A critical review of the safety of phenolic antioxidants in foods

Phenolic antioxidants are of two kinds, on the one hand the hindered which resemble the tocopherols, e.g. BHA, BHT and the Ionox series and on the other the polyhydroxy, e.g. the gallate esters and NDGA. Examination of the literature on the metabolism and toxicity of BHA, BHT, certain of the Ionoc compounds and also the gallate esters suggests that they are safe at the present legally permitted dose levels. The evidence regarding NDGA is scanty, but suggests a dangerous toxicity. Evidence about the life prolonging effect of certain antioxidants suggests that they may have a vitamin E sparing activity and therefore a certain nutritional value. The potential use of antioxidants in preventing irradiation damage is also discussed.