Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl Peroxide

Common names: BPO, PanOxyl (brand name), Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne (brand name), E928 (European food additive code).
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KIDSADVISORY SAFETY RATING
See methodology
Risky
Published by Jordana Tobelem, RD, LDN — Last Updated on Apr 26, 2025
Medically reviewed by Dr. William Lin, MD
​Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is a synthetic antioxidant widely used in the food industry to prevent oxidative rancidity in fats and oils, thereby extending shelf life and preserving flavor. It is commonly added to products such as vegetable oils, margarine, and processed snacks.[1] TBHQ is also utilized in non-food applications, including cosmetics and industrial products, due to its stabilizing properties.[2] While regulatory agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have deemed TBHQ safe for consumption at concentrations up to 0.02% of the oil or fat content in foods, some studies suggest potential health concerns associated with high doses or prolonged exposure. These concerns include cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and immunotoxic effects observed in animal studies. However, these effects are typically associated with doses much higher than those permitted in food products. Overall, TBHQ is considered safe for use within the established regulatory limits.[3]

Safety Overview

Regulatory Bodies

FDA (US)
Benzoyl peroxide is approved by the FDA for over-the-counter (OTC) topical acne treatments. However, recent FDA testing revealed elevated benzene levels—a known carcinogen—in certain benzoyl peroxide-containing acne products, leading to voluntary recalls.[2][4]
Health Canada
Health Canada’s safety review concluded that there is evidence supporting a link between the use of over-the-counter topical acne products containing benzoyl peroxide and serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic reactions. Consequently, Health Canada updated the directions of use and warning sections of the Health Canada Acne Therapy Monograph for these products.[5]
EFSA (Europe)
None
WHO (World Health Organization)
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has assessed benzoyl peroxide and established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0–40 mg/kg body weight. This evaluation indicates that benzoyl peroxide is considered safe for use in food processing within the specified ADI.[6]

FDA GRAS

U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)
Current Status
Not Classified
Benzoyl peroxide is not classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Instead, it is regulated as a food additive and permitted for specific uses—such as a flour bleaching agent—under defined conditions outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR § 172.886). This means its safety had to be reviewed and approved by the FDA based on toxicological evidence, unlike GRAS substances which may be approved through general scientific consensus.[4][6]

EWG Rating

Environmental Working Group
  • EWG Rating: Benzoyl peroxide has been assigned a moderate hazard rating by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).[7]
  • Level of Caution: The EWG advises caution due to concerns related to allergies, immunotoxicity, and irritation associated with benzoyl peroxide.[7]
  • Possible Health Risks: Potential health risks include skin, eye, or lung irritation, as well as non-reproductive organ system toxicity.[7]
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More about Benzoyl Peroxide

  • Flour-Based Products: White bread, pasta, pastry dough
  • Processed Bakery Goods: Cookies, crackers, sponge cakes
  • Food Ingredients: Bleached wheat flour, cake flour, self-rising flour

Historical Use
Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) has been utilized in dermatology since 1905, initially for treating burns and ulcers, and later recognized for its efficacy in acne treatment from the 1930s onward.[8] Benzoyl peroxide has also been used for over 50 years as a bleaching agent in the food industry, particularly for flour, whey processing, and milk intended for cheese production.[6]
Current Exposure
Consumers may encounter benzoyl peroxide in various food products, as it is utilized to bleach flour used in items like bread, pasta, and pastries.[6]

Skin Irritation
Topical application of benzoyl peroxide can cause adverse effects such as dryness, redness, and peeling, especially at higher concentrations.[9]
Allergic Reactions
Some individuals may experience contact sensitization or allergic dermatitis upon exposure to benzoyl peroxide.[9]
Carcinogenicity
While benzoyl peroxide has been shown to act as a tumor promoter in certain animal studies, there is no conclusive evidence linking its use to cancer in humans.[10]
Benzene Contamination
Recent studies have detected elevated levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, in some benzoyl peroxide-containing acne products, raising concerns about potential long-term health risks.[11][12]

Toxicological Studies
Benzoyl peroxide has been evaluated for carcinogenicity in animal models, where it was found to act as a tumor promoter in mouse skin, but not as a complete carcinogen.[13] Additionally, acute toxicity studies indicate a low toxicity profile, with oral LD50 values in rats around 5,000 mg/kg.[14]
Long-Term Safety
Clinical studies have demonstrated that long-term use of benzoyl peroxide, particularly in microencapsulated formulations, is safe and well-tolerated in humans, with adverse events being mild to moderate and occurring early in treatment.[15] Furthermore, recent research has found no significant association between benzoyl peroxide use and an increased risk of malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, or solid organ tumors.[3]

High-Risk Groups
Individuals with asthma or respiratory conditions may be at increased risk when exposed to benzoyl peroxide, as it has been reported to cause asthma-like allergies, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.[16]
Health Impacts
In susceptible populations, benzoyl peroxide exposure can result in skin allergies, including itching and rash, even at very low future exposures.[16]

Recommended Intake
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has not specified an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), but has allowed treatment of flour and cheese milk with benzoyl peroxide at levels up to 40 mg/kg, with special allowances up to 75 mg/kg for whey processing.[6][17]

General Safety Level
Benzoyl peroxide is widely used in acne treatments and is generally considered safe; however, it can cause skin irritation, such as redness and peeling, particularly at higher concentrations.[18]
Sensitive Individuals
In certain cases, benzoyl peroxide has been associated with severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic responses characterized by throat tightness, difficulty breathing, and facial swelling.[19]

FAQ

What does benzoyl peroxide do?

Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria and helps clear clogged pores.

Does benzoyl peroxide cause purging?

Yes, benzoyl peroxide can cause purging as it speeds up skin cell turnover.

How benzoyl peroxide works?

Benzoyl peroxide works by reducing bacteria, oil, and dead skin that clog pores.

What is benzoyl peroxide?

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical acne treatment with antibacterial and exfoliating properties.

References

  1. Centre for Food Safety 2018 'Benzoyl Peroxide in Flour' Available at: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/multimedia/multimedia_pub/multimedia_pub_fsf_30_03.html ↩︎
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2025 'Limited number of voluntary recalls initiated after FDA testing of acne products for benzene findings show a small number of products with elevated levels of benzene contamination' Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/limited-number-voluntary-recalls-initiated-after-fda-testing-acne-products-benzene-findings-show ↩︎
  3. University of Texas Medical Branch 2025 'UTMB Study Confirms Benzoyl Peroxide Safety and No Link to Cancer Risk' Available at: https://www.utmb.edu/news/article/utmb-news/2025/02/06/utmb-study-confirms-benzoyl-peroxide-safety-and-no-link-to-cancer-risk ↩︎
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration n.d. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 - Benzoyl Peroxide Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-184/subpart-B/section-184.1157 ↩︎
  5. Health Canada 2015 'Summary Safety Review - Over-the-counter topical acne products containing either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid - Risk of serious allergic reactions' Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/safety-reviews/summary-safety-review-over-counter-topical-acne-benzoyl-peroxide-salicylic-risk-serious-allergic.html ↩︎
  6. World Health Organization 2004 'Benzoyl Peroxide' Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives Available at: https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/agns/pdf/jecfa/cta/63/Benzoylperoxide.pdf ↩︎
  7. Environmental Working Group EWG 2025 'Benzoyl Peroxide' Available at: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/700694-BENZOYL_PEROXIDE/ ↩︎
  8. Baldwin H. et al. 2023 'Sixty Years of Benzoyl Peroxide Use in Dermatology' Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 22(1):54 Available at: https://jddonline.com/articles/sixty-years-of-benzoyl-peroxide-use-in-dermatology-S1545961623P0054X ↩︎
  9. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf 2024 'Benzoyl Peroxide' Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537220/ ↩︎
  10. Kraus A.L. et al. 1995 'Benzoyl peroxide an integrated human safety assessment for carcinogenicity' Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 21(1) pp. 87-107 Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7784640/ ↩︎
  11. Kucera K. et al. 2024 Evaluation of Benzene Presence and Formation in Benzoyl Peroxide Drug Products Journal of Investigative Dermatology Available at: https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(24)02155-9/fulltext ↩︎
  12. Kucera K. et al. 2024 Benzoyl Peroxide Drug Products Form Benzene Environmental Health Perspectives 132(3) Available at: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP13984 ↩︎
  13. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 1999. 'Benzoyl Peroxide'. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 71, pp.345-358. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499381/ ↩︎
  14. OECD SIDS, 2002. 'Benzoyl Peroxide CAS Nu00b0: 94-36-0'. OECD Screening Information DataSet (SIDS) for High Production Volume Chemicals. Available at: https://hpvchemicals.oecd.org/ui/handler.axd?id=a4d59d82-ac1c-4b5c-8633-a2730b9ef951 ↩︎
  15. Werschler, W.P., et al., 2023. 'Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Microencapsulated Benzoyl Peroxide Cream, 5%, in Rosacea: Results From an Extension of Two Phase III, Vehicle-controlled Trials', Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 16(8), pp.27-33. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10452482/ ↩︎
  16. New Jersey Department of Health 2017 'Benzoyl Peroxide - Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet' Available at: https://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0215.pdf ↩︎
  17. World Health Organization 2004 Benzoyl peroxide Available at: https://apps.who.int/food-additives-contaminants-jecfa-database/Home/Chemical/171 ↩︎
  18. FDA Drug Safety Communication 2014 'FDA warns of rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions with certain over-the-counter topical acne products' Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-warns-rare-serious-hypersensitivity-reactions-certain-over-counter ↩︎
  19. Szymanski L. et al. 2024 'Adverse-Event Reports in Over-the-Counter Topical Acne Drug Products Containing Benzoyl Peroxide from a Specific Pharmaceutical Company in the USA' Dermatology and Therapy 12(11) pp. 2397-2400 Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9588102/ ↩︎

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