Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are antioxidants, which keep oil from going off. Oxygen reacts preferentially with these antioxidants rather than oxidising fats or oils, thereby preventing the oil from becoming stale. In addition to being oxidisable, BHA and BHT are also fat-soluble.
In addition to preserving foods, antioxidants like BHA and BHT are also used to preserve fats and oils in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. BHA is generally used to keep fats from becoming rancid and is also used as a yeast de-foaming agent. It is found in butter, meats, cereals, chewing gum, baked goods, snack foods, dehydrated potatoes and beer. It is also found in animal feed, food packaging, cosmetics, rubber products and petroleum products.
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