Flavor ingredient regulatory record
Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone
Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone is a ketone in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 2723 (CAS 93-08-3). Its odor is sweet, floral, fruity, complex, rich.
- FEMA
- 2723
- CAS
- 93-08-3
- JECFA
- 811
- EU FL
- 07.013
- Formula
- C12H10O
- EC
- 202-216-2
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 3. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 93-08-3.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: Ethanone, 1-(2-naphthalenyl)-, 2′-Acetonaphthone, 1-(2-Naphthalenyl)ethanone, β-Acetonaphthone, Methyl β-naphthyl ketone, β-Naphthyl methyl ketone, Methyl 2-naphthyl ketone, 2-Naphthyl methyl ketone, β-Acetylnaphthalene, 2-Acetylnaphthalene, 1-(2-Naphthyl)ethanone, NSC 7658.
Can Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone 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
Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 2723. 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 07.013, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 811.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list.
TSCA Inventory status
A flavor ingredient is also an industrial chemical. Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 93-08-3, where EPA names it Ethanone, 1-(2-naphthalenyl)-.
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, floral, fruity, complex, rich.
Where it is used
Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone is used in beverage, confection, flavoring agents, perfume and baked goods, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| beta-Naphthyl methyl ether | 4704 | 86% | Not determined |
| Butyl beta-naphthyl ether | 4634 | 79% | Not determined |
| beta-Naphthyl isobutyl ether | 3719 | 77% | In nature |
| o-Methylanisole | 2768 | 77% | In nature |
| 1-Methylnaphthalene | 3193 | 77% | In nature |
More ketones in this index
4-Hexen-3-one · 3-Methylcyclohexanone · Dihydroxyacetone dimer · trans-alpha-Damascone · 4-Methyl-3-penten-2-one · 4-Methyl-2-pentanone
Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone FAQ
Is methyl beta-naphthyl ketone on the FEMA GRAS list?
It is. FEMA number 2723 covers methyl beta-naphthyl ketone. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
What is the FEMA number for methyl beta-naphthyl ketone?
The FEMA number for methyl beta-naphthyl ketone is 2723 and its CAS registry number is 93-08-3. Its flavor category is fruity.
What is methyl beta-naphthyl ketone used for?
Methyl beta-naphthyl ketone is described as sweet, floral, fruity, complex, rich. It shows up in beverage, confection, flavoring agents, perfume and baked goods.
What did JECFA conclude about methyl beta-naphthyl ketone?
JECFA evaluated methyl beta-naphthyl ketone under JECFA number 811.
Is methyl beta-naphthyl ketone approved in the EU?
Yes. FL 07.013 is the Union List entry for methyl beta-naphthyl ketone, 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 METHYL BETA-NAPHTHYL KETONE under CAS 93-08-3 and carries its FEMA number, its JECFA flavor number and its 21 CFR citations. 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.