INS 320 is the code for butylated hydroxyanisole
Keeps fats and oils from going rancid. Found in fried snacks, instant noodles, biscuits and chewing gum.
- What it does
- Stops fat going rancid An antioxidant
- Also printed as
- BHA
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian Made chemically
- In the Zabel score
- 10 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 50 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 320 vegetarian?
INS 320 is made chemically, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
| Food category | Share | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast cereals | 62% | |
| Biscuits and cookies | 13% | |
| Nuts and dried fruit | 11% | |
| Edible oils | 6% | |
| Noodles and pasta | 2% | |
| Everything else | 6% |
Counted from the 50 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 320, 47 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 320?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
IARC classifies BHA as Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans, on evidence of forestomach tumours in rodents - an organ humans do not have, which is why JECFA still sets an ADI of 0.5 mg/kg body weight. It is restricted in Japan and the subject of longstanding debate elsewhere. Where a product uses tocopherols (INS 307) instead, that is the less contested choice.
Does Zabel mark INS 320 down?
Yes, by 10 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 320?
INS 320 is the code for butylated hydroxyanisole, an antioxidant. Keeps fats and oils from going rancid. Found in fried snacks, instant noodles, biscuits and chewing gum.
Is INS 320 vegetarian?
INS 320 is made chemically, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
What does the evidence say about INS 320?
IARC classifies BHA as Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans, on evidence of forestomach tumours in rodents - an organ humans do not have, which is why JECFA still sets an ADI of 0.5 mg/kg body weight. It is restricted in Japan and the subject of longstanding debate elsewhere. Where a product uses tocopherols (INS 307) instead, that is the less contested choice.
Does Zabel mark INS 320 down?
Yes, by 10 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 320 printed under?
Packs also print it as BHA, or as the bare number 320 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 IARC Monographs Volume 40: Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) IARC / WHO, 1986
- 02 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 03 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
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