Do food containing preservatives really stay fresh longer than food without them?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Yes. US National Institutes of Health report that BHA is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals. In particular, when administered as part of their diet, BHA causes papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the forestomach in rats and Syrian golden hamsters. That said, when examining human population statistics, the usual low intake levels of BHA shows no significant association with an increased risk of cancer. The State of California, has, however, listed it as a carcinogen. Furthermore, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of BHA and a similar preservative, butylated hydroxytoluene BHT, is exceeded by only a small fraction of the population.

http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/elevent…
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Yes, they do. BHA is an antioxidant, and is actually good for you. BHT is a poison.