Comparing E300 - Ascorbic acid vs E320 - Butylated hydroxyanisole (bha)
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 3,523 products
Found in 3,273 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 4 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
Is ascorbic acid bad for you?
No—ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is considered safe at typical food levels and is essential for health; it’s GRAS in the U.S. and approved in the EU. Very high supplemental doses can cause gastrointestinal upset and, in susceptible people, increase kidney stone risk.
Can dogs have ascorbic acid?
Yes, small amounts in foods are safe, but dogs synthesize their own vitamin C and usually don’t need supplements. High doses may cause diarrhea, so consult a veterinarian before supplementing.
What is ascorbic acid made from?
Commercial ascorbic acid is typically made from glucose (often derived from corn, wheat, or cassava) that’s converted via microbial fermentation and chemical steps into L‑ascorbic acid.
How is ascorbic acid made?
Industrially, D‑glucose is converted to 2‑keto‑L‑gulonic acid by fermentation (or via the older Reichstein process: glucose → sorbitol → L‑sorbose → 2‑KGA) and then chemically cyclized to ascorbic acid. Modern methods use two-step fermentation to improve efficiency.
Is ascorbic acid the same as citric acid?
No—ascorbic acid (E300) is vitamin C and an antioxidant, while citric acid (E330) is a different compound mainly used as an acidulant and does not provide vitamin C.
What is bha in food?
BHA (E320), butylated hydroxyanisole, is a synthetic antioxidant preservative used to slow oxidation and rancidity in fats and oils in foods and packaging.
What is aha and bha?
In skincare, AHA and BHA are alpha and beta hydroxy acids used as exfoliants; this is different from the food additive BHA (E320), which is butylated hydroxyanisole used as an antioxidant in foods.
Is salicylic acid a bha?
Yes—salicylic acid is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) used in skincare and is not the same as the food additive BHA (E320, butylated hydroxyanisole).
What is bha and bht?
BHA (E320, butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (E321, butylated hydroxytoluene) are synthetic antioxidants added to foods and packaging to prevent oxidation and extend shelf life.
What is bha in skin care?
In skincare, BHA typically means salicylic acid, an oil‑soluble exfoliant for unclogging pores; this is different from food-additive BHA (E320), which is an antioxidant preservative.