Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Function: Antioxidant
E321 is the European food-additive number for Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) (E321) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
What is E321 used for?
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) (E321) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition.
Is E321 safe or restricted?
E321 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as “Under monitoring” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned.
Frequently asked questions about E321
- What is E321?
- E321 is the E-number for Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) (E321) is an antioxidant used as a food additive.
- What is E321 used for?
- Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) (E321) is an antioxidant — used to stop fats and oils going rancid and to protect colour. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Is E321 vegan or vegetarian?
- It depends on the source. Many additives can be produced from plant, mineral, or animal-derived raw materials, and the ingredient list rarely states which was used. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product where it's known, instead of a blanket guess.
- Is E321 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E321 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as "Under monitoring" and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E321 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it.