Flavor ingredient regulatory record
2-Methoxyacetophenone
2-Methoxyacetophenone is a ketone in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4163 (CAS 579-74-8). Its odor is sweet, fruity, floral, vanilla, caramel.
- FEMA
- 4163
- CAS
- 579-74-8
- JECFA
- 2042
- EU FL
- 07.254
- Formula
- C9H10O2
- EC
- 209-446-2
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 22. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 579-74-8.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: Ethanone, 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-, Acetophenone, 2′-methoxy-, Acetophenone, o-methoxy-, 1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)ethanone, o-Methoxyacetophenone, 2′-Methoxyacetophenone, o-Acetylanisole, Methyl o-methoxyphenyl ketone, Methyl 2-methoxyphenyl ketone, 2-Methoxyphenyl methyl ketone, 2-Acetylanisole, NSC 23387.
Can 2-Methoxyacetophenone be labeled natural?
Nature occurrence: Not yet found in nature (provisional).
Nature occurrence has not been settled for this substance, so the natural or artificial class is not stated here. The FEMA GRAS status does not depend on it.
Regulatory status, with citations
United States
2-Methoxyacetophenone is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4163. 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 07.254, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 2042, evaluated at the 73rd meeting in 2010. No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
TSCA Inventory status
A flavor ingredient is also an industrial chemical. 2-Methoxyacetophenone appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 579-74-8, where EPA names it Ethanone, 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-.
Active in US commerce
EPA designates this substance active, so no Notice of Activity Form B is required before manufacturing. What active and inactive mean.
EPA publishes no regulatory flags on this listing. What the flags mean.
From the EPA non-confidential TSCA Inventory, July 2026 release. EPA also maintains a confidential portion it does not publish. Search the Inventory by CAS number.
Odor and taste
Odor: Sweet, fruity, floral, vanilla, caramel.
Where it is used
2-Methoxyacetophenone is used in beverage, confection, bakery and desserts, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to 2-Methoxyacetophenone by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Methylacetophenone | 4316 | 88% | In nature |
| 2-Methoxybenzoic acid | 3943 | 86% | In nature |
| Acetophenone | 2009 | 86% | In nature |
| 2-Methoxy-4-methylphenol | 2671 | 77% | In nature |
| o-Anisaldehyde | 4077 | 76% | In nature |
More ketones in this index
8-Nonen-2-one · (E)-2-(2-Octenyl)cyclopentanone · 2-Methylheptan-3-one · 2,3-Undecadione · 2-Propionylpyrroline · 3-Decen-2-one
2-Methoxyacetophenone FAQ
Is 2-Methoxyacetophenone on the FEMA GRAS list?
It is. FEMA number 4163 covers 2-Methoxyacetophenone. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
What is the FEMA number for 2-Methoxyacetophenone?
The FEMA number for 2-Methoxyacetophenone is 4163 and its CAS registry number is 579-74-8. Its flavor category is fruity.
What is 2-Methoxyacetophenone used for?
2-Methoxyacetophenone is described as sweet, fruity, floral, vanilla, caramel. It shows up in beverage, confection, bakery and desserts.
What did JECFA conclude about 2-Methoxyacetophenone?
JECFA evaluated 2-Methoxyacetophenone at the 73rd meeting in 2010 under JECFA number 2042. The panel concluded: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Is 2-Methoxyacetophenone approved in the EU?
Yes. FL 07.254 is the Union List entry for 2-Methoxyacetophenone, annex I Part A, under Regulation 1334/2008, and the UK keeps the same list.
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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-METHOXYACETOPHENONE under CAS 579-74-8 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.