The Lab
Specimen No. 0193
AvoidSyntheticfood banned near banned processing agents

Benzoyl Peroxide

flour bleaching

Master DB rating: Avoid. Listed for: Bleached flour, bread products

medium confidence
Researched July 7, 2026

Concerns

  • Used as a flour bleaching agent that oxidizes carotenoid pigments to whiten flour, breaking down mainly to benzoic acid (Saiz et al. 2001)
  • In mice given oral doses well above typical dietary exposure (50-200 mg/kg/day for 42 days), it decreased liver antioxidant enzyme (SOD) activity and increased lipid peroxidation markers (Jia et al. 2011); not listed on labels as it is a processing aid

Regulatory flags

  • IARC Class: NL
  • EDC Status: None
  • Regulatory: US: permitted processing aid; EU: banned
  • Evidence Grade: B

Commonly found in

Bleached flour, bread products

Research disclaimer: This rating is based on available peer-reviewed research and regulatory assessments at the time of publication. It is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for personal health or skin concerns.

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