Flavor ingredient regulatory record
Propyl thioacetate
Propyl thioacetate is a thioester in the fruity family, FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3385 (CAS 2307-10-0). Its odor is sweet, fruity, apple, sulfurous, tropical.
- FEMA
- 3385
- CAS
- 2307-10-0
- JECFA
- 485
- EU FL
- 12.059
- Formula
- C5H10OS
GRAS status: FEMA GRAS, publication 6. Recorded by FDA in the Substances Added to Food inventory under CAS 2307-10-0.
Structure
Identity
Also known as: Ethanethioic acid, S-propyl ester, Acetic acid, thio-, S-propyl ester, S-Propyl thioacetate, Propyl thiolacetate, 1-(Propylsulfanyl)ethan-1-one, s-propyl thioacetate, s-n-propyl thioacetate, ethanethioic acid, s-propyl ester, s-n-propylthioacetate, 1-(propylsulfanyl)ethan-1-one, n-propyl thio acetate, propyl thioacetate [fhfi].
Can Propyl thioacetate be labeled natural?
Nature makes propyl thioacetate, which is why the US label turns on process. A natural route gives natural flavor; synthesis gives artificial propyl thioacetate, same molecule. The EU and UK grant the natural claim only to that natural route; Mercosur and Mexico call synthetic material 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
Propyl thioacetate is FEMA GRAS under FEMA number 3385. 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 12.059, Annex I Part A under Regulation (EC) 1334/2008, evaluation status approved (JECFA). The UK retains the same list.
JECFA (WHO / FAO)
JECFA number 485, evaluated at the 53rd meeting in 1999. 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: Sweet, fruity, apple, sulfurous, tropical.
Where it is used
Propyl thioacetate is used in beverage, confection, fruit flavors, savory dishes and seasonings, typically as a fruity note.
Structurally similar flavor ingredients
Flavor ingredients with a GRAS determination closest to Propyl thioacetate by structure. Whether one can replace it is a sensory and regulatory call; the reformulation tool works that through.
| Material | FEMA | Similarity | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl thiobutyrate | 3310 | 91% | In nature |
| Propyl acetate | 2925 | 89% | In nature |
| S-Methyl 2-methylbutanethioate | 3708 | 83% | Not determined |
More thioesters in this index
S-Furfuryl thioacetate · 2-Methyl-3-thioacetoxy-4,5-dihydrofuran · 2,5-Dimethyl-3-thioacetoxy-tetrahydrofuran, cis and trans isomers · Menthone-8-thioacetate · S-Methyl 2-methylbutanethioate
Propyl thioacetate FAQ
Does propyl thioacetate have FEMA GRAS status?
Propyl thioacetate holds FEMA GRAS status under FEMA number 3385. The Code of Federal Regulations lists it at 21 CFR 172.515.
How do I cite propyl thioacetate by FEMA or CAS number?
Cite propyl thioacetate as FEMA 3385 or CAS 2307-10-0; both point to the same entry. Its flavor category is fruity.
What does propyl thioacetate smell and taste like, and where is it used?
The odor of propyl thioacetate is sweet, fruity, apple, sulfurous, tropical. Typical uses are beverage, confection, fruit flavors, savory dishes and seasonings.
What did JECFA conclude about propyl thioacetate?
JECFA evaluated propyl thioacetate at the 53rd meeting in 1999 under JECFA number 485. The panel concluded: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent.
Can propyl thioacetate be used in the EU and UK?
Yes. FL 12.059 is the Union List entry for propyl thioacetate, annex I Part A, under Regulation 1334/2008, and the UK keeps the same list.
Can propyl thioacetate be labeled a natural flavor?
The process decides for propyl thioacetate. It occurs in nature, so a natural-source, natural-process material is natural flavor in the US and synthetic propyl thioacetate is artificial. 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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Guides: What Is FEMA GRAS? · Natural vs artificial · Filing a GRAS notification
Check Propyl thioacetate in a formula
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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 PROPYL THIOACETATE under CAS 2307-10-0 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.