What is Allyl Cyclohexanevalerate?
Allyl cyclohexanevalerate (CAS Number 7493-68-7) is a synthetic organic compound belonging to the ester class of flavor compounds. It consists of an allyl group attached to a cyclohexanevalerate moiety. This compound is used primarily as a flavoring agent or flavor adjuvant in the food industry to create or enhance fruity and floral taste profiles in various food and beverage products.
Common Uses
Allyl cyclohexanevalerate is utilized in the flavoring industry as a component in complex flavor formulations. It is typically found in processed foods, beverages, and confectionery products where fruity or floral notes are desired. As a flavoring agent, it is used in very small quantities—generally in the parts per million (ppm) range—to achieve the desired sensory characteristics. The compound may be used alone or in combination with other flavor compounds to create specific taste profiles.
Safety Assessment
According to FDA records, there are zero reported adverse events associated with allyl cyclohexanevalerate and zero product recalls involving this ingredient. This absence of reported safety incidents suggests that the compound has not been linked to consumer health problems in the United States marketplace.
However, the lack of adverse event reports does not necessarily equate to comprehensive safety approval. The compound's safety profile is based on limited published toxicological data available in the scientific literature. Like many synthetic flavoring compounds, allyl cyclohexanevalerate undergoes risk assessment based on factors including chemical structure, intended use level, metabolism, and existing data on structurally similar compounds.
Regulatory Status
Allyl cyclohexanevalerate is not listed on the FDA's GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list. This means it has not undergone the formal GRAS determination process or been approved through the FDA's food additive petition process. However, this status does not necessarily indicate that the compound is unsafe or prohibited for use. Rather, it reflects the regulatory pathway and approval status in the United States.
In the European Union, flavor compounds are evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The regulatory approach for flavoring substances in the EU involves assessment through the flavor regulation framework, though specific EFSA determinations for this particular compound may be limited in publicly available documentation.
The use of this flavoring agent may be permissible in certain jurisdictions under general flavoring regulations that allow approved flavor compounds without requiring individual GRAS status, depending on the specific food application and regulatory framework.
Key Studies
Published scientific literature specifically evaluating allyl cyclohexanevalerate is limited. Safety assessments for synthetic flavor compounds typically rely on: (1) structural analogy with compounds of known safety profiles; (2) metabolism studies demonstrating rapid breakdown into non-toxic components; (3) acute toxicity data; and (4) intended use levels that result in negligible dietary exposure.
The flavor industry typically references the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) database and scientific panels that evaluate flavor compound safety. For compounds in this chemical class, assessments generally demonstrate that the quantities used in food applications are well below levels of concern.
Consumers seeking additional information about this flavoring compound should consult the ingredient statement on product labels and contact manufacturers directly with safety questions.