INS 321 is the code for butylated hydroxytoluene
Does the same job as BHA - stops fat going rancid - and often appears beside it in fried snacks and cereals.
- What it does
- Stops fat going rancid An antioxidant
- Also printed as
- BHT
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian Made chemically
- In the Zabel score
- 10 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 11 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 321 vegetarian?
INS 321 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.
Too few packs in our catalogue list INS 321 for a breakdown by food to mean anything yet. We print one once at least 20 categorised packs carry it.
What does the evidence say about INS 321?
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.
JECFA sets an ADI of 0.3 mg/kg body weight. Animal studies at high doses show liver and thyroid effects. It is not IARC-classified. As with BHA, tocopherols are the less contested alternative and their presence instead is worth noticing.
Does Zabel mark INS 321 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 321?
INS 321 is the code for butylated hydroxytoluene, an antioxidant. Does the same job as BHA - stops fat going rancid - and often appears beside it in fried snacks and cereals.
Is INS 321 vegetarian?
INS 321 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 321?
JECFA sets an ADI of 0.3 mg/kg body weight. Animal studies at high doses show liver and thyroid effects. It is not IARC-classified. As with BHA, tocopherols are the less contested alternative and their presence instead is worth noticing.
Does Zabel mark INS 321 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 321 printed under?
Packs also print it as BHT, or as the bare number 321 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 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
Point the camera at the pack.
Zabel reads every INS code on it, shows the score, and shows the working.