Flavor ingredient regulatory record
cis-Hexenyl propionate
cis-Hexenyl propionate is an ester in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3933 (CAS 33467-74-2). Its odor is sweet, fruity, green apple, fresh, floral.
- FEMA
- 3933
- CAS
- 33467-74-2
- JECFA
- 1274
- EU FL
- 09.564
- Formula
- C9H16O2
- EC
- 251-533-2
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 19. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 33467-74-2.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: 3-Hexen-1-ol, 1-propanoate, (3Z)-, 3-Hexen-1-ol, propionate, (Z)-, 3-Hexen-1-ol, propanoate, (Z)-, 3-Hexen-1-ol, propanoate, (3Z)-, cis-3-Hexenyl propionate, cis-3-Hexenyl propanoate, cis-Hex-3-en-1-yl propanoate, (Z)-3-Hexenyl propionate, cis-3-hexenyl propionate, (z)-3-hexenyl propionate, 3-hexen-1-ol, propionate, (z)-, 3-hexenyl propionate, (3z)-.
Can cis-Hexenyl propionate 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
cis-Hexenyl propionate is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3933. 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 09.564, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 1274, evaluated at the 61st meeting in 2003. 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. cis-Hexenyl propionate appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 33467-74-2, where EPA names it 3-Hexen-1-ol, 1-propanoate, (3Z)-.
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, green apple, fresh, floral.
Where it is used
cis-Hexenyl propionate is used in beverage, confection, fruit flavors and flavoring agents, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to cis-Hexenyl propionate by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,4-Hexadienyl propionate | 4131 | 95% | Not determined |
| trans-3-Hexenyl acetate | 4413 | 87% | In nature |
| cis-3-Hexenyl acetate | 3171 | 87% | In nature |
More esters in this index
Isoamyl phenylacetate · Butyl hexanoate · cis-3-Hexenyl benzoate · mono-Menthyl succinate · Ethyl trans-2-cis-4-decadienoate · Isoamyl benzoate
cis-Hexenyl propionate FAQ
Is cis-Hexenyl propionate FEMA GRAS?
Yes. The FEMA Expert Panel lists cis-Hexenyl propionate as GRAS under FEMA number 3933. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
What are the FEMA and CAS numbers for cis-Hexenyl propionate?
cis-Hexenyl propionate is FEMA 3933, CAS 33467-74-2. Its flavor category is fruity.
How is cis-Hexenyl propionate described, and where does it show up?
Flavorists describe cis-Hexenyl propionate as sweet, fruity, green apple, fresh, floral. It is used in beverage, confection, fruit flavors and flavoring agents.
What did JECFA conclude about cis-Hexenyl propionate?
JECFA evaluated cis-Hexenyl propionate at the 61st meeting in 2003 under JECFA number 1274. The panel concluded: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Is cis-Hexenyl propionate on the EU Union List?
Yes. FL 09.564 is the Union List entry for cis-Hexenyl propionate, 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 (Z)-3-HEXENYL PROPIONATE under CAS 33467-74-2 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.