# 2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran

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**Safety rating:** UNKNOWN
**CAS number:** 41239-48-9
**Category:** flavoring
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-02

## Summary

2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran is a synthetic flavoring compound used to create fruity and berry-like taste profiles in food and beverage products. Although it has not received FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status, it has been used in flavoring applications with no reported adverse events or recalls.

## Regulatory status

| Country | Status |
| --- | --- |
| United States | approved |
| European Union | not_evaluated |
| United Kingdom | not_evaluated |
| Canada | not_evaluated |
| Australia | not_evaluated |
| Japan | not_evaluated |
| South Korea | not_evaluated |
| Brazil | not_evaluated |
| China | not_evaluated |
| India | not_evaluated |

## Detailed analysis

## What is 2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran?

2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran (CAS Number 41239-48-9) is a synthetic organic compound belonging to the class of tetrahydrofuran derivatives. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a fruity, berry-like odor profile. The compound consists of a five-membered oxygen-containing ring (furan) with two ethyl groups attached at the 2 and 5 positions, plus hydrogen saturation of the ring structure.

## Common Uses

This flavoring agent is employed in the food and beverage industry primarily as a flavoring compound to impart fruity and berry notes to products. It may be used in:

- Beverage formulations (soft drinks, juices, flavored waters)
- Confectionery and candy products
- Dairy products (yogurts, ice cream)
- Baked goods and desserts
- Flavor concentrates and liquid flavorings

As a flavoring adjuvant, it functions to enhance or modify the sensory profile of food products at typically low concentrations (parts per million range).

## Safety Assessment

According to FDA records, there have been zero reported adverse events associated with 2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran and zero recalls involving this ingredient. This suggests a history of safe use in food applications without documented safety incidents in the United States regulatory system.

However, the absence of adverse event reports does not constitute formal FDA approval. The ingredient has not been designated as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), which means it has not undergone the formal safety evaluation process that would allow it to be used without pre-market authorization. Manufacturers using this ingredient may be required to submit a food additive petition or establish its safety through other regulatory pathways.

As a synthetic flavoring compound, safety assessments would typically consider:

- Acute toxicity profiles
- Chronic exposure potential
- Metabolic pathways in the human body
- Allergenicity and sensitization potential
- Genotoxicity and carcinogenicity concerns
- Use levels and dietary exposure estimates

## Regulatory Status

2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran operates in a regulatory gray area in the United States. While it is not banned or prohibited, its use requires either:

1. A submitted food additive petition with supporting safety data, or
2. Compliance with FDA regulations allowing its use under specific conditions

International regulatory status may vary by country. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) maintains separate approval processes for food flavoring substances. Manufacturers should verify compliance with regulations in all jurisdictions where their products are sold.

The FDA's Color Additives and Ingredients Status List and the Everything Added to Food in the United States (EAFUS) database would provide current regulatory classification if the ingredient has been formally evaluated.

## Key Studies

Limited published peer-reviewed research specifically addresses 2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran. The lack of extensive scientific literature in public databases may reflect its use as a minor flavoring component at low concentrations rather than indicating safety concerns.

Flavor compound safety is typically evaluated through:

- Acute oral toxicity studies
- Subacute and subchronic feeding studies
- Metabolism and disposition studies
- Genotoxicity assays (Ames test, chromosomal aberration tests)
- Reproductive and developmental toxicity assessment

Manufacturers or flavor suppliers using this ingredient typically maintain proprietary safety assessments supporting its use. Regulatory compliance documentation would be available through FDA submissions or international flavor associations (such as the International Organization of the Flavoring Industry).

## Sources

- FDA Substances Added to Food (CFSAN)
- OpenFDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS)
- OpenFDA Food Recalls
- EFSA OpenFoodTox
- EU Food Additive Portal

## Citation

Additive Facts. "2,5-diethyltetrahydrofuran — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/2-5-diethyltetrahydrofuran. Accessed 2026-05-19.