Flavor ingredient regulatory record
3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal
3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal is a thioaldehyde in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4501 (CAS 915971-43-6). Its odor is sweet, fruity, nutty, caramel, roasted.
- FEMA
- 4501
- CAS
- 915971-43-6
- JECFA
- 2095
- EU FL
- 13.199
- Formula
- C9H12O2S
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 24. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 915971-43-6.
Structure
![2D structure of 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal](/public/structures/fema-4501.svg)
Identity
Also known as: methyl thiofuryl butanal, 3-((2-methyl-3-furyl)thio)butanal, 3-((2-methyl-3-furyl)sulfanyl)butanal, butanal, 3-((2-methyl-3-furanyl)thio)-, (+-)-3-((2-methyl-3-furyl)thio)butanal, 3-((2-methyl-3-furyl)thio)butanal, (+-)-, 3-((2-methyl-3-furanyl)thio)butanal, 3-(methyl furan-3-yl)sulfanyl(2-butanal), 3-((2-methylfuran-3-yl)thio)butanal, 3-[(2-methylfuran-3-yl)sulfanyl]butanal, 3-((2-methyl-3-furyl)thio)butanal, (+/-)-.
Can 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal 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
3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4501. 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 13.199, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 2095, evaluated at the 76th meeting in 2012. No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
Odor and taste
Odor: Sweet, fruity, nutty, caramel, roasted.
Where it is used
3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal 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 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-(5-Methyl-2-furyl) butanal | 3307 | 85% | In nature |
| 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]-2-butanone | 4056 | 71% | Not determined |
| 2-Ethanethoic acid, S-(2-methyl-3-furanyl) ester | 3973 | 68% | Not determined |
| 2,5-Dimethyl-3-thiofuroylfuran | 3481 | 63% | Not determined |
| bis-(2-Methyl-3-furyl) disulfide | 3259 | 62% | In nature |
3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal FAQ
Does 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal have FEMA GRAS status?
3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal holds FEMA GRAS status under FEMA number 4501. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
How do I cite 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal by FEMA or CAS number?
Cite 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal as FEMA 4501 or CAS 915971-43-6; both point to the same entry. Its flavor category is fruity.
What does 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal smell and taste like, and where is it used?
The odor of 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal is sweet, fruity, nutty, caramel, roasted. Typical uses are beverage, confection, savory dishes and snacks.
What did JECFA conclude about 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal?
JECFA evaluated 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal at the 76th meeting in 2012 under JECFA number 2095. The panel concluded: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Can 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal be used in the EU and UK?
Yes. FL 13.199 is the Union List entry for 3-[(2-Methyl-3-furyl)thio]butanal, 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 3-[(2-METHYL-3-FURYL)THIO]BUTANAL under CAS 915971-43-6 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.