WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched a comprehensive review of butylated hydroxyanisole, commonly known as BHA, a chemical preservative used in a range of food products, according to a federal announcement released Monday.

The review will assess whether BHA is safe under its current conditions of use in food and as a food-contact substance, based on updated scientific information. As part of the process, the FDA has issued a Request for Information seeking public input on the use and safety of the chemical.

BHA has been used for decades to prevent the spoilage of fats and oils and can be found in products such as frozen meals, breakfast cereals, cookies, candy, ice cream and some meat products. The FDA classified BHA as Generally Recognized as Safe in 1958 and approved it as a food additive in 1961.

According to the agency, BHA was selected as a priority for review under an enhanced post-market assessment program launched in May 2025 to evaluate chemicals already present in the food supply. Federal officials said the program is intended to strengthen oversight of food additives using current scientific standards.

The National Toxicology Program has previously identified BHA as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” based on animal studies, a designation cited in the FDA’s announcement. While packaged food label data indicate that the use of BHA has declined in recent years, federal officials said it remains present in some products, including foods marketed to children.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the reassessment is part of broader efforts to reevaluate food chemicals using modern scientific criteria. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency expects to conduct similar reviews of other food additives after completing the BHA assessment.

The FDA is also considering regulatory changes related to the Generally Recognized as Safe designation, which currently allows manufacturers to determine whether a substance is GRAS without notifying the agency.

The FDA operates under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating food safety, drugs, medical devices and other consumer products.