Flavor ingredient regulatory record
4-Hexen-1-ol
4-Hexen-1-ol is an alcohol in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3430 (CAS 6126-50-7). Its odor is green, fruity, herbaceous, fresh.
- FEMA
- 3430
- CAS
- 6126-50-7
- JECFA
- 318
- EU FL
- 02.074
- Formula
- C6H12O
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 8. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 6126-50-7.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: NSC 409218, 6-Hydroxy-2-hexene, (e)-4-hexen-1-ol, 4-hexen-1-ol, (4e)-, trans-4-hexen-1-ol, 4-hexen-1-ol, (e)-, (4z)-hex-4-en-1-ol, (e)-hex-4-en-1-ol, (4e)-4-hexen-1-ol, e-4-hexen-1-ol, trans-4-hexenol, 4-hexen-1-ol, predominantly trans.
Can 4-Hexen-1-ol be labeled natural?
Since 4-Hexen-1-ol is found in nature, US labeling follows how it was obtained: natural flavor from a natural source and a natural process, artificial when 4-Hexen-1-ol is synthesized. The EU and UK follow the same logic without a middle class; Mercosur and Mexico label synthetic 4-Hexen-1-ol 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
4-Hexen-1-ol is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3430. 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 02.074, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (JECFA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 318, evaluated at the 51st meeting in 1998. 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: Green, fruity, herbaceous, fresh.
Taste: Green, slightly bitter, herbal.
Where it is used
4-Hexen-1-ol is used in beverage, fruit flavors, confection and savory dishes, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to 4-Hexen-1-ol by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| trans-3-Hexenol | 4356 | 99% | In nature |
| cis-3-Hexen-1-ol | 2563 | 99% | In nature |
| 2-Hexen-1-ol | 2562 | 99% | In nature |
| 2,4-Hexadien-1-ol | 3922 | 97% | In nature |
| Hexyl alcohol | 2567 | 94% | In nature |
More alcohols in this index
p,alpha-Dimethylbenzyl alcohol · 2-Octanol · cis-2-Octenol · cis-4-Octenol · 5-Methylfurfuryl alcohol · 2-Hexen-1-ol
4-Hexen-1-ol FAQ
Does 4-Hexen-1-ol have FEMA GRAS status?
4-Hexen-1-ol holds FEMA GRAS status under FEMA number 3430. It is also codified at 21 CFR 172.515.
How do I cite 4-Hexen-1-ol by FEMA or CAS number?
Cite 4-Hexen-1-ol as FEMA 3430 or CAS 6126-50-7; both point to the same entry. FEMA files it in the fruity flavor category.
Can 4-Hexen-1-ol be labeled a natural flavor?
4-Hexen-1-ol occurs in nature, so the label depends on the route: 4-Hexen-1-ol won from a natural source by a physical, enzymatic or microbiological process is natural flavor in the United States, and synthesized 4-Hexen-1-ol is artificial. The EU and UK grant the natural claim only to that natural route; Mercosur and Mexico call synthetic material identical-to-natural.
Can 4-Hexen-1-ol be used in the EU and UK?
4-Hexen-1-ol is on the EU Union List of flavouring substances as FL 02.074 (Annex I Part A) under Regulation 1334/2008.
Has JECFA evaluated 4-Hexen-1-ol?
Yes. JECFA number 318, evaluated at the 51st meeting in 1998. Conclusion: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
What does 4-Hexen-1-ol smell and taste like, and where is it used?
The odor of 4-Hexen-1-ol is green, fruity, herbaceous, fresh. On the palate it is green, slightly bitter, herbal. Typical uses are beverage, fruit flavors, confection and savory dishes.
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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 4-HEXEN-1-OL under CAS 6126-50-7 and carries its FEMA number, its JECFA flavor number. The inventory is searchable at FDA. FDA records its technical effect as flavor enhancer, 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.