2-DECANONE

CAS: 693-54-9 FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT

2-Decanone (CAS 693-54-9) is a ketone used as a food flavoring agent with an orange floral aroma and functional properties in fats and oils.

What It Is

2-Decanone is an organic ketone compound classified as a flavoring agent or adjuvant with the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number 693-54-9. It is also known by the systematic name "Decan-2-one" and appears in some flavor databases with identifiers such as FEMA number 4271 and JECFA number 2074. According to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the functional class of 2-Decanone in food is a flavouring agent, reflecting its role in imparting characteristic sensory properties to food products. (世界卫生组织应用程序) 2-Decanone is a clear, colorless liquid at ambient temperature with a distinctive aroma described as floral or fruity. It is part of a broader class of methyl ketones that occur both in synthetic preparations and naturally in various essential oils and foods, contributing to their olfactory profiles. The compound’s physicochemical characteristics, including low water solubility and appreciable solubility in lipophilic media, make it suitable for certain flavoring applications, especially in products with significant fat content. (NIST WebBook) In the context of food science and safety, 2-Decanone is distinguished from food additives such as preservatives or colorants by its primary use in modifying the sensory experience of foods rather than preserving or altering composition. Intake of this compound at typical levels used in flavoring is not identified as a safety concern by JECFA and other regulatory evaluations, underscoring its established role in flavor formulation practices within the food industry. (世界卫生组织应用程序

How It Is Made

The synthesis and production of 2-Decanone involves standard organic chemistry pathways that yield a ketone with a straight-chain carbon backbone. In industrial and laboratory settings, methyl ketones like 2-Decanone are commonly prepared through oxidation of appropriate alcohol precursors or via controlled carbon chain reaction mechanisms. While specific proprietary manufacturing details vary by producer, general approaches typically involve catalytic reactions that introduce or preserve the ketone functional group in the decane chain context. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Because 2-Decanone is volatile and has characteristic organoleptic properties, its production for flavoring applications necessitates careful control of purity and reaction conditions to avoid impurities that could alter sensory outcomes or introduce undesirable byproducts. This includes purification techniques such as distillation, solvent extraction, and analytical verification of chemical identity and concentration. Such quality control ensures that the substance meets technical specifications suitable for use in flavoring contexts. (世界卫生组织应用程序) In commercial practice, suppliers provide high-purity grades of 2-Decanone that are suitable for incorporation into flavor blends under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions. These preparations are typically supported by documentation such as Certificates of Analysis (COAs) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) that describe physical properties, safety precautions, and application guidance to support formulators in using the compound effectively and safely. Adherence to these procedures is standard in the broader flavor and fragrance industries, ensuring consistency in product performance.

Why It Is Used In Food

2-Decanone is used in food primarily for its flavor-enhancing characteristics. As a ketone with an aroma profile described in flavor literature as floral with orange and fruity nuances, it contributes subtle aromatic notes when added to complex flavor systems. Flavor formulators employ it to introduce or strengthen desirable sensory attributes without significantly modifying other sensory dimensions such as sweetness or texture. (世界卫生组织应用程序) From a formulation perspective, 2-Decanone’s chemical properties—such as its compatibility with lipophilic phases and stability in various food matrices—make it suitable for use in products containing fats, emulsions, and other components where flavor retention and delivery are important. When integrated into flavor blends alongside other compounds, it helps create nuanced profiles that appeal to consumer preferences for fruit, floral, or background notes in foods and beverages. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Manufacturers select flavoring agents like 2-Decanone not only for their sensory properties but also for their performance within processing conditions. Its relative stability under typical food production scenarios and its behavior in combination with other flavor compounds allow product developers to achieve targeted flavor characteristics in a range of applications. This freedom in creative flavor design underscores the technical role of 2-Decanone in contemporary food science.

Adi Example Calculation

An illustrative example can help clarify how regulatory assessments of flavoring agent intake relate to everyday food consumption, even though 2-Decanone does not have a specific numeric ADI established by JECFA. As a hypothetical scenario, imagine a person consumes a flavored beverage containing a flavor blend where 2-Decanone contributes subtly to the overall aroma. If this individual drinks one litre of the beverage with a flavouring concentration of 1 milligram per litre—a high estimate for many flavour compounds—the total intake of 2-Decanone for that day would be 1 milligram. When considered in the context of typical body weights and established safety frameworks for flavouring agents, this level is far below thresholds that regulatory evaluations deem concerning. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Such illustrative calculations underscore the relative scale of exposure for flavoring agents compared to broader toxicological benchmarks. They highlight that flavouring compounds like 2-Decanone, used at low concentrations to achieve sensory effects, generally contribute very small amounts to overall dietary chemical exposure. This example is provided for conceptual understanding and does not imply specific intake recommendations or individualized guidance. (世界卫生组织应用程序

Safety And Health Research

Safety evaluations of flavouring agents focus on toxicological assessments that consider potential hazard, exposure levels, and margins of safety. For 2-Decanone, limited toxicity data exist in the open scientific literature, and assessments often refer to expert panel reviews and read-across approaches due to sparse primary data. Some research points to the use of in silico evaluations and structural analog comparisons to extrapolate safety profiles when direct experimental toxicology is not extensive. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Regulatory evaluations by JECFA and inclusion in flavor inventories reflect the conclusion that, at typical dietary concentrations used in flavoring, 2-Decanone does not raise safety concerns. This conclusion incorporates considerations of metabolic fate, estimated intake levels, and absence of indications of acute toxicity or genotoxic potential at exposure levels typical for flavor applications. These conclusions align with general approaches to assessing flavoring agents, which rely on expert judgment and available data to judge safety margins. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Ongoing research and monitoring of food additives contribute to understanding potential effects, and regulators may update evaluations if new evidence emerges. For 2-Decanone specifically, broad reviews such as those conducted by committees under JECFA and EFSA provide an assurance framework, but detailed contemporary toxicological data remain more limited compared to extensively studied additives. (世界卫生组织应用程序

Regulatory Status Worldwide

Worldwide regulatory authorities evaluate flavouring agents to ensure that their intended use in foods does not pose concerns at typical consumption levels. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has evaluated 2-Decanone and assigned it JECFA number 2074, classifying it as a flavouring agent. In relevant evaluations, JECFA concluded that there is "No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent," indicating that typical use patterns are compatible with safety expectations. (世界卫生组织应用程序) In the United States, 2-Decanone appears in the FDA’s Substances Added to Food inventory (formerly the EAFUS list) as a recognized food substance with flavoring function, reflecting its acknowledged role within food formulation practices. However, inclusion in the inventory does not equate to a specific FDA regulation codifying acceptable use or levels; rather, it indicates that the compound is noted by the FDA in the context of food and beverage ingredients that have been evaluated or are otherwise recognized in food formulation. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Within the European Union, flavoring substances must undergo a risk assessment by EFSA and be authorized under the Union list of flavourings. While EFSA maintains frameworks for assessing flavourings, specific evaluations or authorizations of many individual flavouring chemicals are guided by combined international assessments and scientific opinions. At present, no unique EU-specific numerical authorization identifiers (such as an E-number) are widely referenced for 2-Decanone independently of broader flavouring evaluations. (世界卫生组织应用程序

Taste And Functional Properties

2-Decanone’s taste and functional properties are rooted in its chemical structure as a methyl ketone with a ten-carbon chain. Sensory descriptions in flavor industry databases characterize it as having a mild floral and fruity aroma, often contributing orange-like or peachy notes to flavor blends. Such descriptors highlight its capacity to support complex flavor profiles with subtle sensory impact without overpowering primary taste components. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Functionally, 2-Decanone’s solubility in lipid environments and low water solubility influence how it interacts with diverse food matrices. Its volatility allows it to contribute aroma perception effectively during consumption, as volatile compounds are detected by olfactory receptors as part of the flavor experience. This volatility also means that formulating with 2-Decanone requires consideration of heat and processing conditions to retain desired sensory contributions. (NIST WebBook) The compound’s stability across typical pH ranges encountered in flavored products also supports its use in a variety of applications, from baked goods to beverages and confections. Balancing its sensory impact with that of other flavor compounds enables product developers to fine-tune flavor profiles in ways that resonate with consumer expectations without unintended sensory distortions.

Acceptable Daily Intake Explained

The concept of acceptable daily intake (ADI) is used by regulators to express a level of daily exposure to a chemical that, based on available scientific evidence, is not expected to pose appreciable health risks over a lifetime. ADIs incorporate safety factors that account for uncertainties in data, including differences between laboratory studies and human exposure scenarios. For many flavouring substances, including 2-Decanone, regulatory evaluations focus on whether typical intake levels are well below thresholds of concern rather than establishing a precise numerical ADI. (世界卫生组织应用程序) In the case of 2-Decanone, JECFA’s evaluation concluded that "No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent" rather than specifying a numeric ADI. This phrasing indicates that consumption at levels typical for flavour application does not warrant setting a formal intake limit under standard regulatory paradigms. It reflects a conclusion based on scientific judgment and available data about exposure and toxicological considerations. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Consumers and product developers should understand that ADIs are conservative benchmarks intended for regulatory assessment and risk characterization; they do not represent recommended intake levels or nutritional targets. Instead, they inform manufacturers and regulators whether an ingredient’s use at customary levels aligns with recognized safety standards.

Comparison With Similar Additives

2-Decanone shares functional similarities with other ketone-based flavouring agents such as 2-Nonanone and 2-Undecanone, which also contribute fruit or floral notes to complex flavour profiles. Like 2-Decanone, these structurally related compounds are evaluated by expert panels based on their occurrence, use levels, and available toxicological data to determine if they pose safety concerns at typical intake levels. (NIST WebBook) In comparison to simple aldehydes or esters used in flavouring, ketones like 2-Decanone often provide deeper aromatic complexity and greater stability in certain food matrices. This can influence the choice of compounds in flavour formulation, where sensory attributes such as floral intensity or peach-like nuance are desirable. The selection of specific flavouring agents depends on their aromatic contribution, matrix compatibility, and regulatory acceptance within specific jurisdictions. (NIST WebBook) Overall, while each flavouring substance has unique sensory and functional properties, the underlying approach to safety evaluation is similar: regulators consider structural characteristics, historical use, exposure estimates, and toxicological data to judge whether typical consumption patterns are unlikely to present safety concerns. For 2-Decanone and many ketone-based flavourings, expert reviews have concluded that normal usage aligns with recognized safety expectations. (世界卫生组织应用程序

Common Food Applications Narrative

In modern food formulation practice, flavoring agents such as 2-Decanone are used in a wide array of products to achieve specific sensory profiles that consumers associate with freshness, fruitiness, and balanced aroma composition. In beverages, for example, compounds with floral and fruity notes help create complex aromatic signatures that complement natural fruit flavors or enhance perceived quality. Functional beverages and fruit-flavored drinks often include carefully calibrated flavor blends where each component contributes to the overall sensory acceptance. (世界卫生组织应用程序) In confectionery and baked goods, subtle ketone-based aromatics like 2-Decanone can support existing flavors by adding depth and complexity. These substances do not typically dominate the flavor but rather serve to round out multi-dimensional sensory experiences. In dairy-based products such as flavored yogurts or dessert creams, floral or peachy aroma nuances can contribute to perceptions of richness and fruit character, improving consumer satisfaction. (世界卫生组织应用程序) Snack foods and savory products also benefit from the nuanced application of flavoring agents when combined with other taste-active and aroma-active ingredients. In these contexts, 2-Decanone’s aromatic profile is tuned alongside other compounds to support overall flavor harmony in finished products that range from crisps to seasoned nuts. Across these broad application categories, the role of flavoring agents is to enable designers to craft taste experiences that meet market demands while maintaining consistency in sensory quality.

Explore familiar flavors

Explore ingredients and foods linked to this familiar flavor.

Flavor ideas

Orange for baking at home

Orange extract is an easy way to bring orange flavor to cookies, cakes, and frostings.

Explore orange ideas

Flavor ideas

Fruit drinks to explore

Compare fruit-drink flavors and ingredient lists to find an option that suits your taste.

Explore fruit drinks

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no additional cost to you.

Safety & Regulations

FDA

  • Notes: Inclusion in the FDA Substances Added to Food inventory does not by itself confirm specific approved levels or conditions of use under CFR.

EFSA

  • Notes: EFSA has frameworks for flavouring assessments but specific authorization details for this substance are not identified.

JECFA

  • Year: 2010
  • Adi Display: No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent

Sources

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share!