The Core Event: The FDA announced on February 10, 2026, that it launched a comprehensive reassessment of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a chemical preservative widely used in foods like meat products, cereals, candy, and ice cream, to determine whether it remains safe under current conditions of use.[1][3] As part of this review, the agency issued a Request for Information (RFI) published in the Federal Register on February 11, with public comments due by April 13, 2026.[2]
Key Actors and Statements: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary framed the reassessment as part of the agency's broader effort to systematically review food chemicals, stating "We are taking decisive action to ensure that chemicals in our food supply are not causing harm."[5] Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized that the move marks "the end of the 'trust us' era in food safety," noting that BHA must meet "today's gold-standard science" or face removal from the food supply.[1][5] Health advocacy organizations, meanwhile, criticized the FDA for decades of delay—a petition to ban BHA has been pending for over 30 years.[1]
Why Now: The reassessment stems from the National Toxicology Program's classification of BHA as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on animal studies, a designation that has existed for years but prompted renewed focus.[3][5] In May 2025, the FDA identified BHA as a top priority for review as part of an enhanced systematic process for scrutinizing food chemicals.[3] The RFI seeks information on BHA's current uses, dietary exposure levels, and safety data from industry and the public.[2]
Broader Context: The BHA review is the first in a series of planned assessments; the FDA indicated it will subsequently review butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and azodicarbonamide once the BHA review concludes.[3][5] The agency is also advancing draft rulemaking to reform its GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) framework to increase transparency in food ingredient approval.[4]