Flavor ingredient regulatory record
2-Hexylthiophene
2-Hexylthiophene is a thiol in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4137 (CAS 18794-77-9). Its odor is sweet, fruity, nutty, tropical, earthy.
- FEMA
- 4137
- CAS
- 18794-77-9
- JECFA
- 1764
- EU FL
- 15.076
- Formula
- C10H16S
- EC
- 242-579-4
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 22. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 18794-77-9.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: Thiophene, 2-hexyl-, α-Hexylthiophene, 2-n-Hexylthiophene, thiophene, 2-hexyl-, 2-n-hexylthiophene, 2-hexyl-thiophene, 2-hexylthiophene [fhfi], hexylthiophene, thiophene, hexyl-, 2-hexyl thiophene, 2-hexylthiophene, 97%, cs-w020022.
Can 2-Hexylthiophene be labeled natural?
Nature makes 2-Hexylthiophene, which is why the US label turns on process. A natural route gives natural flavor; synthesis gives artificial 2-Hexylthiophene, same molecule. The EU and UK follow the same logic without a middle class; Mercosur and Mexico label synthetic 2-Hexylthiophene identical-to-natural.
- United States
- Natural or artificial, by process
- European Union and UK
- Natural only from natural material
- Mercosur and Mexico
- Natural or identical-to-natural
How each market defines the classes: natural vs artificial flavor under 21 CFR 101.22.
Regulatory status, with citations
United States
2-Hexylthiophene is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4137. It is cited in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21 CFR 172.515.
European Union and United Kingdom
Listed on the Union List of flavouring substances as FL 15.076, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 1764, evaluated at the 68th meeting in 2007. no safety concern at current levels of intake.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
Odor and taste
Odor: Sweet, fruity, nutty, tropical, earthy.
Where it is used
2-Hexylthiophene is used in beverage, confection, savory dishes and snacks, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to 2-Hexylthiophene by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Pentylthiophene | 4387 | 92% | In nature |
| 2-Pentylthiazole | 4641 | 87% | In nature |
| 2-Hexylpyridine | 4948 | 63% | Not determined |
| 2-Heptylfuran | 3401 | 59% | In nature |
| 2-Pentylfuran | 3317 | 57% | In nature |
More thiols in this index
3-Mercaptohexanal · p-Mentha-8-thiol-3-one · Methyl isobutanethioate · Ethyl 2-Mercapto-2-methylpropionate · 1-(3-(Methylthio)-butyryl)-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexene · Triethylthialdine
2-Hexylthiophene FAQ
Is 2-Hexylthiophene FEMA GRAS?
Yes. The FEMA Expert Panel lists 2-Hexylthiophene as GRAS under FEMA number 4137. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
What are the FEMA and CAS numbers for 2-Hexylthiophene?
2-Hexylthiophene is FEMA 4137, CAS 18794-77-9. Its flavor category is fruity.
How is 2-Hexylthiophene described, and where does it show up?
Flavorists describe 2-Hexylthiophene as sweet, fruity, nutty, tropical, earthy. It is used in beverage, confection, savory dishes and snacks.
What did JECFA conclude about 2-Hexylthiophene?
JECFA evaluated 2-Hexylthiophene at the 68th meeting in 2007 under JECFA number 1764. The panel concluded: no safety concern at current levels of intake.
Is 2-Hexylthiophene on the EU Union List?
Yes. FL 15.076 is the Union List entry for 2-Hexylthiophene, annex I Part A, under Regulation 1334/2008, and the UK keeps the same list.
Does 2-Hexylthiophene count as natural in the US and the EU?
The process decides for 2-Hexylthiophene. It occurs in nature, so a natural-source, natural-process material is natural flavor in the US and synthetic 2-Hexylthiophene is artificial. The EU and UK follow the same logic without a middle class; Mercosur and Mexico label synthetic 2-Hexylthiophene identical-to-natural.
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Guides: What Is FEMA GRAS? · Natural vs artificial · Filing a GRAS notification
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Sources and attribution. The identity and regulatory facts on this page are taken from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, a US government record, which lists this substance as 2-HEXYLTHIOPHENE under CAS 18794-77-9 and carries its FEMA number, its JECFA flavor number. The inventory is searchable at FDA. FDA records its technical effect as flavoring agent or adjuvant.
A FEMA GRAS conclusion is reached by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States, and the FEMA number names that conclusion. FEMA publishes its own entry for this substance in the FEMA Flavor Library, which is the authoritative record of what the Panel decided and is worth reading alongside this page.
Ambrose Compliance is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FEMA. FEMA and FEMA GRAS are used here as identifiers for a published regulatory determination, not as marks of any relationship between FEMA and Ambrose.
About this page. Facts come from the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory, the Code of Federal Regulations, the EPA TSCA Inventory, the EU Union List, JECFA and the Ambrose database, with FEMA's published determination cited where it applies; parts of the text are written by Ambrose AI, which can make mistakes. Check the cited source before relying on anything here. This is not regulatory or legal advice.