Flavor ingredient regulatory record
2-Methylthiophene
2-Methylthiophene is a thiol in the sulfur family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4928 (CAS 554-14-3). Its odor is earthy, sulfurous, roasted, nutty.
- FEMA
- 4928
- CAS
- 554-14-3
- Formula
- C5H6S
- EC
- 209-063-0
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS. Source: FEMA Flavor Ingredient Library.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: Thiophene, 2-methyl-, α-Methylthiophene, 2-Thienylmethane, thiophene, 2-methyl-, alpha-methylthiophene, 2-methylthiacyclopentadiene, 2-thiotolene, 2-methylthiophen, ai3-15911, .alpha.-methylthiophene, alphamethylthiophene, thiophene, 2methyl.
Can 2-Methylthiophene be labeled natural?
2-Methylthiophene occurs in nature, so the label depends on the route: 2-Methylthiophene won from a natural source by a physical, enzymatic or microbiological process is natural flavor in the United States, and synthesized 2-Methylthiophene is artificial. The EU and UK follow the same logic without a middle class; Mercosur and Mexico label synthetic 2-Methylthiophene 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-Methylthiophene is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4928. It is cited in the Code of Federal Regulations at 21 CFR 172.515.
European Union and United Kingdom
2-Methylthiophene was on the Union List of flavouring substances as FL 15.091 when Regulation (EU) 872/2012 adopted the list, and the entry has since been withdrawn. It does not appear in the current consolidated text of Regulation (EC) 1334/2008. Check the amending regulations for the conditions that applied to existing stock, and treat EU or UK use as closed unless another route covers it.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
2-Methylthiophene has not been evaluated by JECFA as a flavouring agent, or no evaluation is on file.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
TSCA Inventory status
A flavor ingredient is also an industrial chemical. 2-Methylthiophene appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 554-14-3, where EPA names it Thiophene, 2-methyl-.
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: Earthy, sulfurous, roasted, nutty.
Where it is used
2-Methylthiophene is used in savory dishes, seasonings, snacks and sauces, typically as a sulfur note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to 2-Methylthiophene by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Methylfuran | 4179 | 83% | In nature |
| 2-Thienylmercaptan | 3062 | 81% | In nature |
| 3,4-Dimethylthiophene | 4645 | 76% | In nature |
| 2-Thienylmethanol | 4642 | 76% | In nature |
| 2-Methyltetrahydrothiophen-3-one | 3512 | 75% | In nature |
More thiols in this index
3-Mercaptohexanol · 2-Methyltetrahydrothiophen-3-one · 2-Thienyl disulfide · Benzenethiol · 3-Methylbutanethiol · 3-Mercapto-2-pentanone
2-Methylthiophene FAQ
Is 2-Methylthiophene on the FEMA GRAS list?
It is. FEMA number 4928 covers 2-Methylthiophene. It is also codified at 21 CFR 172.515.
What is the FEMA number for 2-Methylthiophene?
The FEMA number for 2-Methylthiophene is 4928 and its CAS registry number is 554-14-3. FEMA files it in the sulfur flavor category.
Is 2-Methylthiophene natural or artificial?
Since 2-Methylthiophene is found in nature, US labeling follows how it was obtained: natural flavor from a natural source and a natural process, artificial when 2-Methylthiophene is synthesized. The EU and UK follow the same logic without a middle class; Mercosur and Mexico label synthetic 2-Methylthiophene identical-to-natural.
What is 2-Methylthiophene used for?
2-Methylthiophene is described as earthy, sulfurous, roasted, nutty. It shows up in savory dishes, seasonings, snacks and sauces.
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Guides: What Is FEMA GRAS? · Natural vs artificial · Filing a GRAS notification
Check 2-Methylthiophene in a formula
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Sources and attribution. The FEMA number and GRAS status on this page name a conclusion reached by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States. FDA does not list this substance by FEMA number in its Substances Added to Food inventory. Its identity is attested by EPA TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, matched on CAS 554-14-3.
FEMA publishes its own entry for this substance in the FEMA Flavor Library, which is the authoritative record 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.