TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) vs Calcium Propionate — Which Is Worse?

FactorTBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone)Calcium Propionate
E-NumberE319E282
CategoryPreservativePreservative
SeverityModerate Risk (6/10)Moderate Risk (6/10)
FDA StatusFDA-approved at levels not exceeding 0.02% of the fat or oil content (21 CFR 172.185). FDA classifies it as a food addit…FDA classifies calcium propionate as GRAS (21 CFR 184.1221). No ADI established in the US; considered safe at current us…
EFSA StatusEFSA set an ADI of 0.7 mg/kg body weight/day in 2004. Approved in the EU with restricted maximum levels.EFSA approved with no numerical ADI. Re-evaluated in 2014 as part of the propionic acid group (E 280-283). EFSA noted no…
Banned In——
Products Found412

Key Differences

Health Concerns Comparison

TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone)

Calcium Propionate

Which Products Use Each?

4
products contain TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone)
12
products contain Calcium Propionate

⚖️ The Verdict

Both TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) and Calcium Propionate have the same severity score (6/10). Neither is clearly worse than the other based on current data.

Both ingredients should be consumed mindfully. Use CheckIt AI to scan products and avoid whichever ones concern you most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) or Calcium Propionate worse?
Both TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) and Calcium Propionate have the same severity score (6/10). Neither is clearly worse based on available data.
What is the difference between TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) and Calcium Propionate?
Both are preservatives. TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) has a severity of 6/10 and is found in 4 products. Calcium Propionate has a severity of 6/10 and is found in 12 products.
Are TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) and Calcium Propionate banned?
TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) is not currently banned in any major market. Calcium Propionate is not currently banned in any major market.
How can I avoid both TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) and Calcium Propionate?
Download CheckIt AI and scan any product's barcode or ingredient label. The app will flag both TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) and Calcium Propionate and suggest safer alternatives.
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TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) Deep Dive Calcium Propionate Deep Dive All 180 Comparisons All Ingredients Ingredients Banned in Europe Scoring Methodology

⚕️ This comparison is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized dietary guidance.

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) vs Calcium Propionate — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/ingredients/tbhq-vs-calcium-propionate
MLA"TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) vs Calcium Propionate — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/ingredients/tbhq-vs-calcium-propionate.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/ingredients/tbhq-vs-calcium-propionate">TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) vs Calcium Propionate — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026ingredientstbhqvscalciumpropionate, title = {TBHQ (Tertiary Butylhydroquinone) vs Calcium Propionate — Which Is Worse? | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/ingredients/tbhq-vs-calcium-propionate}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }