Food Additive May Impact Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

Tert-butylhydroquinone, or tBHQ, can be found in several food products including cooking oils, frozen meats (especially fish) and processed foods such as chips and crackers. Products don't always have to include it on ingredient lists. "If you get a vaccine, but part of the immune system doesn't learn to recognize and fight off virus-infected cells, then this can cause the vaccine to be less effective," said Robert Freeborn, a fourth-year doctoral student who led the study with Cheryl Rockwell, an associate professor in pharmacology and toxicology. "We determined that when tBHQ was introduced through the diet, it affected certain cells that are important in carrying out an appropriate immune response to the flu." https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/food-additive-may-impact-flu-vaccine-effectiveness-317806?utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TN_Breaking%20Science%20News&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=71532446&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-96g8X_eWrAba8bhX-M_TsKeX-QXupLePILLIoKsF4xL-Dwq9-mmkSrvE8hMewSe81-0T9pG6EKHO8xdOOWlE3tfBQjWQ&_hsmi=71532446