What is Lavandin Concrete?
Lavandin Concrete (CAS Number: 977183-99-5) is a concentrated plant extract derived from the lavandin plant, a hybrid species of lavender. The term "concrete" in botanical nomenclature refers to a semi-solid or solid extraction product obtained through solvent extraction processes, typically containing essential oils, waxes, and other plant compounds. Unlike essential oils, concretes retain more of the plant's aromatic and non-volatile constituents.
Lavandin itself is a naturally occurring hybrid between Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender) and Lavandula latifolia (spike lavender). This hybrid is primarily cultivated in the Mediterranean region, particularly in France, and has been used traditionally in perfumery and aromatherapy applications.
Common Uses
While lavandin products are extensively used in cosmetics, fragrances, and personal care products, the specific food application of lavandin concrete remains unclear. Lavender and lavandin extracts have historically appeared in some herbal teas, baked goods, and confectionery products in limited quantities. However, no established food use profile for lavandin concrete has been documented in major regulatory databases.
Lavender-based products are sometimes used as flavoring agents in artisanal food production, but commercial food applications of lavandin concrete specifically are not well-documented in scientific literature or regulatory submissions.
Safety Assessment
No adverse events have been reported to the FDA regarding lavandin concrete, and no recalls linked to this substance exist in FDA databases. The lack of reported safety issues, however, reflects limited food use rather than extensive safety testing.
Lavender and lavandin products are generally recognized as safe in traditional use, though some individuals may experience sensitivity. Components within lavender extracts, including linalool and linalyl acetate, are known flavor and fragrance compounds that have undergone safety evaluation.
The absence of FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status indicates that lavandin concrete has not undergone formal safety evaluation for food use through either the GRAS notification process or formal food additive petition procedures. This is not unusual for botanical extracts with limited commercial food application.
Regulatory Status
Lavandin concrete is not approved by the FDA as a food additive and does not hold GRAS status. It is not listed on the FDA's Everything Added to Food in the United States (EAFUS) database for food use.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has not established a specific safety assessment for lavandin concrete as a food ingredient, though lavender-related substances appear in various regulatory contexts across EU member states.
In the United States, any food use of lavandin concrete would require either GRAS status certification or approval as a food additive. Manufacturers interested in using this substance in food would need to submit appropriate safety data and technical documentation to the FDA.
Key Studies
Limited peer-reviewed research specifically addresses lavandin concrete as a food ingredient. Most scientific literature on lavandin focuses on its applications in essential oil production, fragrance chemistry, and traditional medicine rather than food safety or functionality.
General safety studies on lavender species have been published, but these typically address lavender essential oil rather than concrete extracts. The composition of lavandin concrete would differ from essential oil due to different extraction methodologies.
Without formal regulatory approval or GRAS determination, comprehensive food safety studies specific to lavandin concrete appear not to have been conducted or published in accessible scientific databases.