E321 / Antioxidants & acidity regulators
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Safety in brief
Safe
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene, E321) is used as an antioxidant to slow spoilage of fats and oils in food. FDA has started a post-market reassessment. See the dated primary sources above for that process and specified US food-use conditions; neither is a new EatMatrix clinical safety rating.
Also appears on labels as: Butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, tert-butylhydroxytoluene, E321, E 321, E-321, Antioxidant BHT, Food antioxidant BHT, BHT preservative, Butilintas hidroksitoluenas, Butilhidroksitoluols.
What is E321 BHT doing in food, and what is FDA reviewing?
BHT means butylated hydroxytoluene, identified here as E321. It is used as an antioxidant to slow spoilage of fats and oils. That describes its function in food; it does not mean that eating BHT provides an antioxidant health benefit.
FDA announced a post-market reassessment of BHT on May 12, 2026. Its July 29 update extended the request-for-information comment deadline to August 31, 2026, which has now passed. The FDA review list checked on October 7 still includes BHT. A reassessment or request for data is not itself a ban, a completed safety verdict, or proof of harm.
US 21 CFR 172.115 specifies certain food uses and limits for BHT. For example, its dry breakfast cereal limit is 50 parts per million for total BHA and BHT, not 50 parts per million for each separately. The eCFR text checked was current through October 5, 2026. This is a food-formulation condition, not an acceptable daily intake or an amount a person should consume. Other food categories, jurisdictions and product compliance need separate checks. BHA and BHT are different ingredient names.
- FDA ingredient record: BHT identity and antioxidant function
- FDA launched the BHT reassessment, May 12, 2026
- FDA July 29 update: comment deadline extended to August 31, 2026
- FDA current list of food chemicals under review
- US BHT food-use conditions: 21 CFR 172.115
See how EatMatrix reads an ingredient list before trying the app. Compare a scan with the physical label.
Identity and food-use sources checked . The E number alone does not tell you the amount in a product. Wider scientific and market checks are described below.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Selected research on E321
How to read study types- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of BHT
Raised the safe daily limit to 0.25 mg per kg of body weight. Adults are unlikely to exceed it; high-eating children in some countries could.
Summaries of each source's published abstract or statement, checked . This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- High-dose animal studies have shown liver enzyme changes; relevance to typical human dietary intake is considered low by regulators.
- The imported joint EFSA/FDA daily-intake and exposure claim is withheld pending source review. The US food-formulation limits described above are different from an acceptable daily intake. A food label alone does not quantify personal exposure, and FDA’s BHT reassessment is not a completed safety verdict.
- Some studies suggest possible endocrine-disrupting effects at high doses, though evidence in humans is limited.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of butylated hydroxytoluene BHT (E 321) as a food additive — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2012). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E321
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E321: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E321 (Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Selected US conditions for Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsThe limit is based on fat or oil The cited provision describes a maximum total antioxidant content of 0.02% of the food’s fat or oil, including volatile oils, under good manufacturing practice. This is not 0.02% of the whole food and not a separate 0.02% allowance for every antioxidant in a mixture. Other food-specific provisions and specifications still matter. EatMatrix’s reading: a legal use condition answers where and how an ingredient may be used. It is not a test of your product, a personal safe intake or a claim that the ingredient benefits your body. Match the named substance, food and amount. Other federal provisions, food standards, state rules and later changes may also apply; this is a selected source review, not a complete product-compliance decision. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 11 listed food-use conditionsButylated HydroxytolueneHealth Canada: List of Permitted Preservatives. List published ; item B.3.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected research
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E321. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 1 research link; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
| Health Canada | Safe |
Official assessment sources for E321
The European Commission’s re-evaluation table lists official EFSA documents for this additive. Their identifiers and subjects were checked against publisher bibliographic records. A missing research link in the EatMatrix database does not mean the additive has never been assessed.
Name in the Commission table: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of butylated hydroxytoluene BHT (E 321) as a food additive
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: .
These are assessment references, including historical or group assessments. They do not establish the latest scientific conclusion, a human health benefit or risk, or current permission to use the additive in a particular food. Later assessments, corrections and food-use conditions need separate review. The recorded EatMatrix rating above is unchanged.
European Commission re-evaluation table, status as of . EatMatrix checked this bibliography on .
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E321?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E321 (Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)) is “Safe”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E321 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E321 and why is it used?
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene, E321) is used as an antioxidant to slow spoilage of fats and oils in food. FDA has started a post-market reassessment. See the dated primary sources above for that process and specified US food-use conditions; neither is a new EatMatrix clinical safety rating.
Does E321 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
Does FDA reassessing BHT mean E321 is banned?
No. FDA announced a BHT post-market reassessment on May 12, 2026, and its review list still includes BHT when checked on October 7. That process is not itself a ban or a completed safety verdict. US 21 CFR 172.115 specifies certain permitted food uses and their conditions; a particular product and other countries require separate checks.
Does the US 50 ppm BHT cereal limit tell me how much to eat daily?
No. In 21 CFR 172.115, the dry breakfast cereal limit is 50 parts per million for total BHA and BHT combined. It concerns formulation of that food category, not a personal daily intake. The E321 code on a label does not reveal how much BHT the product contains.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.