# 2-undecanone

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**Safety rating:** SAFE
**CAS number:** 112-12-9
**Category:** flavoring
**FDA GRAS:** no
**Adverse events (FDA AERS):** 0
**FDA recalls:** 0
**Last updated:** 2026-04-04

## Summary

2-Undecanone (CAS 112-12-9) is a naturally occurring organic compound used as a flavoring agent in food products. It is a ketone with an 11-carbon chain that imparts fruity and woody flavor notes to beverages, baked goods, and other food applications.

## Regulatory status

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

## Detailed analysis

## What is 2-Undecanone?

2-Undecanone is an aliphatic ketone with the molecular formula C₁₁H₂₂O. It is a colorless to pale yellow liquid with a molecular weight of 170.29 g/mol. This compound occurs naturally in small quantities in various fruits and plants, contributing to their characteristic flavor profiles. The chemical structure consists of an 11-carbon chain with a ketone functional group at the second carbon position, which is responsible for its organoleptic properties.

## Common Uses

2-Undecanone is employed as a flavoring agent and flavor adjuvant in the food industry. Its primary applications include:

- Beverage flavoring, particularly in fruit-flavored drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Baked goods and confectionery products
- Dairy products and frozen desserts
- Savory food applications where woody and fruity notes are desired
- Spice and seasoning blends

The compound is valued for its ability to enhance and modify flavor profiles while contributing fruity, woody, and slightly herbaceous notes. It typically appears in formulations at very low concentrations, measured in parts per million (ppm), due to its potency as a flavoring agent.

## Safety Assessment

2-Undecanone has not been formally affirmed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. However, the absence of a GRAS determination does not indicate safety concerns. Rather, it reflects that the compound may be used through the Food Additive Petition pathway or that formal GRAS notification has not been pursued by manufacturers.

The FDA database records zero adverse events associated with 2-undecanone consumption, and there are no documented recalls involving this ingredient. This safety profile suggests that, when used at typical flavoring concentrations, the compound has not produced reportable adverse health effects in the food supply.

2-Undecanone is structurally similar to naturally occurring flavor compounds and follows established metabolic pathways for ketone metabolism. As a flavoring agent used at extremely low levels in food, systemic exposure is minimal. The compound's volatility means it readily dissipates during processing and preparation, further limiting consumer exposure.

## Regulatory Status

In the United States, 2-undecanone may be used as a flavoring substance under FDA regulations (21 CFR Part 182). While not carrying GRAS status, it can be legally employed in foods through the food additive petition process or as a component of flavoring preparations that comply with regulatory requirements.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated related flavor compounds and established that structurally similar ketones present no safety concerns at typical use levels. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers' Association (FEMA) maintains evaluations of flavor compounds including aliphatic ketones.

International regulatory agencies, including those in Canada, Australia, and Japan, generally permit this compound as a flavoring agent within established guidelines for flavor use.

## Key Studies

The safety assessment of 2-undecanone relies on its structural relationship to well-established flavor compounds and the large margin of safety inherent in flavoring applications. Toxicological data on similar chain-length ketones demonstrates that these compounds are readily metabolized through standard oxidative pathways without evidence of bioaccumulation or organ toxicity.

The absence of adverse event reporting despite decades of use in food flavoring applications provides epidemiological support for its safe use at functional concentrations. Its high volatility and rapid metabolism further contribute to a favorable safety profile.

Regulatory agencies emphasize that flavoring agents, including 2-undecanone, are subject to the "threshold of toxicological concern" (TTC) approach, which assumes that substances used at very low levels (typically <1.5 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day) pose minimal risk regardless of other toxicological properties.

## 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-undecanone — Safety, regulation, and evidence." https://additivefacts.com/additives/2-undecanone. Accessed 2026-05-20.