Just for information's sake, I thought I'd throw out there what the book "A
Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives" by Ruth Winter, M.S., has to say
about the preservative BHT and studies on it (including FDA info.):
 
(This is just an excerpt, btw; the book has a lot more, but this is the
pertinent part).
 
"Loyola University scientists reported on April 14, 1972 that pregnant mice
fed a diet consisting of one half of one percent of BHT (or BHA, butylated
hydroxyanisole) gave birth to offspring that frequently had chemical
changes in the brain and subsequent abmornal behaviour problems.  BHT and
BHA are chemically similar but BHT may be more toxic to the kidney than
BHA, according to researchers at Michigan State University".
 
Also:
 
"The Select Committee of the Federation of American Societies for
Experimental Biology, which advises the FDA on additives, recommended
further studies to determine 'the effects of BHT at levels now present in
foods under conditions where steroid hormones or oral contraceptives are
being ingested'.  They said that the possibility that BHT may convert other
ingested substances into toxic or cancer-causing agents should be
investigated.  BHT is prohibited as a food additive in England.  The FDA
is pursuing further study of BHT."
 
- Ela
 
   (000)___(000)        Ela Heyn
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[Posted in FML issue 2614]