1 USDA branded foods including 1.75L Bloody Mary with Horseradish (MED).
- Observed in 1 USDA branded foods including 1.75L Bloody Mary with Horseradish (MED).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 hydroxyanisole (BHA) for use in cats (FEDIAF) (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2021 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of butylated hydroxyanisole BHA (E 320) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)
  2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Statement on the safety assessment of the exposure to butylated ydroxyanisole E 320 (BHA) by applying a new exposure assessment methodology (EFSA ANS)
  2012 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Safety and efficacy of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as a feed additive for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2018 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Safety of butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
  2019 · 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 0-0.5 mg/kg bw. Functional class: antioxidant.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Butylated hydroxyanisole yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

9 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated mar 30 1989
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
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 →
USDA Branded Foods
product_occurrence · updated 2026-02-19
Open →

Reference links (2)

Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Openfda substance

apps.who.int

Read →

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 hydroxyanisole in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

298

Named organisations

Personal careLaboratory suppliesCleaning and safetyFood and drugRaw materialsConstruction

Typical roles

AntioxidantFragrancePreservativeFlavouringDeodorantAntimicrobial

See products using Butylated hydroxyanisole →

Catalog

Found in these products

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

See all 42 →Find products without it →