BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)
BHA (هيدروكسي أنيسول مبيوتل)
Synthetic antioxidant preservative · CAS: 25013-16-5
Permitted, but contested - natural options exist
Why this verdict
Permitted antioxidant in pet feed (FDA/AAFCO). IARC Group 2B / NTP "reasonably anticipated" carcinogen - based on high-dose (>3000 ppm) rodent FORESTOMACH tumours; BHA is NOT DNA-reactive (epigenetic promotion), and IARC holds the forestomach mechanism not relevant to species lacking a forestomach (dogs/cats have none). No proven harm to pets at use levels. Caution (not avoid): contested, under FDA reassessment 2026, natural alternatives exist.
What It Is
A synthetic antioxidant that stops fats going rancid.
BHA keeps the fat in kibble from spoiling, and regulators still permit it. The asterisk: at very high doses it caused forestomach tumours in rodents, so IARC lists it as a possible carcinogen - but dogs and cats have no forestomach, it doesn’t damage DNA, and that mechanism is considered not relevant to species without that organ. No proven harm to pets at the levels used. Still, the US FDA reopened its review in 2026, and many premium foods now preserve with vitamin E (tocopherols) or rosemary instead. If you’d rather skip it, those are the labels to look for.
Evidence & Status
For Dogs & Cats
Dogs
So-so
Cats
So-so
AAFCO / FDA status
Permitted antioxidant in animal feed (FDA/AAFCO); IARC Group 2B; under FDA reassessment (2026).
Applies to
both
Halal Status: Halal
Synthetic; permissible.
Standard: MS 1500:2019; GSO 2055-1; JAKIM e-SMAF
Also Known As
BHA · E320 · tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole
Primary Source
Evidence, not medical advice. You decide.
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