BHA and BHT intake in Lebanese children and teenagers
What it found
In children and teenagers in Beirut, the acceptable daily intake could be exceeded for sulphites and BHT by a fraction of the group, especially those aged 9 to 13.
BHA intake was not among those flagged.
What they found
Studies in people
Intake above the limit
The acceptable daily intake could be exceeded for sulphites and BHT by a fraction of the population, in particular children aged 9 to 13.
BHA intake
BHA was one of the additives measured, but it was not named among those where the acceptable daily intake could be exceeded.
Main BHA sources
Among all the additive-containing foods, bread and biscuits were the biggest contributors to BHA intake.
Other additive sources
Soft drinks were the biggest contributors to benzoate intake, nuts and canned juices to sulphite intake, and chewing gum to BHT intake.
Other findings
How levels were measured
Additive levels were measured by chemical analysis of 420 food and drink samples, using the official methods of the Lebanese Institute for Agronomic Research, on food as consumed.
What the authors conclude
“The acceptable daily intake (ADI) could be exceeded for sulphites and BHT by a fraction of the population, in particular within children of 9-13 years old.”
Also in their conclusions
- They report that the acceptable daily intake could be exceeded for sulphites and BHT by a fraction of the population, in particular within children of 9-13 years old.
How it was done
The acceptable daily intake is the amount of a substance that can be taken in every day over a lifetime without appreciable health risk. The authors wanted to check actual intake rather than rely on worst case estimates.
They combined food consumption data from students aged 9 to 18 in Beirut with measured levels of the additives in foods. They identified foods sold in Lebanon containing added benzoates, sulphites, BHA and BHT, and analysed 420 samples of foods and beverages.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work estimates intake from food consumption and measured additive levels.
- It does not show what health effects, if any, follow from these intakes.
The paper
- Title
- Dietary exposure of children and teenagers to benzoates, sulphites, butylhydroxyanisol (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluen (BHT) in Beirut (Lebanon)
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Soubra L, Sarkis D, Hilan C, Verger P (2007). Dietary exposure of children and teenagers to benzoates, sulphites, butylhydroxyanisol (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluen (BHT) in Beirut (Lebanon). Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2006.07.005PubMed 16996185DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error