Flavor ingredient regulatory record
Phenethyl propionate
Phenethyl propionate is an ester in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 2867 (CAS 122-70-3). Its odor is sweet, fruity, floral, honey, estery.
- FEMA
- 2867
- CAS
- 122-70-3
- JECFA
- 990
- EU FL
- 09.137
- Formula
- C11H14O2
- EC
- 204-567-7
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 3. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 122-70-3.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: Propanoic acid, 2-phenylethyl ester, Propionic acid, phenethyl ester, Benzylcarbinyl propionate, Phenylethyl propionate, Phenethyl alcohol propionate, 2-Phenethyl propionate, 2-Phenylethyl propionate, 2-Phenylethyl propanoate, β-Phenylethyl propionate, Phenethyl propanoate, NSC 404457, EcoPCO ACU.
Can Phenethyl propionate be labeled natural?
The process decides for phenethyl propionate. It occurs in nature, so a natural-source, natural-process material is natural flavor in the US and synthetic phenethyl propionate is artificial. The EU and UK follow the same logic without a middle class; Mercosur and Mexico label synthetic phenethyl propionate 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
Phenethyl propionate is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 2867. 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 09.137, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (EFSA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 990, evaluated at the 49th meeting in 1997. no safety concern at current levels of intake.
Other US flags
Not on the California Proposition 65 list. Listed on the EPA TSCA inventory.
TSCA Inventory status
A flavor ingredient is also an industrial chemical. Phenethyl propionate appears on the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory under CAS 122-70-3, where EPA names it Propanoic acid, 2-phenylethyl ester.
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, floral, honey, estery.
Where it is used
Phenethyl propionate is used in beverage, confection, fruit flavors, bakery and dairy, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to Phenethyl propionate by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenethyl acetate | 2857 | 76% | In nature |
More esters in this index
Ethyl 3-hydroxybutyrate · Methyl 3-(methylthio)propionate · Yuzunone · Ethyl trans-2-cis-4-decadienoate · Propyl heptanoate · Ethyl alpha-acetylcinnamate
Phenethyl propionate FAQ
Is phenethyl propionate on the FEMA GRAS list?
It is. FEMA number 2867 covers phenethyl propionate. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
What is the FEMA number for phenethyl propionate?
The FEMA number for phenethyl propionate is 2867 and its CAS registry number is 122-70-3. Its flavor category is fruity.
What is phenethyl propionate used for?
Phenethyl propionate is described as sweet, fruity, floral, honey, estery. It shows up in beverage, confection, fruit flavors, bakery and dairy.
What did JECFA conclude about phenethyl propionate?
JECFA evaluated phenethyl propionate at the 49th meeting in 1997 under JECFA number 990. The panel concluded: no safety concern at current levels of intake.
Is phenethyl propionate approved in the EU?
Yes. FL 09.137 is the Union List entry for phenethyl propionate, annex I Part A, under Regulation 1334/2008, and the UK keeps the same list.
Is phenethyl propionate natural or artificial?
Nature makes phenethyl propionate, which is why the US label turns on process. A natural route gives natural flavor; synthesis gives artificial phenethyl propionate, same molecule. The EU and UK grant the natural claim only to that natural route; Mercosur and Mexico call synthetic material identical-to-natural.
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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 PHENETHYL PROPIONATE under CAS 122-70-3 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.