BHT : The harmful food additive in our everyday diet

I first learned about BHT , a substituted toluene , which is used in lipstick, facial moisturizer and deodorant. when doing some research on the Cosmetic Database website over a year ago. It is also used in , pharmaceuticals, jet fuels . rubber ,petroleum products, and embalming fluid and  is commonly used in cereal and processed foods.

BHT  has been banned in some countries because it poses a very real health risk. Why the food and drug administration would even approve it's use as a food additive ever is beyond my comprehension. Perhaps they know something that I don't.

BHT stands for Butylated hydroxytoluene is a lipophilic (fat-soluble) organic compound that is primarily used as an antioxidant food additive used to preserve a food's color, odor, and flavor.

If you asked most people about the presence of BHT in their diet they would likely tell you they'd never heard or it, and most likely had never eaten it. However, many of the same people unknowingly consume BHT on a frequent, even daily basis.

Author and doctor Christine Hoza Farlow states in her book "Food Additives - A Shopper's Guide to What's Safe & What's Not" that BHT "can cause liver and kidney damage, behavioural problems, infertility, weakened immune system, birth defects, cancer; should be avoided by infants, young children, pregnant women and those sensitive to aspirin; banned in England." It has also been banned in Romania, Sweden, and Australia. This makes one wonder why, if a substance is questionable enough to be banned in other countries, is it still used in most major cereal companies in America?

It becomes increasingly frustrating when you are aware that there are natural products that could be used in these foods without the long list of potential side effects. Many natural and organic companies produce delicious items without toxic preservatives.

The biggest thing you can do to keep BHT and other harmful chemicals out of your body is begin reading labels. Food manufacturers can put all kinds of nutritional promises on the cover of their products, but the ingredient list is the best way to see the truth.