FDA Reviewing Potential Cancer Risk of Food Preservative BHA

The agency will assess whether the chemical additive butylated hydroxyanisole meets current safety standards.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Food and Drug Administration has announced a review of the food preservative butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) to determine if the chemical, which has been linked to cancer in animal studies, is safe for continued use in the food supply. The review is part of a broader effort by the agency and the Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate potentially harmful substances in foods, especially those marketed to children.

Why it matters

BHA has been used as a food preservative for decades, despite concerns raised by the National Toxicology Program that it is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on animal research. This review marks a shift toward a more rigorous, science-based approach to food safety assessments under the new administration.

The details

The FDA previously approved the use of BHA as a food additive in 1961, but its use has declined in recent years. BHA is still found in many processed foods, including frozen meals, cereals, meat products, and snacks. The agency says it is committed to ensuring the safety of chemicals in the food supply through comprehensive evaluations of the latest scientific evidence.

  • The FDA announced the BHA review on February 10, 2026.
  • BHA was first approved for use as a food additive in 1961.

The players

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency responsible for regulating and supervising the safety of food, drugs, and other products in the United States.

Robert Kennedy Jr.

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who is overseeing the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative to remove potentially harmful chemicals from the nation's food supply.

Kyle Diamantas

The deputy commissioner for the FDA's Human Foods Program, who stated the agency's commitment to rigorous, science-based evaluation of food safety.

National Toxicology Program

A division of the National Institutes of Health that has identified BHA as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on animal studies.

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What they’re saying

“BHA has remained in the food supply for decades despite being identified by the National Toxicology Program as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen' based on animal studies.”

— Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (UPI)

“The FDA is committed to ensuring the safety of chemicals in our food supply through rigorous, science-based evaluation.”

— Kyle Diamantas, Deputy Commissioner, FDA Human Foods Program (UPI)

What’s next

The FDA will conduct a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence on the safety of BHA, with the goal of determining whether the chemical preservative meets current standards for continued use in the food supply.

The takeaway

This review of BHA reflects a shift toward a more proactive, evidence-based approach to food safety under the new administration, which aims to remove potentially harmful chemicals from the nation's food supply, especially in products marketed to children.