Flavor ingredient regulatory record
(E)-4-Undecenal
(E)-4-Undecenal is an aldehyde in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4672 (CAS 68820-35-9). Its odor is citrusy, green, fruity, fresh, floral.
- FEMA
- 4672
- CAS
- 68820-35-9
- JECFA
- 2185
- EU FL
- 05.226
- Formula
- C11H20O
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 25. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 68820-35-9.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: 4-undecenal, (4e)-, (4e)-4-undecenal, 4-undecenal, (e)-, trans-undec-4-enal, (e)-undec-4-enal, j530.257i, (4e)-undec-4-enal.
Can (E)-4-Undecenal 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
(E)-4-Undecenal is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 4672. 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 05.226, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 2185, 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: Citrusy, green, fruity, fresh, floral.
Where it is used
(E)-4-Undecenal is used in beverage, confection, fruit flavors, savory dishes and seasoning, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to (E)-4-Undecenal by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-Undecenal | 3094 | 99% | In nature |
| Undec-2(trans)-enal | 3423 | 98% | In nature |
| 4-Decenal | 3264 | 98% | In nature |
| (E)-4-Nonenal | 4302 | 96% | In nature |
| (2E, 4E)-undeca-2,4-dienal | 3422 | 94% | In nature |
More aldehydes in this index
Nona-2,4,6-trienal · trans-2-Decenal · 5-Methyl-2-(methylthiomethyl)-2-hexenal · 2-Methyl-3-(p-tolyl)propionaldehyde · 4,5-Epoxy-(E)-2-decenal · Tridecanal
(E)-4-Undecenal FAQ
Does (E)-4-Undecenal have FEMA GRAS status?
(E)-4-Undecenal holds FEMA GRAS status under FEMA number 4672. It is also codified at 21 CFR 172.515.
How do I cite (E)-4-Undecenal by FEMA or CAS number?
Cite (E)-4-Undecenal as FEMA 4672 or CAS 68820-35-9; both point to the same entry. FEMA files it in the fruity flavor category.
Can (E)-4-Undecenal be used in the EU and UK?
(E)-4-Undecenal is on the EU Union List of flavouring substances as FL 05.226 (Annex I Part A) under Regulation 1334/2008.
Has JECFA evaluated (E)-4-Undecenal?
Yes. JECFA number 2185, evaluated at the 76th meeting in 2012. Conclusion: no safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
What does (E)-4-Undecenal smell and taste like, and where is it used?
The odor of (E)-4-Undecenal is citrusy, green, fruity, fresh, floral. Typical uses are beverage, confection, fruit flavors, savory dishes and seasoning.
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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 (E)-4-UNDECENAL under CAS 68820-35-9 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.