Tertiary Butylhydroquinone

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a synthetic phenolic antioxidant used in food to prevent fats and oils from oxidative deterioration and rancidity. It is commonly added to edible oils, fats, and fat-containing processed foods such as snacks, frozen foods, and fast food to extend shelf life.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

TBHQ has an ADI of 0.7 mg/kg body weight per day established by JECFA (1998) and confirmed by EFSA (2004), which concluded it is not carcinogenic at permitted levels. However, peer-reviewed research documents cytotoxic, genotoxic, and potential carcinogenic effects at excessive doses, including depletion of cellular glutathione and reactive species generation. Children and infants may approach or exceed the ADI under worst-case regulatory maximum exposure scenarios.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union)	Approved	Authorised under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 for use in fats and oils for human consumption. ADI of 0.7 mg/kg bw/day confirmed by EFSA in 2004 and refined exposure assessment in 2016 found ADI not exceeded in any population group under realistic scenarios.source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom)	Approved	Permitted under GB assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (Annex III) following Brexit; conditions of use align with former EU authorisation.source
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Approved	Regulated as a direct food additive (antioxidant) under 21 CFR 172.185; maximum permitted level is 0.02% of the fat or oil content of food products. Not classified GRAS; formally approved as a food additive. North American ADI mirrors JECFA value of 0–0.7 mg/kg bw.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Children — EFSA's 2016 exposure data showed 95th-percentile TBHQ intake in children aged 3–9 years can reach 0.929 mg/kg bw/day under regulatory maximum level scenarios, potentially exceeding the 0.7 mg/kg bw ADI.

Infants — EFSA's 2016 refined exposure assessment found 95th-percentile intake in infants (4–11 months) can reach 0.555 mg/kg bw/day, placing them relatively close to the ADI boundary given low body weight.

Liver Disease — Research documents TBHQ-induced glutathione (GSH) depletion and reactive metabolite formation, which may pose additional hepatic burden in individuals with compromised liver function.

Kidney Disease — European Parliament questions and associated scientific literature flag potential adverse kidney effects from regular TBHQ exposure, warranting caution in those with pre-existing renal impairment.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1PubMed. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of tert-butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole and propyl gallate as synthetic food antioxidants. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2PubMed. Diverse cellular actions of tert-butylhydroquinone, a food additive, on rat thymocytes, 2017. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3EFSA. Statement on the refined exposure assessment of tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (E 319), 2016. efsa.europa.eu
4PubMed. Chemoprotective and carcinogenic effects of tert-butylhydroquinone and its metabolites, 2007. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5EFSA. Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food on a request from the Commission related to tertiary-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), 2004. efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Independently researched5 citations